Welcome back! We last left off discussing how a fish is made up biologically and what nutrition they need to stay healthy. Next, we go more in-depth with food pellets and why you should buy fresh, dry fish food.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pond owners don't agree on the percentage of protein content that is best for their specific fish. But, the one thing every serious pond owner does agree on is reading labels and buying fresh food. It's very important you do this, so you know what you are getting.
Federal regulations set standards for what can be used in animal feeds. If a package of feed is labeled as koi food, goldfish food or koi and goldfish food, it has to be a complete diet, and federal standards must be met.
But, even with this in mind, all pellets are diverse. Some foods are processed better and contain fewer fillers (chemicals, additives not necessary for nutrition). Make sure to read the ingredient label on any fish food you buy.
Even though food labels break down ingredients by a percentage of proteins, the types of proteins in fish food is very important. A balance of amino acids produces the necessary muscle growth fish need. The wrong combination of amino acids produces excess waste and high ammonia levels in ponds.
Even though packages don't usually show their amino acid composition, koi owners should look for two essential amino acids: methionine & cystine. Also look for Alaskan pollack, which is considered the highest-quality fish meal protein out there. Oily herring is another important protein, and considered the second-best fish meal protein out there. Herring, anchovy and menhaden fish food all contain a higher percentage of protein than white fish food because they come from whole fish. Herring fish food has 72% protein, the highest of all four.
Pond owners must also choose from foods that sink or float. Yes, even that is a factor in how you choose your fish food. There are pros to both. Sinking food is good because it naturally goes to the bottom-feeding fish. Floating food allows you to see your koi's state of health (you can look for ulcers and scale damage on their surface - just as long as you keep your pond clean! Refer to previous posts for more information on that).
Also, keep in mind that the price you pay for food, does not define how quality of a food it is. Rating the ingredients between fish foods is the best way of choosing the best quality food at the best money value. One ingredient to avoid in any fish food is corn. Corn might be good for humans, and is used in many animal feeds (chickens), but it's too high in starch and provides almost no nutritional value for fish. So, try to avoid corn unless you are raising chickens.
The purpose for buying fish food is also a factor. The reason for buying fish food (despite keeping your fish alive of course) is something to keep in mind when purchasing. There is food for maintaining your fish's current health, food for quicker growth, food for bulking up fish, or food for adding more color to the fish's skin. So, make sure you know "what" you are buying the food for specifically.
Buying Fresh, Dry Food
After you found the right fish food for your particular fish (whether it be koi or goldfish or whatever fish you have in your pond), making sure the food is kept fresh is your next step in proper fish nutrition. Try to keep your food supply around a 3 month cycle. Every 3 months, you buy the amount of fish food you need to last those 3 months.
Finding a distributor who does a lot of business, is a guarantee that the food they have isn't old , and close to expiration. Also, find out if your dealer stores their fish food in a refrigerated area. This will keep fish food fresh, for longer periods of time. If not, as long as the food is fresh, you are in the clear.
It's rare for fish food being sold to be expired, but check anyway (remember, it's your money). Try to go for vacuum-sealed packages and heat-processed foods. These packages will have food that degrades slower, and they usually contain the best vitamin and mineral values.
All pond owners should keep food in a cool, dry place. They should have their food placed in airtight containers, because fatty acids in food pellets can go bad if exposed to air.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our next blog will continue this multi-blog series, with information on how your filter can be an influence on food load. We will also discuss feeding procedures to follow during different seasons. Until next time.....
1 comment:
Great info. :)
Thanks for sharing.
Post a Comment