I have a few years experience growing both crappie species and the hybrid using pellets. Higher protein feeds like used so salmon and trout are better than feeds made for catfish. Secondly, growth rates I have been able to realize do not match even bluegill under identical conditions even though on natural feeds like minnows the crappie can blow the door off bluegill when it comes to growth rate.

We are missing something major with feeding crappie as the feeds are not supporting their full capacity for growth.

Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri