Method for domesticating euchiloglanis kishinouyei in ditch waterfall mode

Abstract

The invention discloses a ditch waterfall type euchiloglanis kishinouyei domestication method, belongs to the field of torrent cold water fish culture, and aims to solve the problem of low survival rate of large-scale euchiloglanis kishinouyei domestication. According to the method, a water source with the water temperature being lower than 20 DEG C, the dissolved oxygen being larger than or equal to 7 mg / L and the pH being 7.5-8.5 is selected, and the side-by-side long-strip-shaped water tank with the slope ratio being 8% is constructed. An anti-escape plate and a sunshade are arranged, the interior of a groove is divided into 7-10 units through smooth partition plates, fine gravels and stacked pebbles, schist and the like are laid, and the inhabitation environment with the selectable depth-light and shade is built. The top of the partition plate is of a flush overflow structure, so that the water level difference of 0.10-0.15 m is formed between the adjacent water tanks. And introducing a water body with the flow of more than 350L / min, precipitating and gradually falling from the upstream to form a continuous micro waterfall, and simulating natural torrent and carrying out impact oxygenation. According to the method, a natural torrent environment is simulated through a ditch-waterfall synergistic effect, fish body stress is remarkably reduced, co-growth of fishes and bait organisms is promoted, and therefore the large-scale domestication survival rate of the euchiloglanis kishinouyei is effectively increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aquaculture technology, specifically relating to a method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch-waterfall method. Background Technology

[0002] The Huangshi catfish, also known as the stone catfish or Huangshi catfish, belongs to the order Siluriformes, family Salicidae, and genus *Huangshi catfish*. It is distributed in the Jinsha River and Min River systems of the Yangtze River basin in Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan, and is endemic to the upper reaches of the Yangtze. The Huangshi catfish is a small to medium-sized benthic fish that, under natural conditions, inhabits remote mountain streams and rivers with gravelly, cold-water, fast-flowing environments. It attaches itself to the gravel with its flattened abdomen and the ventral side of its mouth and thorax, moving by crawling. Its main diet consists of aquatic insects and their larvae, such as mayfly larvae, stoneflies, caddisflies, tubifex worms, and bloodworms, while also consuming organic detritus and plant fragments. Its unique habitat, reproductive habits, and evolutionary position make it an important subject for studying fish evolution. The Huangshi catfish has delicious flesh, is in high demand in the market, and possesses high economic and edible value. Due to the development of water conservancy projects in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, excessive fishing by humans, and pollution of their habitat, the distribution range of the Huangshi catfish has gradually shrunk, and wild resources are scarce. Furthermore, factors such as low egg production, long sexual maturity time, and difficulties in artificial breeding further limit its population growth, placing it currently in an endangered state. However, the survival rate of Huangshi catfish collected from the wild for artificial breeding is extremely low. Traditional domestication methods involve collecting Huangshi catfish from the wild and transporting them to breeding bases, where they are placed in recirculating aquaculture tanks or troughs for artificial rearing. Although cold water, flowing water, and a rock-lined habitat are provided, large numbers of deaths occur within one week to one month of temporary rearing. The problem of low survival rates in artificially domesticated Huangshi catfish remains unresolved, becoming a technological bottleneck restricting the large-scale recovery of its resources. In earlier studies, Hu Hang et al. (2024) transferred wild-collected individuals to the Jinping Fish Breeding and Release Station for domestication, and all of them died within a week; Hu Renyun et al. (2020) adopted a strategy of disinfecting before entering the pond and placing them in a circular pond with a diameter of 2 m for rearing, but the survival rate after three months was only 29.8%. The above results indicate that transfer stress and insufficient environmental adaptability are key factors leading to their high mortality rate. To address the aforementioned challenges, a series of breakthroughs have been achieved in the development of supporting technologies and equipment: the special bait disclosed by Sun Shouqi et al. (2019) has improved the fishing efficiency; the transportation device developed by Xia Yong et al. (2025) has effectively alleviated the stress of transportation and significantly improved the survival rate of transportation and subsequent aquaculture; the aquaculture system with stable bottom flowing water developed by Yang Ruibin et al. (2025) and Tan Baobao et al. (2025) has further improved the quality of aquaculture by simulating the natural habitat and matching its benthic habits; in terms of artificial breeding, the artificial breeding technology disclosed by Jin Wei et al. (2024) has improved the fertilized egg formation rate, while the anti-mold hatching device developed by Zhang Huan et al. (2023) has effectively improved the hatching success rate by reducing the risk of water mold infection, providing technical support for the large-scale production of seedlings. Although a complete technical system for the "fishing-transportation-breeding-breeding-hatching" of the Huangshi mantis has been initially established, the existing domestication model is highly dependent on specialized equipment (Yang Ruibin et al., 2025; Tan Baobao et al., 2025), and the high cost of facilities greatly restricts its promotion and application.Currently, research on simple and efficient domestication methods adapted to large-scale production is still lacking. Therefore, this study constructs a novel "ecological gully-waterfall type" domestication method, which achieves a breakthrough in low-cost, large-scale domestication by simulating natural habitats, aiming to provide technical support for its industrialized breeding. Summary of the Invention: The purpose of this invention is to provide a trench-waterfall method for domesticating Huangshi catfish, so as to improve the survival rate of large-scale domestication of Huangshi catfish.

