About 10 years ago, I spoke to an owner of several large West Texas ponds. He was raising HSB and feeding them food from a well known North Texas Milling Co. They cost about 50% of Purina, Cargill etc. and were fairly high protein. He said his fish were eating them and doing well. I did not ask him how well.

I called Purina and discussed it with the guy who developed the fish feeds. I had met him on several occasions but won't mention his name. He told me that he couldn't buy the ingredients that he used(Menhaden) for that price. He also said that he couldn't even buy the grain based ingredients for that $.

I suspect that most of the less expensive feed is chicken feather based. I have read that the poultry industry has, for years, tried to find more uses for the copious amounts of feathers that they wind up with.

There are an awful lot of less expensive fish feeds at farm/feed stores that I have decided to stay away from.

Disclaimer: I am not a fish nutritionist.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa