Feed is a key factor in the success of fish farming. You need to ensure that the feed you use is appropriate for your farm, regardless of whether you are using local or foreign fish feeds.
Like I always say to my clients, the choice of feed that you use for your fish depends on several factors. This article will discuss the different types of feed you can use to fish farm.
4 FISH FEEDS TYPES YOU CAN USE
1. Pellets
Pellets are the most popular commercial feeds on the market. Depending on the species of fish being raised, these pellets can be either floating or sinking. Catfish and Tilapia like floating pellets. Prawns and lobsters prefer sinking pellets. You can find different sizes of pellets, so it is important to consider the size and needs of your fish before you buy. Because of the small size of their mouths, very small fish (hatchlings or fingerlings), will not be able eat large pellets. It will be wasteful to feed them pellets like this because the fingerlings will spend a lot time eating the pellets, with many of them still unattended.
2. Mash
It is a mix of various ground ingredients (crushed), which are then supplemented by nutrient premixes. These ingredients are bound together in most cases so they don’t separate during transport, storage, and feeding. They might have the same nutritional value as pellets. They are not pelletized. Mashed feeds work well for fingerlings who aren’t yet ready to eat larger pellets. They are great for larger fish but they can spread too much and cause fish to spend more energy trying to get enough food.
3. Ingredient Mixtures
These are usually made on the farm by small-scale entrepreneurs. They are similar to mash in that they only require ingredients to be mixed in a blender or mixer before being packaged and sold. They are less expensive, but they have the disadvantage of being more concentrated. This means that fish don’t get a uniform feed. When feeding on windy days, for example, the lighter ingredients may blow further away, while the heavier ingredients will come closer to the feeding point. This means that not all fish in the pond will be getting the same food.
4. Separate ingredients
Some farmers choose to feed their fish with the different feed items available at local markets, as there are no ready-made feeds. These could include soy bean cake or cotton seed cake, ground fish meal, and wheat bran, rice bran or wheat pollard. It is important to remember that fish need a balanced diet. Exercising only on high-protein ingredients will result in very high costs (excessive feeding can lead to water quality issues), and low-protein items will result in low harvest weights.
Things to consider when buying fish feed pellets
Availability
Before you choose your favorite fish feed brand, the first thing to look at is its availability in the market. It is not a good idea to buy a product that, after your fish have exhausted it, is no longer in stock.
Quality
High-quality fish food is better for your fish and your pond. Low-quality fish food can cause unsightly algae growth, and green water. A nutritious, high-quality, nutritious food should be low in phosphates. It should also contain vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and other nutrients that can help to reduce the risk of sickness and disease.
Packaging
It is important to choose fish food that has been properly packaged. To protect food from contamination, a foil bag that can be resealable is more effective than other packaging options.
Protein Source
As the first ingredient, look for whitefish meal (squid meal), anchovy meal (shrimp meal), blood meal, herring dinner, or any other aquaculture protein. These are the most nutritious protein sources for fish. Krill is a good source of protein and a great color-enhancer.
—Lima Machinery, the fish feed making machine manufacturer & supplier, can provide special customization. If you are interested, please be free to send your requirements and get a quote!