[0003] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch-waterfall system, comprising the following steps: I. Construction of domestication ditches: (1) Site selection: Select an area with convenient transportation for aquaculture management, a slightly sloping terrain, sufficient water source, and clean and unpolluted water quality. The water source should be mountain spring water or stream water, with an annual water temperature of <20 ℃, pH 7.5-8.5, and dissolved oxygen ≥7 mg / L. (2) Shape and specifications of domestication ditch: The domestication ditch is a parallel long strip water trough, 20 m long, 0.6 m wide and 0.6 m deep. The partition wall in the ditch is 0.24 m wide. The entire long strip domestication ditch is divided into 7-10 water troughs with smooth wooden boards. The water level difference between adjacent water troughs reaches 0.10-0.15 m. The slope ratio of the domestication ditch is 8%, forming a natural water flow drop. Escape prevention boards are set around the domestication ditch facing the inside of the ditch. The escape prevention boards extend into the ditch with a width of 5 cm. The water inlet pipe is suspended above the uppermost water trough and the water outlet is in the lowermost water trough. The water depth in the domestication ditch can be controlled by adjusting the water output and water inlet. The number of domestication ditches is determined according to the flow rate of mountain spring water or stream water. (3) Leak prevention of domestication ditches: A nylon waterproof cloth is laid at the bottom of the ditch and then a cement layer is poured on top; (4) Water depth and gravel arrangement at the bottom of the taming ditch: The water depth is controlled at about 0.4-0.5 m. The bottom of the trough is covered with fine natural gravel, which is piled up from the upstream of the trough to form a slope, providing a selectable water depth environment for the farmed fish and meeting their different living needs. Large pebbles, schist and bluestone are placed in the upper layer to form the stone gaps and hiding spaces at the bottom of the taming ditch, creating a hiding and habitat space for the farmed fish. The height difference formed by the gravel is conducive to simulating the turbulent environment that the fish prefer and is also conducive to the attachment of benthic organisms. (5) Waterfall-like water flow: The top of the partition adopts a "flush partition" overflow structure to maintain a water level difference of 0.10-0.15 m between adjacent water tanks; spring water or stream water with a flow rate of >350 L / min, which has been treated in a sedimentation tank, is introduced and falls from the upstream in stages to form a continuous micro waterfall in the ditch; the water flow impacts and oxygenates, simulating a natural rapid flow environment; (6) Light regulation: A shade shed is built above the aquaculture ditch using shade netting. The shade netting can be adjusted according to the weather to regulate the light intensity of the ditch and create suitable light conditions. II. Instructions for use: (7) Construction of domestication ditches: Complete the construction of domestication ditches according to the parameters of domestication ditches in steps (1)-(6) above. After filling the domestication ditches with water, close the inlet and outlet. After introducing 50-200g of caddisflies into each ditch, add 20-50g of amino acid fertilizer paste and 10-20ml of concentrated Chlorella liquid. After a period of cultivation, when abundant algae, zooplankton and other food appear in the domestication ditches, start the collection of Huangshi catfish. (8) Collection of Huangshi mantis shrimp: Select Huangshi mantis shrimp caught from natural waters using fish traps or lift nets, and use Huangshi mantis shrimp transport device (CN223231876U) to transport the collected Huangshi mantis shrimp to the domestication ditch in order to improve the survival rate of Huangshi mantis shrimp during transportation and reduce its transportation stress. (9) Temporary rearing of Huangshi mantis shrimp: The transported Huangshi mantis shrimp are subjected to temperature and water immersion for 30 minutes (the water temperature in the rearing ditch is the same as the transport water temperature), and then soaked in 5-10 mg / L potassium permanganate solution for 10-15 minutes. Oxygen is supplied during the soaking process. After soaking, they are temporarily reared in the rearing pond. (10) Stocking density of Huangshi mantis shrimp: 10-20 mantis shrimp are stocked in each tank and 70-200 mantis shrimp are stocked in one breeding ditch; (11) Domestication of Huangshi Crawfish: Feed selection: mainly tubifex worms, bloodworms, stoneflies and caddisflies. Feeding method: adopt fixed point + time feeding, feed once every 2-3 days (at 22:00 in the evening), feed amount is 1%-5% of the fish's body weight, and dynamically adjusted according to the feeding situation; (12) Water quality testing: Regularly test the dissolved oxygen, pH value, ammonia nitrogen and nitrite in the water to ensure that they are within the appropriate range. If any abnormality is found in the water quality, measures should be taken in time to adjust it.

