Growth and reproductive performance of the Asian catfish Clarias macrocephalus (Gunther) fed artificial diets.

Four natural ingredient diets similar in nutrient composition (crude protein = 42–44%; P/E ratio = 115–120 mg/kcal) but different in protein sources, were formulated and fed to hatchery-reared catfish to measure the relative performance of the catfish fed alternative broodstock diets. The control feed was a combination of fish-by-catch and commercial fish pellets. In trial I, growth of the catfish was slow over a 36-week period, but some fish became gravid. Diets 1, 2, and 3 and the control feed were tested in trial II. Growth of fish did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) and female fish in all treatments became gravid. For fish induced to spawn from April to August (1994), hatching rate showed significant differences among treatments (P < 0.05). Relative fecundity, fertilization and hatching rates, and production of 3-day-old larvae were significantly different among fish induced to spawn in November (1994) when another incubation setup was used. Among the diets, diets 2 and 3 best enhanced reproductive performance of the catfish.