Before you start a business, it is good to count the cost. How much does it cost to grow 1000 catfish in Nigeria in 2026?”
To arrive at an exact number, we must first understand that we all have different target weights.
To grow the fish to how large ?
If I am trying to grow my fish for sale to smoked fish sellers, that is about 300 grams in weight it will be at a different price to raise.
If I am set to sell to pepper soup or barbecue joints, about 700 grams to 1kg size , it would cost different to raise the fish.
This will also be at a different price to those who come to buy from the East who want very big fishes, 2kg or 3kg and above.
It would also take varying time to get to the different sizes, all this would affect how much it costs to grow the 1000 catfish.
So with that in mind, I will itemize 4 points that would help you determine the cost of growing 1000 catfish in Nigeria. Then we would arrive at a number.
1. The type of pond you use.
There are different types of fish rearing ponds.
The costs of raising 1000 fish in each of this different ponds would be different.
For example, an earthen pond will probably have water coming in from the ground. This would make it cheaper to manage.
Most earthen ponds have a stream or water source nearby and you would not be spending money on constructing and running a borehole for water.
So, definitely, adding the money for pumping water to a concrete pond or a tarpaulin pond makes it different.
There is also the circulatory system of raising catfish.
Most recirculatory systems need to be on 24 hours to be effective. So you need either solar or have plenty money for fuel for that to be productive.
This costs so much more money. This is usually covered up by putting an increased number of fish into the system to cover up those expenses.
2. The prices of fingerlings and juveniles.
The cost of raising 1000 catfish in Nigeria is also dependent on the price you purchase your fingerlings or Juveniles.
The current price of fingerlings is between 50 and 70 naira, while that of juveniles is between 100 and 150 naira, depending on the size at the time you buy it.
You might buy fingerlings because they are cheaper, but remember that you will still have to buy feed to feed them to grow to the size that the Juveniles would have been.
Also you have to quantify the time it would take to grow. Time is money.
Also remember that when you raise fish, not all of them would survive. It is a factual truth.
There would always be random fish mortality in a farm.
So if you want to harvest 1000 fishes, you should probably stock like 1200 fishes in your pond.
All this would increase the eventual number of how much it costs to grow 1000 catfish in Nigeria.
3. The cost of feed you use.
People raise catfish using different kinds of feed.
The different feeds , have different prices.
See this video I did , comparing fish feed prices.
Feed makes up about 70 percent of all the expense on a well planned fish farm.
A foreign feed is, of course, more expensive than our feeds which are made in Nigeria.
Our made in Nigeria feeds, I assure you are also as good.
If Profit is our ultimate goal, I dare say that our Nigerian feeds are more profitable to use than the foreign feeds.
Let me ask you this.
Which is more profitable to use of this two options. A foreign feed that costs N2500 per Kg, with an FCR of 1:1 or a made in Nigerian feed that costs N1500 per Kg with an FCr of 1:1.2 ?
You see that it the total expense on the Nigerian feed is N1800 which is still cheaper than the N2500 of the foreign feed.
This are important calculations you must know if you want to know how much it costs to raise 1000 catfish in Nigeria in 2026.
If you dont know the meaning of FCR, I would strongly advice that you join my fish farming online class and mentorship by talking to me directly on WhatsApp here +2348161385163.
You can also come to my farm to come and learn.
A word is enough for the wise.
I wrote this detailed article how to know the best fish feed to use for your catfish.
4. The cost of Staff/Operations.
See, the difference between profitable farms and farms that close down is in the planning and operations of the farm.
A good business should always strive to bring down expenses and increase profits.
This fish farming is a business and should be treated as such.
Reduce overhead costs as much as possible.
Some people pack a staff of 5 people for a fish farm of 5000 fishes.
I teach my students, 5000 fish and below, only 1 staff. 5000 fish to 15,000 fish 2 staff.
When you add all this salaries to the cost of production, it would increase the cost of raising the 1000 fish.
Fish is one of the easiest animals to raise and most days, after feeding them in the morning and evening, there’s not much work left to be done.
So, if you can reduce your staff to one to three people, that will be more likely profitable. I basically recommend one staff per 3000 fishes.
Please note that I am not adding the costs of fixed costs such as Land, Digging a borehole, Buying capital infrastructure like fish ponds to this conversation. I believe you understand that that would be made back over a long period of time.
5. Finally
If you buy Juveniles for N100, and fuel is averagely 1000 per litre in Nigeria now (add the cost of fuel for changing water 4 times in a month) , add the cost of staff salary (divide that by the total number of fish you are raising), add a 10% miscellaneous fee.
I think it is ideal to budget to raise a kilogram of catfish for between 2000 to 2500 naira . This is a fair estimate.
Some people might do it cheaper or more expensive, as I also have different figures in different types of my farms.
If you are just starting your fish farm project. I wrote this : How to start a fish farm successfully in Nigeria in 2026
You can also contact me for any question or any support I can render in helping you start your farm. I can only be reached on Whatsapp here +2348161385163.
It helps me so I can reply your message or your call, if I am not able to pick your normal call at the time
Finally, here is a gift for you for reading thus far.
Here is a video I taught on my farm on how much it costs to grow 1000 catfish in Nigeria
Cheers,
Your Fish Farming Mentor,
Akin “Akinfish’ Showemimo