EUROPEAN CATFISH (SILURUS-GLANIS L) EARLY FEEDING WITH 4 STARTERS ANDZOOPLANKTON

Four starter feeds and zooplankton were tested in early European catfi sh fry in 201 flow-through aquaria at a water temperature 24-26 degree s C for the period of 25 days. Following starter feeds were tested: tr out starters (TROUVIT and TACO), European catfish starter (ALMA Welsfu tter) and the universal starter feed (INRA). Zooplankton caught in pon ds was a control group. Al the beginning of rearing, Rotatoria, Copepo da and small Cladocera were given to the fry; later, medium and bigger Cladocera were the food of the fry. Initial (0 day of rearing) weight of fish was 8.9 mg. At the end of experiment, apart from zooplankton, the best results were reached with ALMA feed. The highest final indiv idual weight (420.7 mg.ind(-1)) was reached with ALMA feed followed by zooplankton (384.9 mg.ind(-1)), but the cumulated survival rate was l ower (36% and 59%, respectively). The specific growth rates of fish wi th ALMA starter and zooplankton were 10.7-26.2 and 10.2-21.6, respecti vely, and feed conversion ratio 0.8-2.7 and 5.4-14.3, respectively. Th e results of feeding the fry with trout starter were inferior to ALMA and zooplankton. Fry fed INRA feed manifested an excellent survival bu t grew slowly. It can be concluded that the ALMA Welsfutter starter fe ed is suitable for feeding young catfish under conditions of controlle d environment just from the beginning of food acceptance.