why making floating fish feed pellet?
before talking about how to make floating fish feed pellets, let us talk about why making floating fish feed pellet? at first, we need to know about the advantages of floating fish feed pellets. generally speaking, floating fish feed have many advantages over sinking feeds. The raw material is propelled by the screw along the barrel of the extruder and cooked at 120-175°C for about 30 seconds, the floating fish feed pellets are easier to digest as a product of the cooking process, and heat and stress will also inactivate and destroy enzymes. The increased starch gelatinization helps the feed stabilize further in the water because it breaks down more slowly, giving the fish enough time to finish eating.
High starch gelatinization
After the raw materials are treated with high temperature, the starch gelatinization degree can be increased by 80-99%, and the aquatic fish are easy to digest.
Improve water stability and environment
Floating pellets are more resistant to decomposition in the water, and floating feed allows fish farmers to observe the condition of the fish and the amount of feed consumed.
water absorption
Extrusion moisture content during processing can be controlled over a wide range, which helps improve the water stability of the final feed. These particles absorb more water, hold their shape longer, and reduce nutrient loss. It benefits pellet technology quality and fish health.
better digestion and absorption
Fish feed pellets can quickly break down in the fish’s stomach, losing nutrients (during reflux), which helps in better absorption of nutrients.
Feeding environment
Fish are raised in water, so feed pellets must have a certain stability to maintain their shape and nutrition. Smaller fish feed particle size helps improve stability.
how to make floating fish feed pellets?
Selecting and prepare raw materials according to the fish feed ingredients:
soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn kernels, wheat flour, fish derivatives, plant derivatives, algae, oils, minerals, proteins
Grinding raw materials:
Raw materials need to be grinded into powder form before producing feed pellets.raw materials grinding process is very important on how to make floating fish feed pellet, it determins if you can succeed on making floating fish feed pellets.
mixing raw materials:
Because there are many kinds of raw materials, it is necessary to mix the raw materials fully and evenly. The vitamins and minerals can be mixed in small amounts with the floating fish feed ingredients while mixing. if you dont want to make your own fish feed pellet, after crushing raw materials, you can use the mixing machine mixing your own fish feed.
Extrusion process:
The feed mixture is passed through a fish feed pellet extruder. Set the proper diameter for the die, and during extrusion, the pellets are chopped or broken into smaller lengths.
Drying of finished pellets:
It is difficult to store and pack granules with too high moisture content. Dry the granules to a moisture content of less than 10% or less. The temperature should be stored below 60ºC.
Fish feed pellet packaging:
the produced feed can not be used up at one time, the feed pellets can be put into bags or containers, which can prevent insects, mice, moisture, and long-term storage.
floating fish feed formulation and fish feed ingredients
Nutritional Level of Animal Proteins
| Animal Protein | Energy Level (mj/kg) | Crude Protein (%) | Fats (%) | Calcium/Phosphorus (%) | Methionine (%) | Lysine (%) |
| Meat meal | 11.2 | 50 – 51 | 10 | 8 | 0.7 | 2.6 |
| Blood meal | 15.2 | 88 – 90 | 1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 7.1 |
| Feather meal | 13.7 | 80 – 85 | 7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Poultry meal | 13.1 | 60 – 64 | 13 | 2.0 | 1 | 3.1 |
| Fish meal | 5 | 55 – 75 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2 |
Nutritional Level of Plant Proteins
| Plant Protein | Protein (%) | Energy (cal/kg) | Calcium (%) | Lysine (%) | Methionine (%) |
| Soybeans meal | 44 – 48 | 2557 | 0.20 | 3.2 | 1.4 |
| Cottonseed meal | 40 – 41 | 2350 | 0.66 | 4.2 | 1.4 |
| Sunflower Meal | 46 – 47 | 2205 | 0.30 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| GNC | 45.6 – 61.8 | 3860 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 1.0 |
floating fish feed ingredients raw material sources
fish feed ingredient compositions of catfish feed, tilapia fish feed and other fish feeds, The farmers can adjust different kinds of raw materials according to the their fish. Ideally, fish food should provide the fish with fats (for energy) and amino acids (the building blocks of protein), and fish food (whether flakes or pellets) must be digested quickly to prevent intestinal gas build-up, kidney failure, and infection. such as swim bladder problems and puffiness) and avoid aquarium contamination due to excess ammonia. Aquatic feeds for carnivores must contain plant substances such as spirulina. According to Wikipedia, the source of raw materials fish feed ingredients for floating fish feed can be obtained from the following ways.
There are two basic types of fishmeal (source of protein): (a) those resulting from fishery waste associated with the processing of fish for human consumption (such as salmon and tuna), and (b) those derived from specific fish (herring, herring and cod) of those are harvested solely for the purpose of producing fishmeal.
Shrimp mix (shrimp meal) is made from either culled prawns or whole prawns of unfit quality for human consumption that have been processed prior to freezing. Dry (sun or use a dryer) the floating fish feed ingredients to be made into shrimp meal, then grind. Shrimp meal is a source of pigment that enhances the desired color in fish tissue. It is also a secondary source of supplemental protein for fish.
Squid meal is made from the visceral parts of squid in canneries, including eggs and testicles. Squid meal is a highly digestible source of fish protein that provides a full range of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and cholesterol (1.0-1.5%) suitable for fry and juvenile consumption.
Brine shrimp (adult Artemia) are a common food source for fish and can be provided in adult form, such as eggs or freeze-dried. Brine shrimp is a source of protein, carotene (a color enhancer) and acts as a natural laxative in the fish digestive system. Brine shrimp can also provide plant matter for fish due to algae consumption.
Soybean meal is a high protein source for fish feed formulation and has become an alternative to traditional marine animal diets.
Spirulina is a blue-green phytoplankton rich in raw protein, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, beta-carotene, color-enhancing pigments, various minerals, essential fatty acids and required Eight amino acids for complete nutrition.
Whole grains (carbs) are not the best source of energy for fish, but they are an excellent source of roughage for fish like goldfish and koi. It is also a natural source of vitamin E, which promotes growth and enhances coloration.
