How to Harvest Gouramy (Osphronemus goramy) Fast

Gouramy is quite expensive. One of the factors causing the high price of this super-savory fish is that it is old enough to be worthy of being eaten. Gouramy is edible on average up to two years old.

However, there is a way of cultivating gouramy that makes the fish grow big and ready to harvest. This method will make gourami farmers have a greater advantage.

Gouramy's natural habitat is fresh water, either in swamps, lakes, or rivers (lubuk). Therefore, maintaining the ecosystem in carp farming is very important. According to the breeder and expert of gouramy from Tulungagung, East Java, Ir K Adi Sadewa, in the cultivation of gouramy, it is very necessary to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

“We have to condition the habitat according to or close to the original state for gouramy. Basically, raising gourami is like maintaining water,” said Adi.

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Cultivation of gouramy can be done in wall/cement ponds, earthen ponds, or tarpaulin ponds. For the location of the cultivation of gouramy, you should look for the right place. The gouramy pond should get enough direct sunlight.

The original habitat of gouramy is in the lowlands. The normal temperature of the gourami habitat is in the range of 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. From the research results, gouramy grows faster in pond locations with a maximum height of 800 m above sea level (asl).

The degree of acidity or pH of the water should also receive attention. "It must be maintained that the pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.5," said Adi. In the pond there should be dissolved oxygen above 3. Ammonia (NH3-N) a maximum of 1ppm (1mg/liter), NO2-N (nitrite) below 0.1 ppm, and the alkalinity or capacity of the water to neutralize additional acids without decreasing the pH. solution of 50-80 ppm.

The pond ecosystem is maintained by regular application of dolomite/lime 5-10 g/m3 and probiotic lactobacillus 3ml/m3. A 30 percent water change needs to be done every seven days. Siphoning (removal of sewage at the bottom of the pool) should be done at least once a month. That is why, at the bottom of the pool in the middle it is necessary to make a drain that can be opened and closed.

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Then, look for healthy gouramy seeds. Healthy gouramy seeds are those that weigh about 100 grams or are about a year old. Gouramy ready to harvest usually weighs no less than 500 grams.

Looking for gourami seeds close to the pond location will be very profitable. This is because the conditions of the gourami hatchery and the pond that will become their new habitat are not much different so that it is not difficult to adapt. Gouramy that is difficult to adapt will be able to create stress and lead to death.

Before the seeds are put into the pond, dry the pond for up to 10 to 14 days. This drying will provide benefits so that the gourami is avoided from various diseases and fungi. To further maintain the cleanliness and health of the pond, give agricultural lime about 200 grams per m2. All equipment that will be used for the cultivation of gourami must be immersed in a chlorine solution for about half an hour. After that, the tool must be dried.

If it turns out that there are carp that are infected with the disease, immediately separate them from the others. Then soak the sick gourami in a salt solution of about 20 milligrams per liter of water for an hour. This will help in the recovery of the gourami condition.

Feed should receive special attention. For a good feed for carp, it must contain a lot of protein, both vegetable and animal. Animal protein will make the carp grow fast. From the results of research so far, gouramy fish need at least 25% animal protein so that their development and growth is faster.

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Vegetable protein needs can be met from the leaves. In the pond can be spread the leaves of kale, cassava, taro, sweet potato, papaya, bean sprouts, and watercress. You can also give pumpkin, cake, beans, tofu dregs, boiled corn, and bran (bran). In addition, it is still necessary to give complex enzymes about 2 percent of the factory feed and also need to be given pellets (artificial feed).

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This cultivation method means that you don't need to do breeding (spawning) and nursery (the process of changing from eggs to fish seeds) and immediately do the rearing. In four to six months, gouramy can and is ready to be harvested. This of course will be more practical and give a big advantage. Please try!!