The perfection of culture techniques for the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) has been aided by the commercial demand for fingerlings, by the fact that the catfish is "precocial" by the time the yolk sac is absorbed, is not cannibalistic, and readily utilizes artificial feeds early in life. Several techniques have been developed for producing catfish fingerlings, but the method that appears most acceptable for the production of large numbers of fingerlings is by the pond spawning/trough incubation technique. The principal advantages of this method are that it makes possible a high survival of fingerlings and control ofdensity in the rearing ponds. Where it is desired to mate selected individuals, the aquarium method or the pen method are particularly attractive. There is interest in tank rearing of fingerlings; however, due to the characteristics of the channel catfish, the authors question that this method will have any advantage over the pond method. Most parasitic diseases of catfish fingerlings are well understood, but their control has been adversely affected by legal restrictions on the use ofchemotherapeutics. Currently there is need for further investigation, especially in genetics, economics of feeds, and techniques for maintaining desirable environmental conditions.
