Field trials on culture of Clarias batrachus

Culture of Magur, Clarias batrachus on an experimental basis was carried out for a total of 159 days in 6 earthen ponds each of 0.02 ha in area, singly in 2 ponds and in combination with Rohu, Labeo rohita in 4 ponds. Three different artificial feeds were used. Growth of Magur varied from 89 to 110 and survival form 93 to 100%. Out of the 3 feeds used, feed formulation 2 yielded better results. Length-weight relationship parameters were found as log W=0.4979067+1.878346 log L; -1.1116438+2.3511497 log L; and -1.238157+2.433125 log L indicating growth to be not isometric. Relative condition factor (K u) was close to or higher than 1.0 only in fishes higher than 200 mm of total length; K. values which were less than 1.0 up to January, reached values greater than 1.0 by March-April. Condition appears to be influenced by spawning rather than feeding.