Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Were feeding the SPs and cats only sporadically and very little over winter.
Fish were grazing on algae but ignoring the pellets.

Have 16 cats in a Tub, 22 in IBC#2 and about 100 SPs and remainder of the 50 cats in IBC#1.
With temp in high 30s C. the fish were still ignoring the pellets while the SPs would make short meal of whole earthworms and cats would attack them as well
but would not be up to the task.

Being short of E/worns have tried a two-prong approach, beef liver and a Fish Oil Bait Enhancer.
Not knowing if the Bait Enhancer would prove fatal I did try it only on the cats in the Tub while giving a little thinly sliced liver pieces to the others.

Both successful.
Cats on Enhancer coated pellets vent wild over them and survived.
After three days have fed the enhanced pellets to the SPs as well and all got eaten.

Minced the rest of the liver and mixing it about ½ to ½ with pellets and with few drops of the enhancer to feed the lot till I run out of the liver.
Will be reducing the amount of the Bait Enhancer as well.

Is there other, (better) approach I could have taken? Any comments?

crikey, I have never had a silver perch need to be re-weaned. My approach would be not starve them for a few days then start throwing the pellets in. I have many broodfish that had never seen a pellet in their first 3 years that now pretty much feed from your hand. So re-weaning older ones shouldn't be a problem

also, if you are using the organic ones, some folks haven't had much luck with them so maybe get some fresh pellets.

yes, monya, that's what I've got

Yes as they get older there no good get some of kuda,s barra pellets and give them a go

that sorts that then

"kuda,s barra pellets"
bud they do look exactly as mine organic

bud his trouts would snatch a burger from your hand if you get to close to the IBC, leaving you all wet and short of few fingers,
I know, fed those trouts when he went away hiking for few days.

Have the pellets in small sealed containers.
For now, mixed with minced liver and few drops of the enhancer they eat the lot.

will see how it goes,
if needed, will get some from John in Glenwaters.
Thanks monya, Food&Fish

"kuda,s barra pellets"
bud they do look exactly as mine organic
Trust me they are not

The organic feed must be nearly 18 months+ old by now.... and remember it has no "preservatives"....

The protein and vitamin content has probably broken down by now... use for chook feed... and get some fresh stuff...

Thanks all, will get fresh one one.