What Feed are you using?

[Sylvia Bernstein]

I'd love to know what everyone is using for their feed.  I'm at the end of my last giant bag of AquaMax and would like to try something else, plus sell something very high quality on our website.  What do you use?  What have you tried in the past and stopped using?  Thanks!

[Kate Mink]

Actually I think some of that algae is GMO.

I just ran across this article
http://www.hanahou.com/pages/magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&Ar...

in Hawaiian Airlines' inflight mag. Very much a puff piece for a local algae designer. While they say that the algae are easy to hybridize, they also say "KAS selects a likely cultivar and manipulates its DNA" - without saying HOW that manipulation is achieved. It could be simple crossing or not. They have a patent on "gene positioning and expression strategies". Anyone know?

I think it would be way cool to have algae that could produce fuel and pharmaceuticals - until they get back into the ocean. So with all respect to a probably well-meaning scientist, I'm concerned.

Sorry, got a little off-topic there.



TCLynx said:

I had a read of the article. Don't let the Petro part of the name fool you, this isn't a petroleum product.
It actually sounds like a good thing. They have tested some farmed algae for use as a feed stock which is a good thing. Reducing pollution and also supplying something that might improve our fish feeds. Now if we can only find some ways to reduce the amount of GM corn and soy in the fish feeds.

By the way the algae is not some GM product. The only worry some aspect I see with the carbon capture algae farms is if there are other contaminants in the carbon emissions that would be bad.


David Hart said:

So.....after an entire 9 week study, this is what they come up with......
PPC does not change the composition of tilapia and does not increase tilapia mortality rates
So....no third eye and it doesn't kill the fish any quicker then normal.... :-)

Sahib Punjabi said:

PetroAlgae Protein Concentrate Confirmed as Replacement for High Quality Fishmeal in Tilapia Farming by University of Idaho Study
New Source of Protein Can Replace Menhaden Fishmeal in a Variety of Farmed Fish Species

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/petroalgae-protein-concentrate-con...

TCLynx said:

I had a read of the article. Don't let the Petro part of the name fool you, this isn't a petroleum product.
It actually sounds like a good thing. They have tested some farmed algae for use as a feed stock which is a good thing. Reducing pollution and also supplying something that might improve our fish feeds. Now if we can only find some ways to reduce the amount of GM corn and soy in the fish feeds.

By the way the algae is not some GM product. The only worry some aspect I see with the carbon capture algae farms is if there are other contaminants in the carbon emissions that would be bad.


David Hart said:

So.....after an entire 9 week study, this is what they come up with......
PPC does not change the composition of tilapia and does not increase tilapia mortality rates
So....no third eye and it doesn't kill the fish any quicker then normal.... :-)

Sahib Punjabi said:

PetroAlgae Protein Concentrate Confirmed as Replacement for High Quality Fishmeal in Tilapia Farming by University of Idaho Study
New Source of Protein Can Replace Menhaden Fishmeal in a Variety of Farmed Fish Species

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/petroalgae-protein-concentrate-con...

[David Hart]

Lol Kobus....."Frankenalgae" .

I've always liked "B" horror / sci-fi flicks. I've always dreamed of writing/directing one........Kobus, you could play the 'mad scientist', and TC could be your lovely assistant. We'd have to find an actor that looks like Al Gore.

You invite him to the lab, to see what will 'save the world' from Global warming/cooling. And, of course , he's the first one, to have his face melted off by this "Frankenalgae"

So sorry....I just awoke from my afternoon nap....still in the 'fog'...lol

[TCLynx]

The one article I read said they were not using GMO algae. I'm not keen on eating any GMO stuff and it bothers me a bit that I'm sure I'm probably eating it every day seeing as most canola, corn, soy and sugar beet are heavily GMO here in North America.

Anyway, I expect Kobus is right, that one company probably started out trying to do algae for fuel and probably ran into those problems so is now trying to make some other possible profit from the algae growing techniques they have figured out.
Hopefully they stick with Non GMO stuff and some university ag aquaculture departments start studying the stuff in some longer term studies. (as the the short study they already did, I have a feeling that the announcement was probably drafted and the study just wasn't very far along.)
Will just have to wait and see I guess.

I'll keep working on growing other stuff or catching other stuff for fish food too.

