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Effect of Feeding Frequency on Feed Consumption, Growth, and Feed Efficiency in Aquarium-reared Norris and NWAC103 Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)*

.— A 6-wk feeding study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding frequency on growth rate of juvenile Norris and NWAC103 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, reared under laboratory conditions. Four replicate groups of Norris and NWAC103 catfish (average weight of 4.0 ± 0.2 g/fish, SEM) were fed to visual satiety at different feeding frequencies (one, two, or three times daily). The percent of total daily food consumed for Norris catfish fed three times daily (0800, 1200, and 1600 h) was 44.4, 27.7, and 27.9%, respectively, while NWAC103 catfish consumed 42.9, 26.7, and 30.4%, respectively. Specific growth rate and feed intake were higher in fish fed three times daily compared to fish fed once and twice daily for both strains. Feed efficiency was reduced in NWAC103 fed three times daily compared to fish fed once or twice, while feed efficiency was similar among the Norris treatments. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract index ([weight of GI tract/weight of fish] × 100) decreased in NWAC103 catfish as feeding frequency increased, while a similar nonsignificant trend was also observed in Norris catfish. The results of this study demonstrate that aquarium-reared Norris and NWAC103 catfish fed three times a day consume more feed and gain more weight than catfish fed once or twice a day. The observed decrease in the GI index as a result of feeding more frequently demonstrates that the size of the GI tract increases, relative to body weight, when catfish are fed only once a day. Under laboratory conditions, the number of times a day the fish are fed should be considered when trying to maximize growth of NWAC103 and Norris strains of catfish.