Stocking an unprepared pond requires the most labor and the storage of special feeds. Distribution of a finely ground feed over a large pond area may also be difficult due to weather conditions such as high wind and rain. Regardless of what pond preparation plan is followed, apply feed at 20 to 30 pounds per acre until fingerlings feed actively at the pond surface, usually around the fourth week after stocking. At this time, the small fingerlings can be fed nearly to satiation once or twice a day with a floating feed. In the first two weeks after stocking, a relatively small proportion of feed applied to a fry pond is eaten directly by the fish.
Uneaten feed is available to zooplankton that then becomes a food source.
Here, inorganic fertilizers are used to stimulate phytoplankton growth, which is a food source for zooplankton. In commercial catfish fry ponds, it is more efficient to apply high protein feeds directly to save time and to maximize survival. There are no approved treatments for predacious insects in channel catfish fry ponds. Consult your Extension specialist or area agent for the latest information on this problem. Information Sheet 1553 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture .