A 10-wk experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing a 5% tristearin basal diet with linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)], linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)], an n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (n-3 HUFA) mixture, cod liver oil, corn oil or linseed oil on growth and fatty acid composition of the liver polar lipid fraction of fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The lowest weight gain was observed in fish fed the basal diet. Weight gain was improved by certain levels of supplemental n-3 fatty acids. Fish fed a diet containing 2% 18:3(n-3) grew at the same rate as fish fed a diet containing 2.5% cod liver oil plus 2.5% corn oil. The best growth rate was observed in fish fed diets containing either 5% cod liver oil or 5% linseed oil. Growth rate was depressed by supplementation with 4% 18:3(n-3) or 1.25% n-3 HUFA mix. No improvement in growth rate was observed with dietary 18:2(n-6). Dietary linolenate was converted to docosahexaenoic acid [22:6(n-3)]. The ratio of 20:3(n-9) to 22:6(n-3) of the fish showing good growth was less than 0.4. The data obtained in this experiment indicate that n-3 fatty acids are essential for channel catfish and that the 18:3(n-3) or n-3 HUFA dietary requirement is 1.0-2.0% or 0.5-0.75%, respectively.