Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Big Strike

Anyone use this feed from Southern States. I allways feed with Purina and pay about $12.00 a bag. On the way to my farm Saturday I remembered that I forgot to bring feed, so I stoped at the local feed and seed store in Eatonton Ga. I knew they did not sell Purina so I asked for a bag of floating catfish food. Big Strike is what they sell. I could not believe it the price was $9.00 a bag! My fish could not tell the difference. I like purina but not for a 30% price difference.

Any one have experience with this product

Thanks

Bill, look under some old post. I mentioned the same thing. I think Purina makes some good products and I have (I think) tried them all. There is some controversy over the amount of fish meal. If it is higher than it is better than another 32% protein product. I personally from expereince can not see the diff. Aquamax that is much more $$$ is much better but is it worth paying $23???

Eatanton, Monticello, Madison area, etc out that way sells food cheap. I had one of my clients pickup a bag of floating 32% off brand for $8.25. I buy FRM brand by the 200 bag loads and it cost me more than that. I have sold Big Strike in the past and think it would be fine for what you are doing.

Purina is somewhat overpriced. But it is fairly consistant in its quality. Buy fish food based on the protein content not necessarily by the brand or price.

Just because I eat both cheap ground meat with fillers and T-bone steak doesn't mean I can't tell the difference or that one or both do not affect my overall health.

I tried Big Strike last year when my supplier was out of Purina. The small fish (bluegills) could not eat the large size pellets and the large fish did not eat very much of it. There was a lot of waste and I feel that it contributed to an excessive amount of algae in my pond.

I haven't tried it since then.

Larry

Guys,I am using a brand called Cargills 32% protein. This is the only brand I have ever used. I have been paying 7.50 per 50lb bag. My fish love it. I live in outside Col Ga

I have bought tons and tons of fish food over the years, many different brands. I do not see a big difference in any of them as long as they are at least 32% protein. I have paid anywhere from $7.00 to $17.00/50 lb. bag. I currently buy either FRM or Cargills. The smaller the pellet the better. However, the longer the pellets are in the water the softer they get. This enables the smaller fish to utilize any size pellet. The key would be if there are any pellets left over after bigger fish have fed. I use a standard size pellet, I think 3/16 not sure.

My biggest problem this time of year is finding freshly milled fish food. I have been told that it deteriorates badly after 3 months.

Most fish foods are pretty stable for up to at least 6 months and longer if kept dry. Many modern quality fish foods have stabilizers in them. Fats may start to go rancid over 1 yr. Most important thing is to keep fish food DRY to prevent it from molding. Some degredation of unstable nutrients or components can occur in 3 to 4 months with high quality, high protein feeds (trout or high energy diets). So unless you are using real high protein (>40%) feed, and or intensively raising fish in: cages, in recirculating systems or for commercial or special purposes food deterioration in 3-4 months should not be a problem or worry for you. Also fish food with 32% or lower protein should be viable up to one year if stored properly(dry & cool or room temp). "Pond run fish" can suppliment their pellet diet with some natural food to minimize slight nutrient deficiencies from slightly degraded or substandard fish food.

Thanks, Bill. I have been 100% incorrect in my thinking regarding viability.

Another note. Before anyone decides to use the equation for voltage drop and the 10% rule to size a wire size remember that there is more to it than that. The examples I gave was to calculate line loss for motors while running. The wire size also needs to figure in the current draw and voltage drop at startup so it's best to look up a chart provided by motor manufacturers. Also, one thing I didn't mention is that you need to consider the line length as that distance going to and back from the motor. In other words my 1000 foot example is a motor 500 feet from the source. The juice goes out and back. If you check the charts you will find that using 12 gage wire you are probably limited to 200 to 300 feet. So get a chart to do this.

So far the Big Strike feed from Southern States and it works good. Kind of expensive at $16.00 a bag.

That must have been a 220v bump, since it covered a year and a half.

Hey, BZ, go to bed; you need some rest. :rolleyes:

Where the heck did that thread come from?

bz, are you OK?

I went to the Big Strike and they haven't slowed down.. My catfish were only 6 inches long when we got them about 2 months ago. Now they are over 8 inches in size.. Heck next summer we maybe able to chow down on some!!

Putt,
I wouldn't be supprised if you had some big enough to eat this fall!