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Catfish Feeding Guide From Fingerlings to Table Size

Tosed Farms

Nov 10, 2026

Feed is the largest cost in catfish farming, so how you feed matters as much as what you feed. Good feeding practice means faster growth, cleaner water and less money lost to waste.

Match the pellet to the fish

A fish should be able to swallow a pellet easily. Start small fish on a small pellet such as 2 mm and move up through the sizes, typically 3 mm, 4.5 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm, as they grow. Each feed manufacturer publishes a chart showing which pellet suits which fish weight. Follow it for the brand you use.

How much to feed

Young fish eat a larger share of their body weight than older fish. Small fish are often fed around 4 to 5 percent of their body weight per day, and this falls towards 2 percent or less as they approach table size. Weigh a sample of your fish every two weeks so you can adjust the ration to their real weight instead of guessing.

How often to feed

Feed small fish two to three times a day and larger fish twice a day. Keep to the same times and the same spot each day. Fish learn the routine and feed more actively.

Watch the fish, not just the scoop

Floating feed lets you see how the fish respond. Feed slowly and stop when their interest drops. Feed left uneaten is money wasted, and it rots in the pond and spoils the water.

Protect water quality

Overfeeding is the fastest way to foul a pond. Reduce feeding when the water is in poor condition, after heavy rain, or when fish are gasping at the surface, and change water as needed. Fish that are stressed do not convert feed well.

Sort your fish

Catfish grow at different rates and the bigger ones will prey on the smaller ones. Sorting by size from time to time reduces losses and lets you give each group the right pellet.

Keep records

Write down how much feed goes into each pond and how much weight the fish gain. Comparing the two tells you how efficiently your feed is being turned into fish, and it is the clearest measure of whether your feeding is working.

We stock floating fish feeds in a range of pellet sizes. Tell us the size of your fish and we will help you choose the right one.