The Director of Ang Thong Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Center has successfully experimented with raising "mud carp" in cages and is confident this will help farmers generate income.
On 22 Apr 2026 GMT+7, a reporter reported that Ms. Jirapa Phosri, Director of the Ang Thong Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Center, along with her team, introduced mud carp bred at the center into cages measuring 1x1x1.30 meters in Phong Pheng Canal, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, located in Village 6, Phong Pheng Subdistrict, Pa Mok District, Ang Thong Province.
Ms. Jirapa revealed that she brought mud carp broodstock from the Pathum Thani Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Center in 2016. They conducted breeding experiments until 2021, when they observed that mud carp could accept pellet feed instead of their natural flesh-based diet. This led to trials of raising them in cages in the river at Phong Pheng Canal.
They released one-year-old mud carp, about 16 cm long and weighing 50 grams, into 9 cages. The trials tested three stocking densities—20, 40, and 60 fish per square meter—with three cages per density, to monitor growth rates and determine the most suitable density. Fish size was measured monthly, and the cage trials lasted about six months before reassessing suitability.
The ideal water temperature for raising wild mud carp is around 28-31 degrees Celsius. Phong Pheng Canal, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, has appropriate temperatures and is a natural freshwater source well-suited for freshwater fish farming.
This cage-based mud carp farming trial in a natural water source is the first of its kind in Ang Thong Province and the Chao Phraya River basin. Currently, mud carp farming in natural waters mainly occurs only in two major areas: Kanchanaburi and Uttaradit provinces.
Mr. Wee Kijana, Ang Thong Provincial Fisheries Officer, stated that there are currently 158 farmers raising fish in cages across Ang Thong, covering 24,281 square meters. Most farm red tilapia, with some experimenting with giant freshwater prawn, catfish, and snubnose gourami.
If the mud carp farming trials succeed, it will add another freshwater species expected to generate substantial income for farmers. Domestic purchase prices are relatively high at 200 baht per kilogram, popular with restaurants, and the foreign market, such as China, has high demand with prices ranging from 500 to 700 baht per kilogram. Therefore, efforts are focused on mud carp farming primarily for export due to its high value.