Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aquamax MVP?

The new Pond Boss magazine has Aquamax Sport fish MVP on the back cover. I can't find it on Purina's website, has anyone tried this or know what the specs. are? Protein? I like the idea of the different size pellets. Any opinions?

See this - still checking. May be a new product.

http://www.purinamills.com/site-search/#q=Aquamax Sport fish MVP Search

http://www.purinamills.com/game-feed/products/fish-aquatics/purina-game-fish-chow/

Yes it is a new product.

AquaMax MVP is a brand new product and Purina chose to launch it in Pond Boss magazine! It's the AquaMax Sportfish product, in 9 different pellet sizes, designed for fish from an inch long and larger. We all feed different sizes of different species of fish and Purina has been working at their research farm to develop this product for several years. They've had to overcome some obstacles and are ready for all of us to take advantage of their research.

When will it be available for purchase?

Check with your Purina dealer. It's available now. If your dealer doesn't yet know about it, drop me an email and I'll forward to those who can help. Email me at info@pondboss.com.

That sounds like it would be a good mix.

Last year I threw AM400 in near the shore line for the small fish, and a mix of 500 and 600 out in deeper water. The small BG really went after the 400.

Feeding what I can get locally this spring till I get the AM delivered to my dealer. Hope it comes quicker than last year.

Thanks, Bob. I have a pretty good idea who helped motivate Purina!

Bob, is it all floating food?

Is it a new formulation, or just the same recipe in a multitude of different sizes all in one bag? Not meaning to sound contentious, just curious if what we're seeing is a brand new formulation, or the result of combining together the different sized feed they already make and wrapping it together in a new bag.

From the back page of the new issue of PB Mag:


Sport Fish MVP

Multi-Variable Particles

Nine unique particle sizes ranging from 1/8" to 9/32" with both Floating and Sinking action to feed a greater percentage of different sized fish

Odd they would come out with a new product when they have other issues to deal with.

My latest bag of 600 is inferior to the typical Aquamax. Was obviously made by a different manufacturer and has a lot of fines. At least the fish accept it.

First things, first.
MVP is both floating and sinking. Smaller pellets sink slowly so those smaller underneath can eat more easily. The product is available now through their Texas distributor, nationwide April 4.
Secondly, the formulation is exactly the same.
Third, Purina knows they have issues. The issue isn't the formulation. It's the manufacturing process. They know the recipe is good, but they have to figure out how to modify the process. Previously, they were able to finish the pellets with fish oil. Now, the machinery in the plant isn't capable of spraying fish oil on the outside of the pellet.
They understand the issue and are trying to figure out the best way to fix it.

Guys there is a new study out indicating that a mix of floating and sinking may well give the best results. I will locate it - is a CE article or about to be.

This was in PB mag about 4 issues back IIRC - Get the Mag its worth the subscription.

A bit from the article :

There is a lot going on in the area of studies on pelleted feeding at this time. The research both published and private is growing rapidly. I am not sure anyone can keep track of what all is in the works. Feeding pellets to largemouth bass and the associated growth, condition and efficiency is one area of interest.

One recent study investigated the growth, survival, and feed conversion of Largemouth Bass fed one of two sizes of floating pellets or a sinking pellet for five months in small ponds. It is titled Effect of Feed Pellet Characteristics on Growth and Feed Conversion Efficiency of Largemouth Bass Raised in Ponds by James Tidwell, Shawn Coyle & Leigh Anne Bright, in North American Journal of Aquaculture (2015), 77:1, 5558,DOI:10.1080/15222055.2014.960116

The authors note that fish food must be designed to meet the nutritional requirements of the applicable species and must be manufactured into pellets that the fish will readily accept and utilize efficiently. Several factors can affect the ability of fish to find , eat and utilize a food pellet including physical characteristics such as pellet density (floating, sinking, sinking rate), size (shape, diameter, and length), color (contrast), texture (hardness) and smell (taste) .

In this study both pellet sizes (5.5 mm and 13 mm) of the floating food were well used by the fish throughout the experiment. The sub-adult feed trained bass in this study averaged 6.5 ounces and were 8.9 inches at the start of the 151 day feeding study. Harvest data indicated that use of large (13 mm) floating pellets produced no significant advantage over the use of smaller size pellets ( 5.5 mm) during second year growth of Largemouth Bass in ponds . However, fish fed the 5.5-mm sinking pellets had better growth (average weight gain and growth rate) than fish fed either size of floating pellet.

Good to hear.

Thanks Bob.

As far as sinking vs. floating my feed trained fish (especially the large ones) prefer sinking if they have a choice. I hydrate all my feed and if I pinch it to sink it, I get an immediate taker in the pond within 1 to 3 feet of the surface.

I believe this is due to two things:

1. Easier to just inhale it below the surface (less effort).

2. The fish feel more secure inhaling a slow sinking pellet below the surface vs. exposing themselves on the surface.

So if you had a feed that sinks in the size you want, would you no longer hydrate any feed?

Can't speak for Cecil, but I hydrate in order to lessen pellet rejection.

I've never had this issue and all mine float.... I'm sure they hit it under water too but mine go nuts on the surface for it.... I have no pellet rejection that I know of... but I only feed twice a day for a couple seconds...



RC

Probably not. As Tony says the hydration increases positive response which is one of the reasons I do it. I also believe the hydrated pellets are easier to digest -- especially in cold water.

The hydrated pinched pellets sink very slowly. I'd be afraid of waste with a normal sinking pellet.

To be clear my hydrated pellets still float for the most part, even though they have the consistency of clay. Every once in a while one will suddenly start sinking and when they do they are snapped up immediately. That's not to say the floating hydrated ones aren't also snapped up.

Every day I put 9 cups of pellets in a gallon zip lock bag and add 3 cups of water (3:1 ratio). I flip the bag several times and after that about every minute for 5 more minutes. Then put in the fridge and keep it there until use in the evening.Takes about 3 hours to hydrate Aquamax and a third of that time for Optima. I only feed my fish once a day.

Softening also encourages non-pelleting fish to begin eating pellets.

"".....Purina has been working at their research farm to develop this product for several years."" Why not just combine and blend three sizes of their standard Aquamax pellet into one bag? IMO spending time and effort creating some sinking pellets in the MVP Bag would not be all that beneficial compared to using their money and efforts to improve the formulation to create healthier, longer living fish who would ultimately grow bigger. The current recipe may be good or adequate, but for what ultimate purpose? Fast growth, short lifespan?

From my experience few if any sport fish with proper pellet training will refuse to rise to the surface for a pellet. I've seen even pellet trained, bottom feeding sturgeon with their ventral mouth will rise to the surface and roll strongly on their side to consume a floating pellet.

Has anyone tried throwing anything as large as 9/32" out of a Texas Hunter feeder?

Yes AM 600 - no problem.

I put some 600 in mine and it wouldn't throw it at all. I'm sure that I just need to do some adjusting, but I was a little worried that if I adjusted it for the 600 it would throw all of my 400 in short order.
Right now I am mixing AM400 and 500.