Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

How all,

My fish are getting big and my kids won't let me eat them.....

I'm buying fish feed from Oz at Big Nutrtion. There postage is quite pricey.

It cost me $70 per 20kg plus $30 postage.
If I double the amount my postage also doubles.

Believe it or not 20kg doesn't last that long. I'm rationing the feed to stretch it out. But I think I'm not feeding the fish enough. As they appear always hungry and they are polishing the food very quickly.

Is there any cheaper alternatives. The postage is a killer......

Hi mate, where in Aus are ya?
I buy 5mm Skrettings and pick up from the distributor, cost, $120 for 20kg....
Not sure of your fish type or your pellet size but I only feed maybe 3 times a week. My 50 odd silver perch are around 4 years old and I try to make the feed last a year.
I know of no cheaper alternatives around here but know that the feed is sustaining both the fish and plants.
I guess supplementing the feed with some plants like celery would make the feed last longer or building a BSFL farm would help but it’s just easier for me to feed the pellets and when I do the maths it’s only a couple of bucks a week so although it seems like a big cost up front it ain’t too bad.

3 times a week......

I have roughly 60 jade perch about 2 yrs old. I feed them every day. And I feel guilty that I don't give them enough. 6mm pellets. I think it's going to last approx 4-5months. They have been super active during these warmer weather.

I live in Sydney and not aware of any distributors over here. Might contact Big Nutritian and ask for a discount on shipping if I buy larger amounts.

Yeah, I’ve seen some fat Jades on the forum all right. The thing is that in the wild the fish don’t get anything near what we feed our fish and the main reason we pump feed into them is to fatten them up and get growth out of them is to
I’m sure my fish would eat every day too if given the chance.
Remember you got the fish to eat and if you feel guilty not feeding them enough who is it really that doesn’t want to harvest the fish, the kids or you?

yeh its about 80kg of feed to get 100 to plate size ~ 500g

unless you supplement with veggies / worms etc


your on the right track "BSFL farm" is a must to cut down on feeding costs ( not ideal for perch but barramundi )
its simple to do and great place to throw all the micro-green cuttings and any dead fish

and having fish to cull from aquarium hobbies helps as well

I still have no idea why fish feed is so expensive .. heck the food I eat is cheaper ...


setting Up a new growroom 20m x 8m with 12x IBC's this month , each IBC has dedicated 7m growbed and all the solids will go to a closed loop 600m NFT / misc plants