Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Optimal Fish Food shutdown

Thanks.

Just jumped on to this thread. I tried to order some tonight and saw they were closed so I ended up finding this forum. I have not tried the purina but it looks pretty decent. I did find optimal from a store in Iowa but the shipping by UPS ground was about $70. If anyone hears that they are going to reopen or even under a different name, please let me know. I think one thing that stood out to me was the "freshness" of the feed vs what I had previously purchased at a local farm and home store. If by chance anyone from optimal is on this thread, feel free to private message me.

I have done a bit of research. Royal Canin Giant Adult dry dog food has 26% protein and 18% fat. This product is in large chunks, about the same size as the Optimal Hand Throw product. I am going to try this food for my catfish. Not as good as Optimal Hand Throw but at least they are still in business. I will let you guys know how the cats accept it.

Isn’t the brand of food like $4.50/lb

For those of you looking for Optimal Fish Food, "x" Pond Management was approached to buy out their remaining inventory. As far as I can tell, they have Handthrow, Bluegill and Junior—at least this is what they show on their website. They has also been a Purina Aquamax dealer for many years. I bought a few bags of Junior a couple of weeks back. It's worth a try.

Very close.

Any update on Optimal fish food or where to purchase old inventory. Assuming no equal for the handtoss feed? Bummer, my HSB killed that food for last 7 years....

Any idea on lumping the smaller pellets together to make larger? Soak in water and let it dry?

Get a hold of of Endurance and let them know how important large pellets are to your HSB. I did.

As a matter of fact, "Optimal" is gone, but Endurance is ramping up as we speak.

https://endurancefeeds.com/contact/

What’s the ingredient difference between fish meal and Animal protein products

Jason, why are you asking this question? The difference seems obvious. If you noticed the difference in labeling from old bags and new and that is causing you concern, let me just say ... it probably means nothing. Why would a producer want to label a group of animal protein sources under a single ingredient moniker (animal protein products)? Good reasons include trade secrecy. Whatever the stimulus for changing the labeling, they are not doing anything that the competitors are not already doing. The only labels I have ever seen where fish meal is listed separately as an ingredient were Optimal. Any good feed has fish meal, but I can understand why producers do not want to be too detailed about their formulations. It is just as likely that nothing has changed as any other possibility of change. Keep in mind, other possibilities also include improvements to digestibility and consequently improvements to conversion/maintenance properties.

I’ve never used Optimal and I will never use this new manufacturer, I just looked at the label and saw Animal protein products, Lusk has stated numerous times that if the number 1 ingredient isn’t fish meal then don’t use it.

So back to my simple question, what is the difference or are they the same thing ?
Is fish meal lumped in to animal protein ?

Yes, of course, fish meal is lumped in ... if it is there. Doesn't have to be in there to be consistent with labeling but few feeds do not have at least some fish meal. Any feed designed for predator fish (including those labeled for BG) has some fish meal. The only feed I am aware of that didn't have other animal-based protein products as sources of dietary protein was Optimal's Cold Water Feed.

Anyone found any similar fish food suppliers like optimal? I have looked around, haven’t found any. I did find a supplier of aquamax mvp.for 50 bucks but then the shipping makes it $100! I could get Optimal for only like 6
$60!

I just wan to find something that has variety. I just optimal junior and then optimal bluegill

There is no feed mill selling Purina products near you ???

A couple current pricing updates from TN...Purina MVP $ 54.00, purchased 10 bags from Co-op in Decherd TN, it was available for pickup in 10 days...Just ordered 20 bags of Cargill Triton 4512 for $ 34.00 + LTL shipping, final cost $ 47.00 per bag. Cargill has a 20 bag minimum...Both feeds have been eagerly accepted by CNBG.

No there isn’t anyone that distributes MVP

However I DID JUST see an advertisement here on the pond boss website? It is a sponsor I believe. For Endurance Feeds? Has anyone tried these guys? How are they ?

Endurance feeds is the new name for what used to be called Optimal. It is great!! And they are always researching to make it better. They will ship to your door, simple as falling off a floating log.

Interesting. Is Endurance using the same feed recipes as Optimal? Did they purchase the Optimal business rights? I would be extremely interested in a large chunk hand throw pellet like the Optimal Hand Throw.

Endurance is now producing the large size high protein hand throw pellet for fish big enough to eat those 1" pellets.

Thank you. I will be setting up an account with Endurance today and start buying from them immediately. Extremely excited about their hand throw pellets. Nothing like seeing large cats inhale the pellets. Also, I am going to start with their Professional Pond Blend 5mm.