If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Why do you think many fish farmers fail ? That is why I wrote this catfish farming for beginners post.
Starting a backyard catfish farm at home in Nigeria is one of the simplest and most rewarding agribusiness ventures you can begin with limited space and modest capital.
Whether you live in a very developed area , or even in a rented apartment. Your fish farming idea can start and then grow into something you can develop. Here I outline 5 things to consider as a beginner in catfish farming in Nigeria in 2026.
You can set up a profitable backyard fish farm using simple materials and good aquaculture skills.
1. You must have water as a beginner in Catfish farming.
Water is the most important thing in fish farming. Every beginner in catfish farming in Nigeria in 2026 must first think of water !
It is called Aquaculture for a reason. Aquaculture means growing something inside water.
So water is the first and most important thing for you to consider. Just as God did not design a human being to be buying oxygen to breathe is how God did not design fish to suffer for water.
Please also strongly consider, how you would let water out. You would drain water in catfish farm. After the fish uses the water and it is dirty. You have to change it and let it go. Is there a gutter or drainage nearby that you can let water run through ?
If you have a borehole, or a good well or a land that has a stream or water way on it – en en ! You can consider this business. Come closer , lets talk.
2. Get Trained. Please don’t belittle training or mentorship
Why should you fail where other people have failed ? Why should you make mistakes ?
You don’t have to. You can learn from someone. Find a catfish farmer in your area to show you how to raise fish properly.
Learn the numbers and adjustments that make a successful fish farm. Know what kind of feeds to use, understand what FCR (feed conversion ratio) means, know what kind of fish to raise and what size to raise it to that your market wants.
This is 2026, most fish farmers, like myself have a online mentorship structure to walk with you and guide you till harvest as you. Please find a way to learn properly before you start a backyard catfish farm at home.
Akinfish always opens his farm in Ibadan Asher Ponds and Garden for people to visit and learn from. If you cannot come to the farm then you can join my online class and mentorship.
3. Explore and secure your market ; notice that I said ‘your’ market and not ‘the’ market.
Because everybodys market is different.
Do you want to sell to peppersoup sellers or barbecue sellers? Do you want to sell smoked fish or do you want to have a barbecue outlet yourself ? Different target market means you would raise your fish to different sizes that the market requires.
If I am to start a backyard catfish farm in Nigeria in 2026 , I would realise secure who would buy my fish before I even start that backyard catfish farm.
Your mentor would show you where and how to sell your fish. I do this for all my students. I tell them where to go and ask questions, and where to find fish buyers in their areas.
How much does it cost to raise 1 fish to 1kg ? How much would you sell it ?
Please, as you are start a backyard catfish farm in Nigeria 2026, strongly consider fish processing. This is also called dried fish or smoked fish. Smoked fish brings more profit. It increases your profit by about 13 percent.
The best part is that for a small farm. You dont even need to own your own fish smoking kiln.
Many farms around you already have the smoking kiln and would allow you rent it or even smoke and pack your fish for you for a small fee.
You would just need materials such as sealing machine and Nafdac grade nylons and you are good to go!
4. What type of Ponds should you use use as a beginner in catfish farming?
There are different fish pond types and they best suit different fish farming activities.
People use tanks, earthen ponds, fiberglass setups, concrete ponds, mobile fish ponds, and recirculatory systems.
To start a small backyard catfish farm, please just stick with Tarpaulin Ponds and Tanks. Dont even think of concrete ponds or an earthen pond.
Asher Mobile Tarpaulin ponds are strong, reliable and guaranteed for 5 years.
When starting a catfish farm in 2026, make sure you know your stocking density.
You should know the exact number of fish to that each pond can take. Overstocking means your fish wont grow well, understocking means you aren’t maximizing your space.
Have you heard of the L*b*h*5/3 formula ?
A 10*10*4ft mobile pond would take about 800 fish. For Tanks you have to budget 20-10 litres for 1 fish.
5. The Administration of Agriculture
The truth friends, is that there is a lot of non-technical issues in and around our environment that can be either a support or hindrance to catfish farming for beginners in 2026.
The right staff or unproperly trained staff can make or mar your business.
Also the fact that we are small now, does not mean we should not write down our figures and numbers. All our expenses should be recorded.
We might also show our records to people that can give us a loan or grant.
If we do proper record keeping, the business can grow.
The almighty Fish FEED issue
See how I left fish feed to the end ?
Because if you follow this my guide- catfish farming for beginners, your only major expense on the farm should be fish feed.
Fish feed should be about 70% of the expense on a well-set-up fish farm.
If you set up your catfish farm properly then you should have feed expense, water change, cost of fingerlings and juvenile, and cost of labor (staff salary) as your topmost expense in your fish farm.
In this page, I advise people on the best fish feed to use.
Now I know that you have heard that you can make your own feed, it is true.
However, if you are reading this article: catfish farming for beginners , please don’t bother your head with the idea of making your own feed.
There are good and economic fish feeds available right now. You can use imported fish feeds like Skretting and Coppens or made in Nigeria feeds like Vital, Top, Bluecrown or Ecofloat feeds.
You can contact me for any question or support I can render to help you start your farm. I can be reached on Whatsapp here +2348161385163.
It helps me so I can reply your message or your call.
Finally, here is my gift for you for reading this far.
Here is a video I showed how to start a small scale backyard fish farm in Nigeria
Cheers,
Your Fish Farming Mentor,
Akin “Akinfish’ Showemimo
Talk to Akinfish on Whatsapp +2348161385163 here
