Bonnie,

If you look at the break down of catfish feeds you will see the same
additives as are in the expensive foods.

Tom L.L.
"Bonnie Espenshade" wrote in message
...
~ Windsong ~ wrote:
A few years ago there was a discussion here (I think it was here) about
feeding koi and large goldfish catfish food. I remember all kinds of
dire
warnings. We pay $10.99 for a 50 lb bag of catfish chow here in TN. If
we
buy koi food it runs around $35 for a small 10 lb bag. The koi are
getting
big and really pack the food away now. After 3 years I can attest to
the
fact that koi THRIVE on this food as do all the goldfish. I do buy a
smaller pellets for the smaller fish.

There's been no disease or parasites since we've started using this
food,
and also LymnoZyme a few times in early spring. Every single fish
survived
the winter.

I believe the arguement was that the catfish food was not
for long lived fish. Most catfish are raised as food fish,
not pets and their lives are not as long as koi.

--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

Hi Tom,

I kind of like seeing the fish come to eat. Sinking would definitely not
double my pleasure, although the cheaper price would be nice. Let us know
what you think.

Jim

--
______________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net
______________________________________________
"Tom La Bron" wrote in message
...
Carol,

I was looking at catfish foods and it seems that they are now making a
sinking pellet and it cost less than the floating at $10.76 for 51 LBS.

Will have to ask at the feed store if they can get me the sinking pellets.

Tom L.L.
"~ Windsong ~" wrote in message
...
In a fit of sanity: John Hines picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
:: "Just Me \"Koi\"" wrote:
::
::: What is catfish food, and where does one buy catfish food?
::
:: Food for farm raised catfish, so you would be looking for a feed
:: store, in an area with fish farms.
===================
There are no fish farms in our area. Many feed stores carry it because
the
pond owners are buying it. They're buying it because the koi and
goldfish
are thriving on it. :-)

Carol.......
"War does not determine who is right, war determines who is left."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

You know, people who sell expensive, 'ideally formulated' food for our
European carp (Koi) are not going to be pleased with the tenor of this
group. I wonder if there are studies that would formally compare the
expensive to the cheap foods and would look at fish health longitudinally on
both foods. I suspect that carp in european rivers were pretty flexible in
their feeding habits and that it may have been hard for them to get the high
protein diets we feed...don't know, just a guess.

Jim

--
______________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net
______________________________________________
"~ Windsong ~" wrote in message
.. .
A few years ago there was a discussion here (I think it was here) about
feeding koi and large goldfish catfish food. I remember all kinds of dire
warnings. We pay $10.99 for a 50 lb bag of catfish chow here in TN. If
we
buy koi food it runs around $35 for a small 10 lb bag. The koi are
getting
big and really pack the food away now. After 3 years I can attest to the
fact that koi THRIVE on this food as do all the goldfish. I do buy a
smaller pellets for the smaller fish.

There's been no disease or parasites since we've started using this food,
and also LymnoZyme a few times in early spring. Every single fish
survived
the winter.
--
Carol.......
"War does not determine who is right,
war determines who is left."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

"Tom La Bron" wrote:

John,

Ask the people who get the duck food for you to see if they can get catfish
food for you. Most place are pretty accommodating. You may pay a little
bit more for a 50 lb bag, since you are getting only one, but it would
probably worth asking.

It is a chain ware house thing, so no, they can't special order stuff.

My pond is small, so I'm still using the half bag of Manzuri I got last
fall at the water garden show.

In a fit of sanity: John Hines picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
::
:: Agriculture is history in my area, the last feed store in the area
:: now sells lawn ornaments
:: Duck food is the only thing I can get regularity.
===============================
If they sell duck food they may be able to get catfish food for you. Have
you done a search on the net? Even with shipping charges you'll save $$$
over the outrageous costs of koi food.
--
Carol.......
Ponds on the cheap
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

In a fit of sanity: Tom La Bron picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
:: Carol,
::
:: I was looking at catfish foods and it seems that they are now
:: making a sinking pellet and it cost less than the floating at
:: $10.76 for 51 LBS.
:: Will have to ask at the feed store if they can get me the sinking
:: pellets.
::
:: Tom L.L.
----------------------------
What I'm using floats and they all come up for it! I think I can judge
better how much to feed when using floating pellets.
--
*.·´¨¨))
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))*
*((¸¸.·´ ..·´
((¸¸.·´* ~ * Carol * ~ *

In a fit of sanity: Anne Lurie picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
:: With all due respect for Carol, whose signature is eminently
:: sensible, what's with the " picked up the keyboard and pecked out"
:: a response???

** That's set in my email enhancer. It can be changed or omitted
altogether. :-)

:: Sorry, sorry, I just realized that it's Friday the 13th -- this
:: may perhaps explain why I find the "somebody done somebody wrong"
:: quoting appellations more interesting than the material actually
:: quoted.
:: I think I shall take a sabbatical from newsgroups until next
:: month.... watch out, WordRacer, here I come!
::
:: My apologies, Wind/Carol and the rest of you,
::
:: Anne Lurie
:: Raleigh, NC

--
*.·´¨¨))
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))*
*((¸¸.·´ ..·´
((¸¸.·´* ~ * Carol * ~ *

In a fit of sanity: Tom La Bron picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
:: Carol,
::
:: I would not worry about your KOI's livers or those of your
:: Goldfish because most of that fat that builds up around the heart
:: and liver are created because of feeding of high protein foods all
:: the time. Most of the catfish foods sold are 32% protein although
:: there are some 36% feeds that are used to baby fish. If you
:: continue to feed the 32% variety you will be fine.
===================\
Thanks Tom! I'm not sure of the protein content because we put the feed in
a large plastic type feed container, and the bag was tossed away. They get
a little variety when they eat the smaller pellets tossed in for the
goldfish. They also get fresh, juicy earthworms from the compost pile once
in awhile. And sometimes the ends from the bread. I also feed them
duckweed that grows in the kiddy pools out behind the house.
--
Carol.......
Ponding on the cheap.........
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

In the last chapter: Phyllis and Jim Hurley picked up the keyboard
and pecked out:
:: You know, people who sell expensive, 'ideally formulated' food for
:: our European carp (Koi) are not going to be pleased with the tenor
:: of this group.