[sherrie p cockram]

I am looking for the best Tilapia feed I can get. I am feeding the feed that came with the Tilapia I ordered but I don't know what it is and don't think it's much good. My fingerlings are about 21/2 inches long now...I have Duckweed in my 300 gallon fish tank, it also came with my Tilapia order..So when you come up with a feed source, I'll be anxious to know!

[aubrey sloan]

 I was using Premium fish food out of Missouri.their fingerling pellet.Need larger pellets,now that they are over 8 inches.So I Ordered Aqua Max Pond Plus 3000,  50 lb bag through a local seed and feed store.Please tell me that I didn't goof.

[Cecil Dale Baird]

I use Purina Mills Aquamax for the fish in my recirc systems, aquaponics, and ponds. It's a pretty good feed but if I had a choice I would go with Silver Cup or Zeiglers.  The main reason  I get Aquamax is it's availability at my local Purina dealer. 

One concern I have with Aquamax is the amount of fatty deposits in my fish. My pond trout become obese even though I feed them only once a day to satiation vs. twice a day as recommended.  My thoughts are there are too many carbs in the feed.

[Cornelius Michél du Plooy]

Does anyone here know of good fish food in South Africa? The fisheries in my area make their own fish food and I haven't found one that the fish really like.

Please let me know.

[John McCaw]

Ma'am;

 

  I am using good old MEALWORMS for my bunch of wild caught perch, and sunfish. They seem to like freezedried over the "baked" ones, and they LOVE fresh ones whenever I find them while moving firewood. They took to them like white to rice! I also toss a few chunks of KOI pellet food in while the frenzie is going on, and they do not seem to mind. I have 14 of the little guys in a 100 gallon rubbermaid tank, that has about 50 gallons more available water from the two sumps.

[Cornelius Michél du Plooy]

Hi John

Thanks for the info on mealworms, and might I inquire if you were addressing all or me? Cause I ain't no madam...lol

Enjoy the day...

[Bob DeBon]

If someone is interested in buying a certain brand of manufactured fish food, consider forming or joining a local or regional buyers co-op to lower the overall cost of the food.

A way to lower the shipping cost of the feed and get the bulk pricing would be to form a local co-op group of individuals wanting to buy the feed. One person who has the ability to receive the pallet(s) of food could take the initiative to form the co-op and with consent of the members take a small % for their troubles. Someone knowledgeable of LTL truck shipping only please. If you try to screw the trucking company because you tried having pallets shipped to a residence, you will end up paying much more in the end to get the stuff delivered (i.e. redelivery charge because a semi couldn't get to your house, lift gate service etc.). One option for pallet delivery to a non-commercial property would be to find a local LTL (less than truckload) trucking company who offers lift gate service on smaller (24ft box trucks - the size of the largest u-haul truck). Remember that the trucking companies don't do 'white glove" service. Meaning that the truck has only one person,  the driver, on board. That means that the pallet of food will be left on the street or maybe in your driveway if the driver can get it there with the simple equipment he has on board. It won't be broken down from the wrapped pallet for you. It won't get put in your basement or in your garage or your outbuilding at the back of the property. These are commercial trucking companies that just deliver to commercial accounts. The truck pulls up, the freight gets off loaded, and the truck is on its way. All within 15 minutes or less. Any more time than that and the trucking company is going to charge an hourly fee for labor and/or detention.

Another option for someone with a capable truck or trailer set up would be to pick up your pallet from the trucking company's terminal yourself. If you go this route, please make sure that your set up is in good road worthy condition and that it is rated to carry the weight. A full pallet of food could be 2500 lbs. or more. Check with the trucking company's local terminal to see if they are able to street load a vehicle since most terminals are set up for semi trailer dock heights. They would need a ramp that would allow the forklift to bring the pallet(s) from the loading dock of the terminal down to street level. If you go this route ask for a shipper dock to terminal price since the local terminal doesn't have to deliver it. Need to find a good LTL trucking company that services your area?  Use the phone book, the internet, or look around and see whose delivery trucks are servicing the local manufacturers and businesses and give them a call for a quote. Note that many smaller trucking companies have networking agreements with other and/or larger trucking companies to bring in freight that is not from their primary service areas. Another way to find a suitable trucking company would be to contact the shipper to see who they work with well that could handle your particular delivery situation.

The co-op could be set up to get a once a month or once a quarter delivery date, then set up a date for distribution when the members can come and pick it up. Just make sure members pre-pay at least some portion by pay-pal or something so that the one running the show doesn't get stiffed by a no show.