[0004] Further, in step (2), the shape and specifications of the domestication ditch are as follows: the domestication ditch is a parallel long strip water trough, 20m long, 0.6m wide, and 0.6m deep. The partition wall in the ditch is 0.24m high. The entire long strip domestication ditch is divided into 7-10 water troughs with smooth wooden boards. The water level difference between adjacent water troughs reaches 0.10-0.15m. The slope ratio of the domestication ditch is 8%, forming a natural water flow drop. Escape prevention boards are set around the domestication ditch facing the inside of the ditch. The escape prevention boards extend into the ditch with a width of 5cm. The water inlet pipe is suspended above the uppermost water trough, and the water outlet is in the lowermost water trough. The water depth in the domestication ditch can be controlled by adjusting the outflow and inflow. The number of domestication ditches is determined according to the flow rate of mountain spring water or stream water.

[0005] Furthermore, in step (4), the water depth and bottom gravel arrangement are as follows: the water depth is controlled at about 0.4-0.5 m, and the bottom of the tank is covered with fine natural gravel, which is piled up from the upstream of the tank to form a slope, providing a selectable water depth environment for the farmed fish and meeting their different living needs. Large pebbles, schist and bluestone are placed alternately on the upper layer to form the stone gaps and hiding spaces at the bottom of the domestication ditch, creating a hiding and habitat space for the farmed fish. The height difference formed by the gravel is conducive to simulating the turbulent environment that they prefer and is also conducive to the attachment of benthic organisms.

[0006] Furthermore, in step (5), the waterfall-like water flow is created: the top of the partition adopts a "flush partition" overflow structure to maintain a water level difference of 0.10–0.15 m between adjacent water tanks; spring water or stream water with a flow rate of >350 L / min, which has been treated in a sedimentation tank, is introduced and falls from the upstream in stages to form a continuous micro waterfall in the ditch; the water flow impacts and oxygenates, simulating a natural rapid flow environment.

[0007] Further, step (6) light regulation: a shade shed is built above the aquaculture ditch using shade netting. The shade netting can be adjusted according to the weather to regulate the light intensity of the ditch and create suitable light conditions.

[0008] Furthermore, in step (10), the stocking density of Huangshi catfish is as follows: 10-20 catfish are stocked in each tank and 70-200 catfish are stocked in a breeding ditch; the appropriate stocking density is selected according to the size of the Huangshi catfish.

