Food is the main element for living of all animal. Like other animals fish also needs sufficient and nutritious fish feed for proper growth and survival.
Maximum fish production is not possible without nutritious feed. The ingredients of well balanced nutritious feed for fish are protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and water.
The feed like moss or aquatic insects which produce naturally in the pond is not sufficient for fish. There are some natural feed in the pond initially which may consumed by fish within a few days.
Applying fertilizer in the pond for producing natural feed also can’t make proper and necessary feed production. As a result the fishes can’t grow fast.
Along with natural feeds, supplementary feed ensures the fast growth of fish. So, it is a must to use supplementary feed in the pond for high production of fish within short time in small place.
Different Types of Fish Feed
Generally fish feed are of two types. Natural feed and supplementary feed. This two types are described below.
Natural Fish Feed
The feed which grows naturally in the pond or stream for the natural fertility of soil and water and by applying fertilizer is called natural feed of fish.
Natural feed is the main source of necessary feed for surviving. Availability of natural feed indicate the primary production capability of a stream. The natural feed of fish are below.
- Plankton
- Wolffia, eichhornia, pistia, lemna
- Tiny aquatic insects
- Rotted part of animal and plants
- Basal organic elements
- Different types of grasses (napier, para etc.)
Supplementary Fish Feed
Fish needs some extra feed along with available natural feeds in water for their regular growth.
This extra feed which are provided to fish is called supplementary feed of fish. The ingredients of supplementary feed for fish are below.
- Rice bran
- Refined pulse and wheat roughage
- Mustard or sesame cake
- Fish-meal (fish powder)
- Crop grain
- Silk kit meal
- Blood and innards of bird or animal
- Green leaves of various vegetables
- Minerals and vitamins
- Kitchen leftovers
- Maize powder and refined chaff
- Dried molasses etc.
