Effect of feeding rate and feeding frequency on the growth performance of Indian Magur, Clarias batrachus

The impact of different feeding rates and feeding frequencies on the growth and survival of fingerlings of Indian magur, Clarias batrachus was studied by feeding supplementary diet composed of rice bran, mustard meal, meat cum bone meal and soybean meal (in equal proportions) @ 10 (FR), 20 (FR), 30 (FR), 40 (FR), 50 (FR) and 60% (FR) of body weight

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for 90 days. Feeding @ 20% (FR₂) resulted in maximum body weight gain and higher (P<0.05) Specific Growth Rate (SGR) as well as Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), when reared indoor. In another experiment, the fish were fed at three feeding frequencies viz. once a day (FF₁), twice a day (FF₂) and thrice a week (FF₃) for 60 days. The maximum increase in body weight was observed in treatment where fish was fed once a day (FF₁). No significant differences were observed for water quality with respect to different feeding rates and feeding frequencies. It was concluded that feeding rate @ 20% of body weight once a day is appropriate for indoor rearing of fingerlings ofClarias batrachus.