Aquaculture profitability depends on three multiplying factors that are easy to get wrong when estimated by eye: survival rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and growth period. This calculator chains them together — starting from fingerlings stocked, through expected harvest weight, to final revenue and cost — so a single optimistic assumption doesn't quietly inflate your whole projection.
Total Harvest Weight = Fingerlings Stocked × Survival Rate × Harvest Size (kg). Feed Cost = Total Weight Gain × FCR × Feed Price. Net Profit = (Harvest Weight × Selling Price) − (Feed Cost + Fingerling Cost + Labor/Operating Cost).
| Species | Growing Period | Typical FCR | Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilapia | 6-8 months | 1.4-1.7 | 80-90% |
| Catfish | 5-7 months | 1.2-1.5 | 85-92% |
| Carp (Rohu/Katla) | 8-10 months | 1.8-2.2 | 75-85% |
For 5,000 tilapia fingerlings at 85% survival, harvested at 500g average, FCR 1.5, feed at PKR 180/kg, sale price PKR 400/kg: Harvest weight = 5,000 × 0.85 × 0.5 = 2,125 kg. Feed cost = 2,125 × 1.5 × 180 ≈ PKR 573,750. Revenue = 2,125 × 400 = PKR 850,000. After feed, fingerling, and labor costs of roughly PKR 700,000 total, net profit lands near PKR 150,000 for the cycle — illustrating why feed cost control matters more than almost any other factor in fish farming margins.
Well-managed ponds with good water quality typically see 80-90% survival for tilapia and catfish. Poor oxygenation, overcrowding, or disease outbreaks can push mortality well above 30%, which is why water quality monitoring is worth the investment.
FCR depends on the fish's natural metabolism and feeding efficiency — carnivorous or omnivorous fast-growing species like catfish convert feed more efficiently than herbivorous or slower-growing species like carp, which need more feed per kilogram of growth.
Tilapia and catfish typically reach 400-600g market size in 5-8 months under good conditions; carp species generally need 8-10 months to reach comparable harvest weight.
Higher stocking density increases total harvest weight but also raises feed cost, oxygen demand, and disease risk — pushing density beyond what your aeration and water exchange can support usually reduces survival rate enough to erase the expected gain.