For purposes of this thread , if you only feed 5 % of the required total nutritional demand by using pellets then Optimal Foraging Theory as to pellets can only apply that much. All the rest is supplied naturally. I agree with the energetics principals of the theory (not necessarily the rest) and studies provide that pelleted feeding is more efficient by a factor of between 4 and 8 X IIRC. Fish will , if possible , max energy input with the least energy output (eat pellets rather than chase bugs and fish).

However you have to look at the total diet to decide what is the "best" pellet for your situation ( ingredients , costs , results , etc.). Supplemental feeding at 10% is a lot different than meeting nutritional requirements by using 50% pellets IMO.

Last edited by ewest; 04/12/16 10:40 AM.