[0009] The advantages of this invention are: This invention discloses a method for the ditch-waterfall domestication of the Huangshi catfish. The synergistic effect of the "ditch-waterfall" system keeps the fish in a simulated ecological water environment with high dissolved oxygen, varying water flow, and different depths, significantly reducing stress. This not only promotes fish growth but also the growth of prey organisms such as caddisflies, creating suitable ecological conditions for water flow, food, and light. The application of the ditch-waterfall domestication ditch system has resulted in a stable survival rate of over 60% for large-scale domestication of the Huangshi catfish after 3 months, a significant breakthrough compared to conventional methods. Conventional domestication methods often fail to meet the specific habitat requirements of the fish, leading to large-scale mortality within 7-30 days and low or even zero survival rates. This technical model effectively alleviates the technical bottleneck of low survival rates in the large-scale domestication of the Huangshi catfish. (See attached figures.) Figure 1 This is a lateral cross-sectional view of the domestication ditch (unit: mm). Figure 2 A frontal cross-sectional view of the domestication ditch (unit: mm); In the diagram, 1 is the water level line, 2 is the partition, 3 is the escape prevention plate, 4 is the water inlet pipe, 5 is the U-shaped drainage pipe, 6 is the ground, 7 is the partition wall, and 8 is the middle partition wall. Detailed Implementation

[0010] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art may understand it.

[0011] The following steps are performed in this embodiment of a waterfall-style domestication method for raising Huangshi catfish: I. Construction of domestication ditches: (1) Site selection: Select an area with convenient transportation for aquaculture management, a slightly sloping terrain, sufficient water source, and clean and unpolluted water quality. The water source should be mountain spring water or stream water, with an annual water temperature of <20 ℃, pH 7.6, and dissolved oxygen ≥7 mg / L. (2) Shape and specifications of domestication ditch: The domestication ditch is a parallel long strip water channel. A total of 5 ditches are constructed, each 20 m long, 0.6 m wide, and 0.6 m deep. The ditches are divided into domestication ditches with a partition wall width of 0.24 m. Escape prevention boards are built around the domestication ditches, extending 5 cm into the domestication ditches. The entire long strip domestication ditch is divided into 7 water troughs with smooth wooden boards. The water level difference between adjacent water troughs reaches 0.10 m. The slope ratio of the domestication ditch is 8%, forming a natural water flow drop. The water inlet pipe is suspended above the uppermost water trough, and the water outlet is in the lowermost water trough. The water depth in the domestication ditch can be controlled by adjusting the outflow and inflow. (3) Leak prevention of domestication ditches: A nylon waterproof cloth is laid at the bottom of the ditch and then a cement layer is poured on top; (4) Water depth and gravel arrangement at the bottom of the taming ditch: The water depth is controlled at 0.4 m. The bottom of the trough is covered with fine natural gravel, which is piled up from the upstream of the trough to form a slope, providing the farmed fish with a choice of water depth environment to meet their different living needs. Large pebbles, schist and bluestone are placed in the upper layer to form the stone gaps and hiding spaces at the bottom of the taming ditch, creating a hiding and habitat space for the farmed fish. The height difference formed by the gravel is conducive to simulating the turbulent environment that they prefer and is also conducive to the attachment of benthic organisms. (5) Waterfall-like water flow: The top of the partition adopts a "flush partition" overflow structure to maintain a water level difference of 0.10m between adjacent water tanks; spring water or stream water with a flow rate of >350 L / min, which has been treated in a sedimentation tank, is introduced and falls from the upstream in stages to form a continuous micro waterfall in the ditch; the water flow impacts and oxygenates, simulating a natural rapid flow environment; (6) Light regulation: A shade shed is built above the aquaculture ditch using shade netting. The shade netting can be adjusted according to the weather to regulate the light intensity of the ditch and create suitable light conditions. II. Instructions for use: (7) Construction of domestication ditches: Complete the construction of domestication ditches according to the parameters of domestication ditches in steps (1)-(6) above. After filling the domestication ditches with water, close the inlet. After introducing 100g of caddisflies into each ditch, add 30g of amino acid fertilizer paste and 13.5ml of concentrated Chlorella solution. After 5 days of cultivation, when abundant algae, zooplankton and other food appear in the domestication ditches, collect Huangshi catfish at the same time. (8) Collection of Huangshi mantis shrimp: Select Huangshi mantis shrimp caught from natural waters using fish traps or lift nets, and use Huangshi mantis shrimp transport device (CN223231876U) to transport the collected Huangshi mantis shrimp to the domestication ditch in order to improve the survival rate of Huangshi mantis shrimp during transportation and reduce its transportation stress. (9) Temporary rearing of Huangshi mantis shrimp: The transported Huangshi mantis shrimp are subjected to temperature and water immersion for 30 minutes (the water temperature in the rearing ditch is the same as the transport water temperature), and then soaked in 5-10 mg / L potassium permanganate solution for 10-15 minutes. Oxygen is supplied during the soaking process. After soaking, they are temporarily reared in the rearing pond. (10) Stocking density of Huangshi mantis shrimp: 153 mantis shrimp were stocked in one breeding ditch; (11) Domestication of Huangshi Crawfish: Feed selection: In the early stage, the main feed is tubifex worms, bloodworms, stoneflies and caddisflies. Feeding method: adopt fixed point + time feeding, feed once every 2-3 days (at 22:00 in the evening), the amount of feed is 1%-5% of the fish's body weight, and dynamically adjusted according to the feeding situation. (12) Water quality testing: Regularly test the dissolved oxygen, pH value, ammonia nitrogen and nitrite in the water to ensure that they are within the appropriate range. If any abnormality is found in the water quality, measures should be taken in time to adjust it.

