FISH FOOD QUESTION

[Mmathis]

I'll have goldfish only, no koi. Have noticed general consensus is that feeding the goldies won't be necessary as they'll munch on algae & plants. But would like to feed them occasionally, if for no other reason than to get them used to me....

Which is better, flakes or pellets? (maybe I should be asking the fish? ) Does it matter from the standpoint of which is less likely to contaminate the water if all isn't eaten?

 

[buckry]

Size is a huge factor at first, smaller fish can't eat any sorts of pellets, but flakes they can eat whole or take bites off of. When my fish are all able to eat pellets I plan to use only pellets, but for now I have 3 fish that are big enough, the rest are not, so I feed 90% flakes, and throw in pellets once a week just to give the big guys something different to eat.

 

[Waterbug]

As Bucky said, biggest size food the fish can get into their mouth. I'll add if you have Mosquitofish you may want to get off flake as soon as possible since they'll eat the flake and reproduce to huge numbers very quickly. Mosquitofish will also eat at the pellets but they don't get as much.

Whether fish need to be fed or not depends on different factors, including what kind of fish you want. If you want the goldfish to stay small you can feed very little in the first few years. Or feed a lot, with good filtering, to produce large goldfish. Body shape can tell you if they're starving which is certainly possible. In winter climates thin fish can have a hard time over wintering.

 

[rdk]

I noticed that my goldfish what to eat my flake food once every 20 min. I have been feeding them all they can eat in one min. 5 or 6 times a day. I want them as big as fast as possible, I also have a huge barrel filter for my 500 gal pond. I water change 10 to 20 percent every week. Can you give me any other advice. Thank you RDK.

 

[Waterbug]

I noticed that my goldfish what to eat my flake food once every 20 min. I have been feeding them all they can eat in one min. 5 or 6 times a day. I want them as big as fast as possible, I also have a huge barrel filter for my 500 gal pond. I water change 10 to 20 percent every week. Can you give me any other advice.

Keep measuring ammonia and nirites to make sure the bio filter is keeping up. Because it is this week doesn't mean it will be next week. Fish grow fast, so you feed more food and may not realize within a month you could be asking the bio filter to convert twice as much.

Maintain good KH levels as that is consumed by the bio filter.

Keep the bottom of the pond clean to reduce hydrogen sulfide build up. In most Water Gardens hydrogen sulfide is not an issue, the fish and pond can handle some. But in a high fish load pond (high feeding rate) uneaten food and poo can produce a lot more hydrogen sulfide and can kill fish. So keeping the bottom clean helps. Good water movement helps maintain max O2 which helps oxidize hydrogen sulfide to be non-toxic. Removing loose rock and potted plants from the pond can also reduce hydrogen sulfide production. Pointing the pump outflow at the bottom to create water movement and higher O2 would also stir bottom debris and reduce hydrogen sulfide production. UV sterilizer can also speed up hydrogen sulfide oxidation.

Pump size in the 1000 gph range would be good. Adding an air pump is a good backup in case the water pump stops. Put each pump on a different electrical circuit so one tripping doesn't take down the other pump.

You can increase water changes to 10% per day. I suggest having a trickle water change system rather than drawing down the water and refilling.

Keep in mind risk most factors increase with warmer water temps.

------ Not saying all ponds should be kept this way ------ This is just for optimal fish growth type ponds --------

 

[j.w]

I've heard that fish that are fed lots of food and grow up big and fat really fast don't live as long as their thinner less fed slower growing counterparts. Anybody else heard this or know if it's really true?

 

[buckry]

Wow, that's a good reason to keep them small. I was always a once a day feeder and they never grew fast, but since I joined here I've gone to feeding only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, once or twice a day depending on how they act. Then On the weekends I will feed if I'm bored and want a show, or have guests over that want to see the frenzy. Mon, Wed, and Friday are no feed days though. And since doing this about a month I think I really haven't noticed them grow at all, but I really don't care, and if it's true they will live longer that's even better yet.

 

[don't ask]

I've heard that fish that are fed lots of food and grow up big and fat really fast don't live as long as their thinner less fed slower growing counterparts. Anybody else heard this or know if it's really true?

haven't hear about life span j.w.

I'll have goldfish only, no koi. Have noticed general consensus is that feeding the goldies won't be necessary as they'll munch on algae & plants. But would like to feed them occasionally, if for no other reason than to get them used to me....

Which is better, flakes or pellets? (maybe I should be asking the fish? ) Does it matter from the standpoint of which is less likely to contaminate the water if all isn't eaten?

turtle mom, i agree with the others, depends on you.. i have babies and don't worry about them as they will find algae or tiny pieces of a pellet that the larger ones missed.. definitely test water at least weekly to make sure ammonia and the like don't ruin your pond as hot weather (from my recollection) is hard to hold O2.. either feed several times a day small portions is probably best if you can or once or twice with what can be consumed in a few minutes

 

[Waterbug]

Good quality feed, lots of water movement for high O2 and so the fish move, generally don't result in fat issues. Keepers normally watch bellies to see if they drop too much and know they have to increase the exercise. When growing optimal size fish the one thing you never do is cut back on feed. Instead you improve the fed quality, improve water quality, increase exercise.

Again ---- this is for optimal growth ---- not saying everyone should do this ----- If other people want small fish...super, don't feed them. If you want your fish to live as long as possible...super duper, don't feed them. There are lots of things you can do to work toward your own goals in addition to limiting feed ---- but that's completely unrelated to to growing maximum size fish.