Feeding the most suitable feed in a manner that results in fast growth and efficient feed conversion results in more efficient production and increased profits. Uneaten feed costs the producer directly in decreased profits and indirectly through degradation of water quality. Since about one-half of the variable production cost in catfish production is feed, the producer reduces the overall cost of production by using the most appropriate feed and feeding it in the manner that most efficiently produces fish.
Methods Feeding methods vary with fry, fingerlings, food fish, and brood fish.
The method used should provide ample feed to supply essential nutrients and energy necessary for rapid growth, good feed conversion, and maintenance of good health or, in the case of brood fish, good reproductive performance. Feeding fry Channel catfish fry are cultured inside in containers and outside in ponds. Culture in indoor troughs and tanks is usually for only a week or two and is used primarily to protect fry from predation but also allows the producer to stock larger and hardier fry into nursery ponds at known densities. Indoor fry culture also allows the producer to train the fry to artificial feed. The fry are stocked in nursery ponds and grown to suitable size for stocking into grow-out ponds.