Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding I gotta be a redneck !!!

Hi everyone. I am new to this board, but have concluded that I must be a redneck. I own a 1/3 acre pond that averages about 9 ft. deep. It is stocked with bass, catfish, and blugill. I really dont do anything to it and my clarity is about 2 ft. I do feed my fish, but not with fish food. I buy a 20 pound bag of 'Ol Roy from Wal-mart. I would never feed this stuff to my dog, but the fish love it. What do you think? good idea/bad idea? Thanks for the input.

the dog food from walmart is better than no food, i would suggest checking some food prices for higher protein fish feed. another idea, for a redneck with limited funds like you, is to spend thirty dollars and buy a solar light. you should place this near or above the water, and it will attract insects, which are very high protein, and inexpensive. a redneck like you has probably eaten insects before, so you know that they are not too bad.

Fish need food with 32% protien. Check the lable on the sack. It probably isn't good for them but is better than nothing. They may eat it but they probably aren't healthy or thriving.

Most dog food pellets are around 26% protein
which is somewhat less that the commercial
fish feeds which range from 32% to 42%. However,
I know a fish hatchery that feeds a 20% protein
pellet and their catfish are large. I would not
be the least bit concerned about using the Walmart feed. However, some feed mills will sell
32% protein feed for about the same price as
the dogfood.

Also with dog food it usually contains an animal fat product, added for taste for the dogs, that really doesn't mix well with water. Fish food, which is just as cheap as dog food wont leave that 'shine' on your pond. I know cuz my fish had been eating dog food prior tp POND BOSS coming into their lives.
Toby

Charlie,
Your pond is very similar to mine. Mine is about 1/3 acre, contains bass, channel cats (only a few), bluegill and redears. I feed them Purina Game Fish Chow. In my area it costs about $13 per 50 lb bag and in a pond this small a bag will last nearly a month if you only feed them what they will eat at one time. The bluegills and catfish love it and it has different size pellets for both small and large fish. I don't know anything about the cost of Ol' Roy dog food, but I doubt that there is much difference in price when you consider the bag size.