1
Your farm system
Tell us about your pond, cage, tank or raceway — and how many fish you'd like to grow.
m³ (volume)
⚠️ Survival is the same in all three scenarios on this page. Higher density does not earn that survival automatically — it must be bought with aeration, supplemental oxygen, water exchange and closer monitoring. Without those, actual survival will fall below the rate shown and the harvest and profit figures below will be overstated.
Stocking plan
Fingerlings to stock
—
Fish at harvest
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Harvest biomass
—kg
Cycle length
—weeks
2
Water quality check
Bad water is the #1 reason fish die. Test these four things in the morning, then enter your readings. These readings are advisory and do not change the feed or profit figures in steps 3 and 4.
Dissolved oxygen
target ≥ 5 mg/L
—
Temperature
target 26–30°C
—
pH
target 6.5–8.5
—
Ammonia (NH₃)
target < 0.5 mg/L
—
How to test these in the field →
Oxygen: Use a DO meter or a test kit (Hanna, JBL). Test at sunrise — that's when oxygen is lowest.
Temperature: A simple thermometer works. Take readings at 30 cm depth.
pH: Test strips or a pen-style meter. Test mid-morning.
Ammonia: Drop test kits are inexpensive. Test weekly, more often if fish are gasping at the surface.
Temperature: A simple thermometer works. Take readings at 30 cm depth.
pH: Test strips or a pen-style meter. Test mid-morning.
Ammonia: Drop test kits are inexpensive. Test weekly, more often if fish are gasping at the surface.
3
Feed plan & FCR
Feed is 60–70% of your cost. We calculate exactly how much you need each week.
—
Total feed (kg)
—
Total feed cost (ZMW)
—
Economic FCR
ZMW
Floating tilapia pellet, Lusaka 2026: ~ZMW 16–25/kg.
Auto-computed from the TCoE Growth Chart for your weights.
Weekly feed schedule
Each row is a sample week of the cycle. Use this to plan feed purchases.
4
Costs & profit
All numbers in Zambian Kwacha. Adjust prices and costs to match your area.
ZMW
Zambia retail 2026: ZMW 24–51/kg. Check what buyers in your area actually pay.
ZMW
Certified hatchery fingerlings, Zambia 2026: ~ZMW 1.00–1.50 each.
Other costs (per cycle)
ZMW
ZMW
ZMW
Feed and fingerling costs are calculated automatically.
Cost breakdown
About this tool. Built by Tilapia Centre of Excellence (Lusaka, Zambia) for smallholder fish farmers. The growth model uses TCoE's piecewise tilapia growth curve calibrated to Zambian conditions. Defaults are tuned for Lusaka-area pricing in 2026. The feed schedule is derived from the TCoE Growth Chart feed-rate series; bio FCR is auto-computed from your chosen weights. Break-even excludes cage, nets, moorings and pond construction.
Disclaimer. Outputs are planning estimates. Actual results depend on water quality, feed quality, fingerling quality, weather, and management. Always start conservative and keep records to improve your next cycle.
Need help? Visit tilapiacentreofexcellence.com, email contact@tilapiacentreofexcellence.com