Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

After changing to a popular name brand 4mm floating pellet, I went out the next day and discovered nearly all my Silver Perch are dead ! At two years old, they were getting close to harvest.

Has anyone else had issues with a change of feed killing your fish?

I don't have any pictures yet because I need to go to work.

Derek

We need to no more info whats the food brand [how old it is some food wont keep ] how many fish in how much water ect any info may help

Thats really disappointing after nearly 2 years... you poor thing!

I had a problem with my last bag of growbest 2mm floating pellets. The Barra would come up to feed, and then lose interest very quickly and spit out what they had taken. I should have swapped alot sooner, as i've lost some growth this year because I didn't realise what was happening to start with. I have been meaning to call them to find out if they had a bad batch or something?

Could some sort of poison have made it's way in...stored with rat poison or something. I would contact the manufacturer and perhaps have it tested.

Mark

I don't know much about fish feeds but toxic mold in corn and feeds can be deadly to the animals that eat it. About 3 years ago some got into a popular deer feed and warnings were issued about using it. It seems it wasnt lethal to the deer but was to wild turkeys. A lot of times when grain isn't fit for human consumption it ends up as feed which has a lot less oversite.

I would definetly get back to your supplier!

I am sorry for you tragedy, I would be cut big time with 2 years of nerturing going belly up

I missed that in the first post....2 years! Oh man - sorry! If there turns out to be something wrong with the feed (which is likely) perhaps they will replace your fish.

Mark

How does the feed smell... is it rancid or mouldy??... any sign of clumping through dampness

The feed was delivered fresh from the supplier that afternoon and was served up directly from the bag for their first and subsequently last feed.

I will first check for any other possible contributing factors before laying blame directly on the supplier. I do not want to risk any defamation action by laying inappropriate blame.

Might be a bit late now but can you get a couple of the fish to the Ag department or to a vet with the right contacts and also throw a couple into the freezer for subsequent testing if needed.
The supplier definitely needs to be informed (not blamed yet) in case there is a problem .

John

You're right, it is important to find the cause or the fish killing condition may still exist, and you wouldn't want to lay false blame on the feed. Although it is suspect when they die just after first feeding.
Let us know your water conditions and if the conditions of your feed are like Rupe described.

yeah i am not sugesting you blame your supplier but tell them what happnd! you may stop other people loosing there fish if it is the feed! and if not there is no harm in them double checking there product.

What a shock that would be, really sorry for your loss, I hope it was not the food but you have to wonder.

Here's a sad picture of 75 dead Silver Perch.

I can only attribute it to either raised ammonium levels or depleted DO. I cannot directly blame the feed.

The water smelt a bit off but that could be because they were in there all day while I went to work.

Anyone in Brisbane need 20kg of 4mm floating pellets ? Going cheap !

cheers
Derek

After some tests tonight, I think the culprit was my 15 minute timer failed and it was an unfortunate co-incidence with a change of food. As I was feeding the fish our safety switch went off with no real obvious cause. I now suspect it was an internal failure of the timer, therefore the pumps did not operate and they died from a lack of DO.