Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

there are still naturally occurring vitamins, lemon juice, bannana etc.

hi all,

i was wondering if anyone has tried feeding lupins to barra?

if so did they eat them as is?

i have just planted a few hundred seeds to do some of my own trials. i would like to know if barra will eat them as is or if i will need to mix them with something more tasty.

any ideas?

thanks.

Barra will eat anything that moves, but will usually spit it out if it is not meat. I put carrot/pumpkin in for the bristlenose and the barra will go for it but quickly spits it out again. I try and get hold of some lupins to test it out... do you just soak them in boiling water or something?

i'm pretty sure you just soak them in water over night and then feed.

my plan will be to use them freshly picked. just had a look and there are a heap of seedlings popping up. hopefully i can get a decent harvest out of them.

tim, if you want some lupins i have some from the uwa research centre. i believe they have been bred for protein content. not sure though. let me know if your interested. i have a bucket full.

Haven't read the whole thread, but variety in Hamish's link Lupinus angustifolius seem ok, but there are poisonous lupins as well, I know back in my grain sampling days at wheat receival points (When we did it by eye) we had to look out for what was called a blue lupin, they grow wild and are larger than a lupin but not necessarily blue, be careful not to over feed with lupins as uneaten lupins of any variety will contaminate water, lupins aid in reproduction in live stock, for example sheep fed on lupins will have a higher rate of twins and triplets, can't see why the same wouldn't be fore aquatic animals

I wouldnt mind trying Lupins once my Silver Perch get big enough - anyone know where I can get them? Preferably dehulled? Is this something stock feed suppliers sell?

I've read studies on Lupins as feed for Tilapia ..... most if not all gave bad drop in growth rates ( something to do with the Lystene levels ( something like that 0>>>?? ) anyway there was one Lupin in particular that looked like it might be ok in very small quanties ,, it was grown in WA.
I read this a few years back ..... not sure if I kept the link ,, I'll have a look around my laptop.

AHH ,, something to do with the Amino acis balance ..... that's what I was trying to say.

The PDF doco at the start of this thread goes into a lot of detail about it. I think if you use Lupins with other feed it would be ok. I am thinking 25% BSF Larvae, 25% Lupins, 25% Duckweed and 25% comercial pelets.

Here is an interesting feed cost calculator that may be of some use to us in comparing different grains and pulses as feed.

Here is that link...

http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/4439

Lupins are an excellent feed source. Unfortunately, large aquaculture setups overseas have discovered this! Prices for lupins have gone thru the roof in the past 12 months and at times lupin seed has been hard to find. Yes they are best de hulled otherwise they can pass thru undigested which is a waste of food and has water quality implications.
Like most supplements, there is an upper limit beyond which there is no added growth benefit. From memory 20-25% was about the mark. I have a few kilos of seeds, must try a bed of them and see what happens.

Can get them from stock feeders, but also (over here anyway) have seen them in Coles Woolies ETC in those food and nut bins that you scoop them into a bag your self, even continental food shops have them but the later 2 is a very expensive way to purchase them, from a stock feed place you may pay $1 a kilo by the Bag (40kg's), but a bag would last for ever, have seen them up to $5 per KG in the shops, but probably a better option for experimenting