Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I purchased fingerlings and introduced them to my system on oct 1st 08. They have been eating 2mm starter pellets supplemented with watercress lettuce etc. Should i change to a different feed now that they are between 150mm and 200mm in size? If i can feed them a sole carniverous diet would that be more beneficial than a diet with veg added? Would they bulk up more on pellet fish food only? Is there a difference in the composition of the different feeds or is it just the size of the pellet.
peace
Pete

I don;t really know. I do know that as soon as mine could fit them in their mouths, they preferred the bigger pellets... less effort than the tiny ones.

You could move them onto 3mm... or even start them with a 50:50 mix for a couple of weeks...

Generally rule of thumb is you should feed a pellet half the size of your fishes gape (open mouth)...

As pellet size grows... along with fish growth.... the percentage of protein in the feed decreases... as the fish don't have the same requirement as when younger...

Likewise, the frequency of feeding decreases...

I was feeding mine on 2mm and then thought I should get rid of the 1mm bag so have been giving them that. It spreads out better so every one can have a go. But I wasn't thinking that it was taylored so I might have to start on the 3 and 4mm.

My concern is i am less than half way through a 20kg bag of 2 mm pellets. If i switch to a bigger pellet size and store the 2mm will they deteriorate in quality between now amd sept when i introduce my next lot of fingerlings. I mean to say i dont want to waste the pellets i have. Is it going to hurt my fish to swim around a bit more to get all the 2mm they can eat? If the protein requirements of fish deminishes with an increase in their size, what is it replaced with? Is the veg content for silvers absolutely neccesary? Im thinking of harvesting in may that means a 4 month supply of an alternative feed. If i buy in small quantities that means an increase in my net costs. Or to put it another way how long does a bag of food sealed in a plastic dustbin last for? I could buy bulk 4 or 5 mm pellets and just move my fish on to them as the need arises.
peace
Pete

analysis of starter feed
Particle Size
Product Name Pellet Size (mm) Diameter
Start Dust Dust
Start 1 1 - 1.8mm (Crumble)
Start 2 2mm
Start 3 SC 3mm Short Cut
Start 3 LC 3mm Long Cut

Packaging 20kg


Energy Distribution
Standard Percentage %
Oil 20
NFE 14
Protein 66




(Values for all feed types - Digestible energy)

Store in a cool dry place. Protect from rain and direct sunlight.
For guarantee of vitamin levels use within six months of manufacture date.

Indicative Composition
Fish meal, oils of marine and vegetable origin, cereals, animal and vegetable protein meals, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, mould inhibitor, antioxidant (ethoxyquin).




Nutritional Declaration
Standard Percentage %
Crude Protein (%)¹ 54
Crude Fat (%)¹ 10
Nitrogen Free Extract (%)² 16
Fibre (%)² 2
Ash (%)² 8
Phosphorus (%)² 1.4
Gross Energy (MK/Kg)² 19.46
Digestible Energy (MJ/Kg)² 16.81

¹Declared value
²Due to natural variation in raw materials these are indicative values



Ecological Value

this is the analysis of the grow out ration
Particle Size
Product Name Pellet Size (mm) Diameter
Native Fish 38/10 4mm
Native Fish 38/10 6mm

Packaging - 25kg. Bulk bags on request
(Minimum quantity applies)


Energy distribution
Standard Percentage %
Oil 25
NFE 18
Protein 57


Store in a cool dry place. Protect from rain and direct sunlight.
For guarantee of vitamin levels use within six months of manufacture date

Indicative Composition
Fish meal, oils of marine and vegetable origin, cereals, animal and vegetable protein meals, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, mould inhibitor, antioxidant (ethoxyquin).

Nutritional Declaration
Standard Percentage %
Crude Protein (%)¹ 38
Crude Fat (%)¹ 10
Nitrogen Free Extract (%)² 16
Fibre (%)² 2
Ash (%)² 11.2
Phosphorus (%)² 1.6
Gross Energy (MJ/Kg)² 15.69
Digestible Energy (MJ/Kg)² 13.38

¹Declared value
²Due to natural variation in raw materials these are indicative values

For pricing and other inquiries, please call on 1800 268 200 or email aquafeed@ridley.com.au

Store in a cool dry place. Protect from rain and direct sunlight
For guarantee of vitamin levels use within six months of manufacture date

there does not seem to bit a big difference between the 2 feeds. 9% less protein and a bit more ffat, oil and nfe?. the pellets keep for 6mths if stored correctly according to the blurb.

Think they just cover themselves. A lot of different feeds keep well but there are sometimes weevel eggs that start to eat the feed if you leave it too long. Not sure if fish feed counts. I've still got 60kgs of feed I will not get through in six months. Might have to look at cold storage. Throw them in the bottom of the freezer. I never know whats down there anyway.

i am ordering pellets tomorrow. I was goimg to get ridley aqua native grower. They come in 4 mm or 6 mm which size would best suit a 299 mm silver?
peace rainbows and puppies
pete

4mm for sure... but at that size... and growing you could probably go to a 6mm... actually @ 30cm they're near enough to plate size... you could definitely go a 6mm.... how long you been growing them out??

What size have you been feeding up until now??? ... you can always mix a bit of the smaller feed in with the new bigger stuff...

my bad typo, they are aprox 200mm. I have been feeding them native starter 2mm. I have had them since oct 1st. i think ill go with 6mm, like you say i can mix up the two pellets. I was more concerned with optimal growth.

I found that the fingerlings were big enough to start eating 4mm pellets after 3 months growth (started them on 2mm).

I didn't try any latger size due mainly to the economics...the fish grew to +500 grams and I had very little waste (like 1.2 bag of fish pellets of different sizes.

Mt recommendation is to stay with 2 and 4 mm sizes and try and share the cost with other BYAP locals - not sure of other forumers in your area tho

Yeah, I'd go the 4mm.... the 6mm is really only for finishing off... over 400-1000gms....

As Les says... if you're goin to be eating them around 500gms... then the 4mm will get them through...