[Killietalk] Commercial fish chow

["Koran, David HQ02" <David_Koran at hq02.usace.army.mil>]

I had an opportunity to stop at Ziegler's on Wednesday.  For those of you who
haven't visited a trout or game fish hatchery, these guys produce feeds for
aquaculture.  I ran across them when I explored efforts at a Pennsylvania
hatchery working on rearing muskellunge over 25 years and they were the
suppliers of food for the hatchery (and evidently many of the hatcheries for
PA Fish & Game).  I was wondering what success (if any) anyone might have had
using these feeds with large tanks of killies or other "ornamental" fish.
The muskie case was interesting because they had a feeder that sprayed out
pellets periodically and they would slowly sink since the muskies would only
hit food that moved.  When you looked at the bottom of the race you would
find a ring of uneaten food but enough was eaten and the fish were growing.
Ziegler's was partnering with them to develop feeds for such specialized
applications which is why I remembered them.

What prompted the visit Wednesday was seeing if I could find catfish feed
similar to what was in the Wardley's Spirulina Discs or at least something
for the Dero worms I have been talking about to feed on.  At $3.99 for 4 oz.
of Wardley's I get 10 pounds of high quality feed that has a similar
ingredients list as the Wardley's and on first try seems to be consumed by
the Deros as readily.

It's a stretch to get to killies from here but Ziegler's varieties are also
manufactured for "finfish" in both floating and slow sinking formulations and
in various sizes from meal through .15 mm, crumbles (~.4-6 mm), 1.5 mm, 3.0,
4.0 & 5.0 and in various fat contents.  I am working on getting some growth
on some species of pupfish and Aphanius which are reasonably tolerant of
vegetable matter in their diet and I am looking to do this in 100 gallon
stock tanks.  The question is what (if any) experience has anyone had using
these foods either as a staple diet or supplemental?  I am not balking at the
price, just what to do with 25-40 of feed if they turn up their noses.  Is
food size an issue?

Chomp away on the issue and I'll see what response appears until I check back
in on Monday...

Dave Koran

BTW, I am still looking for the potassium chloride someone told me about that
Morton's sells for water softening.  I see it on their website but not in any
of the stores I have checked.

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