** That may be. But this is NOT a commercial group for people pushing their
products.

I wonder if there are studies that would formally
:: compare the expensive to the cheap foods and would look at fish
:: health longitudinally on both foods.

** I personally know of no such study. After seeing that man's goldfish
and older koi in such great condition I knew Catfish food was the way to go.
Then I kept hearing about people buying it because, like myself, they felt
ripped off paying $5, $10 and more a lb for the "koi" foods.

I suspect that carp in
:: european rivers were pretty flexible in their feeding habits and
:: that it may have been hard for them to get the high protein diets
:: we feed...don't know, just a guess.

** That *is* hard to know. I'm sure they fed on almost anything edible as
our koi still do today.
--
Carol.......
Ponding on the cheap........
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

Anyone in Arizona know a feed supplier that carries Catfish food?
My guys are getting bigger and my wallet's getting thinner. :-(


On Sat, 14 Jun 2003 17:36:26 -0500, "~ Windsong ~"
wrote:

In the last chapter: Phyllis and Jim Hurley picked up the keyboard
and pecked out:
:: You know, people who sell expensive, 'ideally formulated' food for
:: our European carp (Koi) are not going to be pleased with the tenor
:: of this group.

** That may be. But this is NOT a commercial group for people pushing their
products.

I wonder if there are studies that would formally
:: compare the expensive to the cheap foods and would look at fish
:: health longitudinally on both foods.

** I personally know of no such study. After seeing that man's goldfish
and older koi in such great condition I knew Catfish food was the way to go.
Then I kept hearing about people buying it because, like myself, they felt
ripped off paying $5, $10 and more a lb for the "koi" foods.

I suspect that carp in
:: european rivers were pretty flexible in their feeding habits and
:: that it may have been hard for them to get the high protein diets
:: we feed...don't know, just a guess.

** That *is* hard to know. I'm sure they fed on almost anything edible as
our koi still do today.

Jim,.

I was meaning getting the sinking for me. There are less problems with
ornamental goldfish if they are feed sinking foods rather than floating
foods. The problem was that catfish foods were usually floating which is
why I never bought any, but now that they make a sinking variety I will talk
to my feed store and see if they can get me some or get it off the internet.

Tom L.L.
"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in
message .. .
Hi Tom,

I kind of like seeing the fish come to eat. Sinking would definitely not
double my pleasure, although the cheaper price would be nice. Let us know
what you think.

Jim

--
______________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net
______________________________________________
"Tom La Bron" wrote in message
...
Carol,

I was looking at catfish foods and it seems that they are now making a
sinking pellet and it cost less than the floating at $10.76 for 51 LBS.

Will have to ask at the feed store if they can get me the sinking
pellets.

Tom L.L.
"~ Windsong ~" wrote in message
...
In a fit of sanity: John Hines picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
:: "Just Me \"Koi\"" wrote:
::
::: What is catfish food, and where does one buy catfish food?
::
:: Food for farm raised catfish, so you would be looking for a feed
:: store, in an area with fish farms.
===================
There are no fish farms in our area. Many feed stores carry it
because
the
pond owners are buying it. They're buying it because the koi and
goldfish
are thriving on it. :-)

Carol.......
"War does not determine who is right, war determines who is left."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

catfish farmers sell em per lb. catfish have a very short life span and the food is
designed to fatten them fast for market and so they taste right. Koi are pets. we
are looking at our pets living more than a year or two. I have to trust that the
Japanese know what they are doing about formulating food. I know people who breed
show koi in the US, like Brett dont use cat food. My pets are worth a buck or even
two bucks a year each for food. Ingrid

"Just Me \"Koi\"" wrote:
What is catfish food, and where does one buy catfish food?
Ingrid and Joann, what do you both think about this catfish food thing?

I shared this with one of my friends who has always thought that I was crazy
given how much I spent on my Koi, and he had these two things to say:-
1. Why am I even thinking about buying catfish food, I wouldn't feed my
pet dogs pig chow even though it costs a lot less would I? I quickly
reminded him how coyotes are same as dogs and they eat anything....to which
he came back.."Dogs have been domesticated for ages and have lost their
natural defense against the germs in .........
2. What is the cost of Koi food compared to the cost of the Koi?

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

wrote in message
...
catfish farmers sell em per lb. catfish have a very short life span and
the food is
designed to fatten them fast for market and so they taste right. Koi are
pets. we
are looking at our pets living more than a year or two. I have to trust
that the
Japanese know what they are doing about formulating food. I know people
who breed
show koi in the US, like Brett dont use cat food. My pets are worth a
buck or even
two bucks a year each for food. Ingrid

"Just Me \"Koi\"" wrote:
What is catfish food, and where does one buy catfish food?
Ingrid and Joann, what do you both think about this catfish food thing?

In the last chapter: Just Me "Koi" picked up the keyboard and pecked
out:
:: I shared this with one of my friends who has always thought that I
:: was crazy given how much I spent on my Koi, and he had these two
:: things to say:-

## Some of us with a lot of good size fish find the exorbitant cost of
special koi feeds prohibitive and wasteful. Since so many people are using
the Catfish chow without any problems at all why not?

:: 1. Why am I even thinking about buying catfish food, I wouldn't
:: feed my pet dogs pig chow even though it costs a lot less would I?

## