Catfish frays were distribute on three groups: A – fish fed artificial diet, B – fish fed combined
diet, C – fish fed natural food, during three weeks stocking under controlled condition. Two variants
of density were applied in each experimental group – 7.5 (1) and 15 (2) ind dm-3. Combine diet
(natural food and trout starter) appeared the most effective. The mean body weight on termination
of the experiment in these groups was 1203.5 and 815 mg (respectively in B1 and B2). Commercial
trout starter was utilized readily and enough to obtain by larvae the mean body weight 848 mg and
966 mg in A1 and A2 respectively. Cumulative mortality was lowest in groups fed natural food, but
poor growth ratio made impossible efficient intensive rearing. The experiment proved that
1) preliminary phase of rearing of European catfish larvae could relay on artificial food only, 2) natural
food addition elevates survival and growth ratio, 3) Low initial stocking density limits cannibalism.