A number of us are now getting into rainbow trout because our Perth winter is the ideal time to stock them.
These fish available in Perth outlets are sourced from Pemberton. Their genetics allow them to tolerate up to 24-26 degrees Celsius. I’m fact, due to rising water temperatures from global warming, Canadian researchers came to WA to study our stock.
I’d expect by September/October, they’d get to ~30cm easily. Our short growout time means we would never get them as big as these pictured.
When I worked in Tasmania, water was abundant, and fish are grown in flow-through raceways. Rainbow trout have intermediate water quality requirements, because where they farmed multiple species, they’d have their first-pass water for the Atlantic salmon, then to rainbow trout, and lastly, to brown trout. This makes them suitable for recirculating and aquaponics systems.
You’d feed to satiation as often as you’re able to, to get maximum growth rate. You’d need to eyeball, and test water quality to see how much your biofilter can handle.
These fish need high dissolved oxygen, otherwise they can easily die from anoxia. This is why, when you buy them, the pack them with little water, and a whole lot of oxygen. So when you have them in your system, you’ve to ensure you use supplemental aeration, especially as the weather gets warmer.
One more note, if they ever become sick with diseases, don’t simply medicate because many drugs are not registered for use in food-fish. Make sure you get them checked out by The Fish Vet.
Apart from these, they have no specific, special requirements.
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Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist.
PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.
Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 421 822 383