[0012] Following this method, large-scale domestication of Huangshi catfish can achieve a survival rate of 74% after one month of breeding and 62% after three months.

Claims

1. A method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch and waterfall system: including the construction and use of domestication ditches, and carried out according to the following steps: (1) Site selection: Select an area with convenient transportation for aquaculture management, a slightly sloping terrain, sufficient water source, and clean and unpolluted water quality. The water source should be mountain spring water or stream water, with an annual water temperature of <20 ℃, a pH value of 7.5-8.5, and dissolved oxygen ≥7 mg / L; (2) Shape and specifications of domestication ditch: The domestication ditch is a parallel long strip water trough, 20 m long, 0.6 m wide and 0.6 m deep. The partition wall in the ditch is 0.24 m wide. The entire long strip domestication ditch is divided into 7-10 water troughs with smooth wooden boards. The water level difference between adjacent water troughs reaches 0.10-0.15 m. The slope ratio of the domestication ditch is 8%, forming a natural water flow drop. Escape prevention boards are set around the domestication ditch. The escape prevention boards extend into the ditch with a width of 5 cm. The water inlet pipe is suspended above the uppermost water trough and the water outlet is in the lowermost water trough. The water depth in the domestication ditch can be controlled by adjusting the water output and water inlet. The number of domestication ditches is determined according to the flow rate of mountain spring water or stream water. (3) Leak prevention of domestication ditches: A nylon waterproof cloth is laid at the bottom of the ditch and then a cement layer is poured on top; (4) Water depth and gravel arrangement at the bottom of the taming ditch: The water depth is controlled at 0.4-0.5 m. The bottom of the trough is covered with fine natural gravel, which is piled up from the upstream of the trough to form a slope, providing a selectable water depth environment for the farmed fish and meeting their different living needs. Large pebbles, schist and bluestone are placed in the upper layer to form the stone gaps and hiding spaces at the bottom of the taming ditch, creating a hiding and habitat space for the farmed fish. The height difference formed by the gravel is conducive to simulating the turbulent environment that the fish prefer and is also conducive to the attachment of benthic organisms. (5) Waterfall-like water flow: The top of the partition adopts an overflow structure with flush partitions to maintain a water level difference of 0.10–0.15 m between adjacent water tanks; mountain spring water or stream water with a flow rate of >350 L / min, which has been treated in a sedimentation tank, is introduced and falls from the upstream in stages to form a continuous micro waterfall in the ditch; the water flow impacts and oxygenates, simulating a natural rapid flow environment; (6) Light regulation: A shade shed is built above the aquaculture ditch using shade netting. The shade netting can be adjusted according to the weather to regulate the light intensity of the ditch and create suitable light conditions. (7) Construction of domestication ditches: Complete the construction of domestication ditches according to the parameters of domestication ditches in steps (1)-(6) above. After filling the domestication ditches with water, close the inlet and outlet. After introducing 50-200g of caddisflies into each ditch, add 20-50g of amino acid fertilizer paste and 10-20ml of concentrated Chlorella liquid. After a period of cultivation, when abundant algae, zooplankton and other food appear in the domestication ditches, start the collection of Huangshi catfish. (8) Collection of Huangshi mantis shrimp: Select Huangshi mantis shrimp caught from natural waters using fish traps or lift nets, and use Huangshi mantis shrimp transport devices to transport the collected Huangshi mantis shrimp to the breeding ditches in order to improve the survival rate of Huangshi mantis shrimp during transportation and reduce its transportation stress. (9) Temporary rearing of Huangshi mantis shrimp: The transported Huangshi mantis shrimp are subjected to temperature and water treatment for 30 minutes, and then soaked in a 5-10 mg / L potassium permanganate solution for 10-15 minutes. Oxygen is supplied during the soaking process. After soaking, they are temporarily reared in a rearing pond. (10) Stocking density of Huangshi mantis shrimp: 10-20 mantis shrimp are stocked in each tank and 70-200 mantis shrimp are stocked in a breeding ditch; (11) Domestication of Huangshi Crawfish: Feed selection: mainly tubifex worms, bloodworms, stoneflies and caddisflies. Feeding method: adopt fixed point + time feeding, feed once every 2-3 days, the amount of feeding is 1%-5% of the fish's body weight, and dynamically adjusted according to the feeding situation.

