Skip to content
KisanPe
catfish7 Month Culture PeriodFCR: 1.5

Medicinal Air-Breathing Catfish (Singhi & Desi Magur)

औषधीय देसी मांगुर एवं सिंघी मछली पालन • Heteropneustes fossilis & Clarias magur

Commercial aquaculture blueprint covering target water quality tolerances, extruded floating pellet nutrition, biosecure disease prophylaxis, and PMMSY 40%–60% capital grant eligibility.

Net Batch Profit₹2.88 Lakhper standard unit
Expected Biomass1,800 kg1.8 MT total yield
Farmgate Wholesale Rate₹300 / kgBaseline realization
Matsya KCC Limit₹1.5 LakhWorking Capital @ 4%
Culture Engineering

Shallow Earthen Ponds (0.75m – 1.0m depth) or Biofloc Tanks

Tailored to maintain high biomass carrying capacity, dissolved oxygen stability, and non-stress environmental conditions.

Commercial Highlights:
  • India’s premier indigenous medicinal fish: Highly prescribed by doctors for anemia, convalescing patients, and lactating mothers
  • Commands premium farmgate prices of ₹280 to ₹450 per kg throughout the year
  • Air-breathing biology: Thrives in shallow, low-oxygen weed-infested water bodies and swampy lands
  • Strictly cultivate indigenous Clarias magur; farming exotic African Magur (Clarias gariepinus) is legally banned by NGT
Stocking & Growth Matrix

Stocking Density & Survival Targets

Recommended Stocking Density:20,000 to 25,000 fingerlings per Acre
Survival Benchmark:80% to Market Weight
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR):1.5 (1 kg biomass gain per 1.5 kg feed)
Water Quality Management

Target Water Chemistry Parameters

Daily monitoring thresholds required to avoid ammonia toxicity, gill asphyxiation, and stress-induced mortalities.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)2.0 – 5.0 ppmCritical pre-dawn limit
Water pH6.8 – 8.0Buffer with lime/gypsum
Water Temperature24°C – 32°COptimal thermal window
Total Ammonia (TAN)< 1.0 ppmToxic unionized NH3
Total Alkalinity80 – 140 ppmAcid-buffering capacity
Salinity Tolerance< 2.0 pptOsmoregulatory range
Nutritional Management

Precision Extruded Pellet Feeding Schedule

Optimized crude protein and feeding frequencies across life stages to minimize feed wastage and maximize growth velocity.

Life StageDurationCrude Protein (CP %)Feed Type & Pellet SizeFeeding Rate (% Biomass)Feeding Frequency
Fingerling Nursery StageMonth 138% – 40% CPMicro sinking pellets (1.0 mm to 1.5 mm)5% of biomass3 times / day
Grow-out StageMonth 2 to Month 732% – 35% CP2.0 mm to 3.0 mm sinking pellets or formulated fish mash3% of biomass2 times / day
Feeding Tray Inspection: Check feed trays 90 minutes after feeding. If feed remains unconsumed, reduce subsequent feedings by 20% to prevent water fouling and lethal ammonia spikes.
Financial Modeling

0.5 Acre Shallow Pond Profit & Loss Statement

Verified batch operating budget based on commercial hatchery seed costs, floating pellet feed, aeration electricity, and wholesale farmgate prices.

Batch Operating Expenses (OPEX)

Fingerling / Seed Cost:₹60,000
Commercial Pellet Feed:₹1,65,000
Power, Aeration & Generator Fuel:₹15,000
Probiotics, Lime & Medicines:₹12,000
Total Batch OPEX:₹2,52,000

Harvest Revenue Realization

Total Harvest Biomass:1,800 kg
Average Farmgate Wholesale Rate:₹300 / kg
Culture Duration:7 Months
Gross Batch Turnover:₹5,40,000
Net Farmer Return
₹2,88,000
Net Profit per batch cycle
Payback Horizon:14 Months
Matsya KCC Working Capital:₹1.5 Lakh
* Assumes 40%–60% PMMSY pond/tank capital subsidy is availed.
Health Prophylaxis

Critical Disease Diagnosis & Biosecurity Treatments

Immediate identification and legal aquatic medication protocols for pathogens affecting Medicinal Air-Breathing Catfish (Singhi & Desi Magur).

Bacterial Fin Rot & Tail Rot

पंख एवं पूंछ सड़न रोग
Causative Pathogen:Aeromonas hydrophila & Pseudomonas
Symptoms:Frayed fins with white edges, bloody lesions at the base of pectoral stings.
Prescribed Treatment / Control:Bath dip in 5 ppm Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) or apply Oxytetracycline @ 50 mg/kg feed.
SOP Guidelines

5 Golden Aquaculture Rules for Medicinal Air-Breathing Catfish (Singhi & Desi Magur)

1

Maintain pond water depth at 75 cm to 100 cm; these air-breathers must easily swim to the surface to gulp atmospheric air.

2

Install fine mesh predator and escape nets around pond dykes to prevent fish escaping during torrential rains.

3

Feed after sunset or early morning; both Singhi and Magur are nocturnal bottom foragers.

4

Exercise caution during harvest: Singhi pectoral spines possess mild venom glands; use thick protective handling gloves.

Interactive Planning

Calculate Production Costs & Profits for Medicinal Air-Breathing Catfish (Singhi & Desi Magur)

ICAR-CIFA & NFDB Precision Aquaculture Engine

Fish & Shrimp Farming Profitability Calculator

Calculate total floating feed bags, FCR, harvest biomass, operating expenses, and net profit for pond, biofloc, and RAS culture.

1 Acre Earthen Pond (approx 4,000 sq.m)
₹46/kg
Commercial extruded feed bag
₹135/kg
Live fish / chilled mandi price
Culture Benchmarks for Composite Freshwater Carp:
Feed FCR:1.55
Culture Duration:10 Months
Expected Survival:85%
Target DO:4.5 – 6.5 ppm
Aquaculture P&L Summary

Composite Freshwater Carp

FCR: 1.55
Total Harvest Biomass
3,500 kg(3.5 MT)
Net Estimated Batch Profit₹45.1/kg net
₹1,57,950
Gross: ₹4,72,500OPEX: ₹3,14,550
Feed Required181 Bags(5,425 kg @ 30kg)
Matsya KCC Limit₹1.5 LakhWorking Capital @ 4%
OPEX Cost Breakdown:
Pellet Feed:₹2,49,550
Fingerling Seed:₹28,000
Power & Aeration:₹22,000
Apply for PMMSY 40%–60% Subsidy on State Portal

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: Medicinal Air-Breathing Catfish (Singhi & Desi Magur) Farming

No! The farming, breeding, and transport of African Magur (Clarias gariepinus) is strictly banned across India by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) because it is a voracious invasive predator that decimates indigenous biodiversity. Only native Indian Magur (Clarias magur) is legally permitted and subsidized.

Download KisanPe App