I'm raising bluegill. I've got some ideas and was looking for any advice. This is a bit different then regular aquarium keeping because I'm raising the bluegill to eat and I'll be raising 30 or so at a time.
I'd like a food that is inexpensive. The purpose of raising this fish isn't for the cheapest food source, but a healthy food source that I know was treated humanly. I don't mind paying more to eat the fish I grow then to buy a fish in the supermarket, I just don't want it to be ridiculous. I don't want to eat a fish that ate $50 in food.
I currently have a vermicompost bin (worm composting bin using red wigglers aka Eisenia fetida). The idea was to feed the worms to the fish and this may still be the route I go. The bluegill are starting to slowly take to the worms but they don't go crazy for them like I thought they would. Since then I've read that a certain type of composting worm was actually toxic to fish and produces a slime coating the fish find distastefull. Unfortunately I can't figure out exactly which worm it is that does that.... many worms share the same common names.... three different worms are called red worms or red wigglers.
Another thing I'm working on is a black soldier fly compost bin. black soldier fly larva (ok, maggots) are sold as 'phoenix worms' for fish, turtles, reptiles, etc. The larva is supposed to be great food, high in calcium, stores well, bla bla bla. Nicest thing about these, in my opinion, is that with the right kind of compost bin they will 'self harvest' themselves. They crawl out of the bin and fall into a bucket, waiting to be eaten hehehe.
Also, since I should be able to get the bluegill to eat from the surface I could probably get them eating pellets. What's the chance of making my own fish pellets (maybe using dried worms and soldier fly larva?). Anyone know about the commercial pellets they use in large scale aquaculter farms? Is there non-medicated/organic versions of that? I know Purina makes Goat Chow, I suppose they make a Fish Chow I don't know anything about the fish foods one can buy in stores for regular aquariums or for large commercial ventures.
I'd like a food that is inexpensive. The purpose of raising this fish isn't for the cheapest food source, but a healthy food source that I know was treated humanly. I don't mind paying more to eat the fish I grow then to buy a fish in the supermarket, I just don't want it to be ridiculous. I don't want to eat a fish that ate $50 in food.
I currently have a vermicompost bin (worm composting bin using red wigglers aka Eisenia fetida). The idea was to feed the worms to the fish and this may still be the route I go. The bluegill are starting to slowly take to the worms but they don't go crazy for them like I thought they would. Since then I've read that a certain type of composting worm was actually toxic to fish and produces a slime coating the fish find distastefull. Unfortunately I can't figure out exactly which worm it is that does that.... many worms share the same common names.... three different worms are called red worms or red wigglers.
Another thing I'm working on is a black soldier fly compost bin. black soldier fly larva (ok, maggots) are sold as 'phoenix worms' for fish, turtles, reptiles, etc. The larva is supposed to be great food, high in calcium, stores well, bla bla bla. Nicest thing about these, in my opinion, is that with the right kind of compost bin they will 'self harvest' themselves. They crawl out of the bin and fall into a bucket, waiting to be eaten hehehe.
Also, since I should be able to get the bluegill to eat from the surface I could probably get them eating pellets. What's the chance of making my own fish pellets (maybe using dried worms and soldier fly larva?). Anyone know about the commercial pellets they use in large scale aquaculter farms? Is there non-medicated/organic versions of that? I know Purina makes Goat Chow, I suppose they make a Fish Chow I don't know anything about the fish foods one can buy in stores for regular aquariums or for large commercial ventures.