BFAR warns vs. feeding catfish with antibiotics

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources warned growers and breeders from feeding antibiotics to catfish and other fish cultured in ponds.

This following reports that some catfish growers are feeding furasolidone, an antibiotic banned for being a cancer-causing agent, to hasten the growth of his catfish fingerlings.

BFAR does not recommend the use of antibiotics as fish growth booster because of the danger it poses to humans who consume the fish.

BFAR also told growers to be extra careful with the practice of stocking their ponds with salt as this will likewise have disastrous effects on the fish if not properly done.

The bureau also discouraged the rampant practice of feeding cultured fishes with chicken offal or entrails as they tend to settle in the bottom of the pond and later, while decomposing, causes the buildup of nitrite, highly toxic to fish when absorbed.

"It reacts with hemoglobin to form methemoglobin which is an ineffective carrier of oxygen causing death to fish," BFAR's statement read.

The same is true with overfeeding, wherein uneaten feeds will also settle in the pond and causes the release of hydrogen sulfide when these decompose at the bottom, which would probably result to fishkill. - Jasmin R. Uy