I was discussing feeding with my trout supplier today and he says he likes to feed them high protein dogfood or catfood. He says its a little cheaper. I was very surprised when he said this as i would expect him to use aquamax or something of that sort. Also surprisingly, was that these trout were very healthy and in great body condition. I would think that there was no dogfood or catfood out there that has enough protein for trout.

I didnt want to follow up on his feeding diet so i am now feeding my trout the 41% protein aquamax 600. They adapted quickly and eat the aquamax as soon as it hits the surface.

Anyone else ever heard of someone feeding fish high protein dog or cat food?

Thanks - Jighead

I beleive you but can not believe he thinks this is true. Trout will eat it but require a much higher diet in fat and protein. Lots of waste in the runway system from them eating it and most of it coming out the otherside. Stick with your 41% more economicial in the longrun.

Last year I went to the local grocer and his high protein dog and catfood was MORE expensive than what I'm spending on fish food. Could you possibly find a dog or catfood that would save you enough money to make it worth losing the nutritional value of actual fishfood?

Yeah, that is EXACTLY what i thought. But just had to post to make sure. Heck, i bought the aquamax for $18. Pretty sure the dog food is more than that.

Thanks for quick responses - Jighead

I would be leary of buying trout from a raiser who feeds his fish dog food. This guy is not thinking properly.

Bill Cody,
Yes, my thinking was along the same lines when i heard it too. However, sadly he is the ONLY guy in Northern Arizona that supplies trout to private pond owners. Im afraid im stuck with him.

What scares me even more is he had never even heard of aquamax or even a commercial pond food in that matter.

However, Im very pleased with the fish he delivered to my pond. They are very healthy looking fish. But I have no idea what to look for in a healthy trout :rolleyes: .

Thanks - Jighead

Jighead,

What type of trout did you decide on?

jighead if the fish look fine no problem. Problem is with folks not as pond educated as you. These type guys say some off the wall things and many times oversell to the unknown purchaser, drives me crazy and gives us all a bad rep. However like I said if fish are fine be glad you got a local source. Maybe he can hire you for consultantation he will get much quicker growth with your aquamax.

Meadowlark,
I had decided on an additional 200 rainbow trout + 50 brown trout. I added more rainbows as i had caught out most of the hundred i stocked this spring .

The fish seem to be thriving well on my fatheads, insects, waterdogs, frogs, and pellet feed .

In fact, you should see my trout go after the feed, i think they could almost rival your HSB.

P.S. Greg: know what you mean everyone has different opinions on how many fish should be stocked and it seems that usually the hatchery's is the highest.

Thanks all for the help and replys - Jighead

Jighead,

I love trout. Sounds like you have a great pond! I'm going to stock some rainbows this winter, yes, rainbows in East Texas. The game for the grandkids (and this old fart) will be to catch them all before April 1 when the water warms up and the Tilapia take their place for the summer. I'm looking forward to that and if an occasional LMB/HSB take a rainbow, more to the better...just great natural forage!

ML, I talked to a Game Biologist while trout fishing below Possum Kingdom Lake. They had just been stocked and the Biologist told me that Stripers took 10 times as many as fishermen.

Yes, and guess what the world record trout from California fed on....rainbow trout.

There is a farm in Missouri, I've got it bookmarked somewhere, that will sell 10 inch or so rainbows for pond stocking in Texas. I'm going to try them this year...as a present to my grandkids and HSB/LMB.

Is it this one?

Crystal Lake Fisheries, Inc.
Route 2, Box 528
Ava, MO 65608 Marvin Emerson
President
Telephone:
417/683-2301 Fax:
417/683-6565
Email: clf@getgoin.net Website: www.crystallakefisheries.com
Crystal Lake Fisheries supplies live rainbow trout for stock within 1,000 miles of our Missouri location.

Yes sir Cecil. Do you know anything about them?

Ava, Mo. was my Mother's hometown.

I just know they have one heck of a water supply, and their trout are tested for at least nine pathogens -- apparently as they have been O.K'd to import rainbow into my state. They sound like an excellent source for healthy rainbow trout.

Wish they had brooks and browns too but I don't think they do.