Culture performance of diploid and triploid Chinese catfish Clarias fu
scus was evaluated at two temperatures (21.5 and 25.0 degrees C), and
with two feed formulations. New Age Pacific (NAP) feed (49% crude prot
ein and 18% crude lipid) and Catfish No. 2 (C2) feed (36% crude protei
n and 23% crude lipid) were provided once daily at 5% body weight. Aft
er 175 days, triploid fish gained more weight than diploids. Both dipl
oids and triploids grew faster at 25 degrees C than at 21.5 degrees C.
At the lower temperature, C2 feed enhanced fish growth compared with
NAP feed in both ploidies, while triploid fish gained more weight than
diploids only with C2 feed. Male C. fuscus grew faster than females r
egardless of ploidy. Neither fish survival nor condition factor differ
ed among treatments, but the condition factor in diploid males was low
er than others. If our results apply to commercial scale, culture of t
riploids at temperatures > 25 degrees C could improve total yield and
profitability. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.