Formulation of the most desirable feed which satisfy the nutritional requirement of catfish ( Clarias gariepinus)
larvae is one of major task in development of aquaculture packages of practices of the catfish. To evaluate the
effect of live food organisms and several feed formulation on the survival and growth of catfish larvae
experiments were carried out. Treatments for starter feed includes zooplankton and artemia naupli as live food
organisms and carp micro-feed (formulated ration) were fed to the experimental catfish larvae.
The growth of catfish larvae was significantly (P<0.05) higher in zooplankton fed condition. The mean final
weight attained by catfish larvae was 197.3 mg and 126.7 mg, respectively, feeding with zooplankton and
artemia naupli. The mean survival rate for C. gariepinus fry fed on zooplankton and artemia naupli at the end of
4 weeks experiment was 53.3% and 56.8%, respectively. Absolute mortality was evidenced for larvae fed under
carp micro-feed. An increased zooplankton density in nursing water (423 to 1268/L) did not influence (P>0.05)
the growth of larvae. Larval growth was significantly (P<0.05) increased at increasing density ( 604 to 1813/L of
artemia naupli in nursing water. Survival rate of larvae was found to decrease as the feeding rate of artemia
naupli increased while zooplankton fed larvae showed increased survival rate (77.0 to 82.0%) in response to
increase in feeding rate.

Formulation of the most desirable feed which satisfy the nutritional requirement of catfish ( Clarias gariepinus)
larvae is one of major task in development of aquaculture packages of practices of the catfish. To evaluate the
effect of live food organisms and several feed formulation on the survival and growth of catfish larvae
experiments were carried out. Treatments for starter feed includes zooplankton and artemia naupli as live food
organisms and carp micro-feed (formulated ration) were fed to the experimental catfish larvae.
The growth of catfish larvae was significantly (P<0.05) higher in zooplankton fed condition. The mean final
weight attained by catfish larvae was 197.3 mg and 126.7 mg, respectively, feeding with zooplankton and
artemia naupli. The mean survival rate for C. gariepinus fry fed on zooplankton and artemia naupli at the end of
4 weeks experiment was 53.3% and 56.8%, respectively. Absolute mortality was evidenced for larvae fed under
carp micro-feed. An increased zooplankton density in nursing water (423 to 1268/L) did not influence (P>0.05)
the growth of larvae. Larval growth was significantly (P<0.05) increased at increasing density ( 604 to 1813/L of
artemia naupli in nursing water. Survival rate of larvae was found to decrease as the feeding rate of artemia
naupli increased while zooplankton fed larvae showed increased survival rate (77.0 to 82.0%) in response to
increase in feeding rate.