Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding How much to feed

Always heard that you should feed no more than the fish can eat in about 10 to 15 minutes. I tried it yesterday. I kept hitting 2 seconds of test throw on my TH Feeder. After 10 seconds they pretty well slowed down. However, I came back in a couple of hours and tossed out almost 2 pounds in a coffee can. My fish must either digest quickly or up chuck. It went quickly. No idea how much feed the TH throws per second but I went back to the house to add another bag.

No way I can afford fat happy fish.

In my 16 acre catfish pond I go thru 50lbs of feed a week (thank God catfish food is cheap!!). I went thru 875 lbs last year and I'm at 1000lbs so far this year. I still haven't caught a catfish with a RW of 100. But its worth every penny when that feeder goes off and I could practically walk across the water because of the amount of fish feeding.

My TH throws 1/2# every 6 seconds. I tested weight with Optimal/AM 500 mix and AM 500, and both were same. I feed 3 times for 10 seconds 5 minutes apart. 3 feedings morning and afternoon for total of 60 seconds per day.

During the first spin, food is gone within 10-15 seconds of feeder stopping. Second spin takes about 30 seconds, and third about a minute.

I don't know how much they could eat in ten minutes, but they are at the max of my food budget.

I thought the saying was whatever they could eat in 10-15 minutes? I also agree in my case 10-15 minutes would break my fish food account!! I feed mine 5 seconds 3 times 5 minutes apart. I do this in the am. and again in the pm. Works out to about 50# every 3 weeks. Pond is 2 acres. Th feeder doing the work.

Thanks Flame. I corrected my post from seconds to minutes.. I am guesstimating that I threw about 8 to 10 pounds. It was almost empty when I added a bag. I figure about 25% of it went with my feeding. $$$$$$$

I am not to sure one can ever fill the cnbg up. Man oh man can those fish eat. I feed for 18 seconds and follow up 30 min later @ 10 seconds per morning and afternoon using the TH feeder. Throwing 3 different sizes of Cargills. the food is gone in less than 30 seconds. I wonder where they get their nap after eating like that.

Tracy

Last night I decided to see how much was all they wanted. Turned out to be 60 seconds(5#s), or twice the amount I was feeding. I did increase my feeding time to 40 seconds morning and afternoon.

Bill Cody had warned me some time back that feeding over 10# per acre per day could lead to water quaality problems in a recreational pond. I try to keep it half that or less just because water quality is something I don't want issues with. I also wanted my fish to utilize a lot of natural food so normally only feed once daily. Figure that gets them hungry enough they seek out other grub.

I agree snrub. I read these feed numbers above and wonder if I am under feeding our perch.

We shoot just at night two shots 10 minutes apart and use about 100#'s on the year in our one acre pond. Perch are getting active again with the cooler temps so might try catching a few more.

Ha I guess I'm cheep.... I only feed twice a day morning and evening for 2 seconds... My fish seem to be doing great! Not sure I want my fish relying on me that much for food. Sometimes I'm not there sometimes the feeder messes up or quits working and I like my fish to be able to fend for themselves I guess... that may just be my paranoia but I only go through about 300 pounds of fish food a year maybe 350. Plus it also helps for when actually fishing they seem to bite a bit better when there not stuffed!!


RC