Growout performance of diploid and triploid Chinese catfish Clarias fuscus

Culture performance of diploid and triploid Chinese catfish Clarias fuscus was evaluated at two temperatures (21.5 and 25.0°C), and with two feed formulations. New Age Pacific (NAP) feed (49% crude protein and 18% crude lipid) and Catfish No. 2 (C2) feed (36% crude protein and 23% crude lipid) were provided once daily at 5% body weight. After 175 days, triploid fish gained more weight than diploids. Both diploids and triploids grew faster at 25°C than at 21.5°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 regardless of ploidy. Neither fish survival nor condition factor differed among treatments, but the condition factor in diploid males was lower than others. If our results apply to commercial scale, culture of triploids at temperatures > 25°C could improve total yield and profitability.