2. The method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch and waterfall system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step (2) Shape and specifications of the domestication ditch: The domestication ditch is a parallel long strip water trough, 20 m long, 0.6 m wide and 0.6 m deep. The partition wall in the ditch is 0.24 m. The entire long strip domestication ditch is divided into 7-10 water troughs with smooth wooden boards. The water level difference between adjacent water troughs reaches 0.10-0.15 m. The slope ratio of the domestication ditch is 8%, forming a natural water flow drop. Escape prevention boards are set around the domestication ditch facing the inside of the ditch. The escape prevention boards extend into the ditch with a width of 5 cm. The water inlet pipe is suspended above the uppermost water trough and the water outlet is in the lowermost water trough. The water depth in the domestication ditch can be controlled by adjusting the water flow and the water inlet. The number of domestication ditches is determined according to the flow rate of mountain spring water or stream water.

3. The method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch and waterfall system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step (4) Water depth and bottom gravel arrangement: The water depth is controlled at about 0.4-0.5 m. The bottom of the tank is covered with fine natural gravel, which is piled up from the upstream of the tank to form a slope, providing a selectable water depth environment for the farmed fish and meeting their different living needs. Large pebbles, schist and bluestone are placed alternately on the upper layer to form the stone gaps and hiding spaces at the bottom of the domestication ditch, creating a hiding and habitat space for the farmed fish. The height difference formed by the gravel is conducive to simulating the turbulent environment that they prefer and is also conducive to the attachment of benthic organisms.

4. The method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch and waterfall system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step (5) Creating a waterfall-like flow: The top of the partition adopts a "flush partition" overflow structure to maintain a water level difference of 0.10-0.15 m between adjacent water tanks; spring water or stream water with a flow rate of >350 L / min, which has been treated in a sedimentation tank, is introduced and falls from the upstream in stages to form a continuous micro waterfall in the ditch; the water flow impacts and oxygenates, simulating a natural rapid flow environment.

5. The method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch and waterfall system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step (6) Light adjustment: A shade shed is set up above the aquaculture ditch using shade netting. The shade netting can be adjusted according to the weather to adjust the light intensity of the ditch and create suitable light conditions.

6. The method for domesticating and raising Huangshi catfish using a ditch and waterfall system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step (10) Stocking density of Huangshi mantis shrimp: 10-20 mantis shrimp are stocked in each tank and 70-200 mantis shrimp are stocked in one breeding ditch; choose a reasonable stocking density according to the size of the Huangshi mantis shrimp.

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