• Fish farming, or aquaculture, is the practice of raising fish in order to sell them later on. In aquaculture, the fish live in controlled tanks or ponds. Typically, fish farmers raise fish that are in demand, such as salmon, cod or catfish. Regular maintenance is crucial in order to raise large, healthy fish that sell well on the market.
  
  

Start Small

• The first thing to remember when starting a fish farm is to start small. Small means starting out with less than a hundred fish. This is important, especially for first time fish farmers. Having a controlled amount of fish allows you to manage and control the different factors that affect the growth of your fish. These include the water temperature, food, weather conditions and water conditions. Starting small also enables you to be ready in case something goes wrong with the fish farm. Having a large fish farm can be expensive, which is risky for someone just starting out in the business.
  
  

Choose the Right Fish

• Choose the right fish for your fish farming skill level. Fish farms usually have salmon, cod, trout or catfish. Some fish are harder to raise than others. For beginners, the best choice is to go with trout. Trout are easier to raise than other fish and they have good market value. For more experienced fish farmers, a good choice is salmon. Raising salmon is similar to raising trout, except that salmon spend part of their lives living in the open sea. To replicate this, the farmer must transfer the salmon to a new habitat.
  
  

Beware of Insects and Birds

• Your fish farm can be a breeding ground for insects. Learn to recognize an insect infestation in the water. Insects can disturb the fish and even attach to their eggs. The presence of insects can also diminish the health of your fish. Another problem is birds that prey on fish. These include kingfishers and herons. A solution to this problem is to spread protective coverings or nets over your fish farm.