Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Pellet sizes

This is gonna be a great discussion. I've never considered the smaller pellets being easier to digest, but it seems as though it would be correct. I can't think there is that much difference in energy expense to feed on one pellet vs two, but I could obviously be wrong.

With that discussion probably goes the digestibility of the pellets in regard to glycemic index, insulin production and the longevity/health of fish? But maybe their digestive system works differently than humans in that regard?

In an Aquaculture setting, they feed a smaller pellet size to prevent shooters and to grow all the fish at roughly the same rate, because the fish are all the same age. Less grading, less stress on the fish, faster fish growth and less labor. No concerns about the fish getting the correct food because it's a monoculture and they eat what is thrown in the tank.

I am not a biologist, chemist, or anything similar. Just a guy messing around with growing out tilapia as a hobby. I think "prevent" is not the right word, and you probably know that, just pointing it out. Perhaps minimize?

I can give you my experience, and it would be curious to hear Cecil's ( -or Rainman?)experience on this too.

I get shooters when I feed all the same size food. So much so, that they are truly ten times bigger than the others, and get to the point that I need to pull them out because they start killing off the smaller ones, possibly just out of aggressiveness. Even tho the feed is all the same they go around and suck up and keep others away from the feed. Why wouldn't the same happen in a pond?

Now take the same brood of fish. Introduce a larger pellet along with what you had been feeding. Some of those bigger fry will go after the larger food, some are "stuck" on feeding the smaller size. So some of those shooters really outperform. Then some of the small ones, if big enough, take to the larger pellet too. They quickly catch up to the shooters that are still stuck on the smaller food.

I have found that some fish get stuck on a certain size feed, even tho they can take bigger. The only way I have found to get them off is to switch their environment and then give them a larger pellet. If I try to just stop their normal feed, go to a bigger one, a lot seem to starve. Change of environment seems to trigger something to change feeding habits.

Like I said, just my simple observations as to size of pellets, growth, and possible relationship of the two, in tilapia.

Great idea!

I am no pro nor pretend I am but I have been feeding two different sizes of feed from my second year.

Only thing we need to do is mix the feed and once a week mix the feed in the feeder. The vibrations from the feeder or wind seem to settle the smaller feed to the bottom first.

Cheers Don.

JKB,
Thanks for the offer! Why don't you PM me when you are closer to knowing the timing of when you will be back in GR. I may or may not have living sunfish left in the pond but it was my intention to buy some optimal and try some when the weather warmed up. I'm happy to pay you for it if you are sure you have some to spare.

I am not a biologist, chemist, or anything similar. Just a guy messing around with growing out tilapia as a hobby. I think "prevent" is not the right word, and you probably know that, just pointing it out. Perhaps minimize?

Just ordered a bag from Scott (esshup) to send to you. Let us know how it works! I believe if you had any sunfish in prior, they are still there.

Personally, I've never heard of pellet size having anything to do with shooters. Shooters are usually just feed hogs and depending on species, cannibalistic, so I can't imagine smaller pellets would slow a shooter's rapid growth much, if at all. Smaller pellets could sure help less aggressive (and smaller) feeding fish grab a bite extra though.
As for Tilapia, If growing them, they are fed to satiation several times a day. If holding Tilapia, they are fed barely enough to maintain an immune system and to prevent all growth possible.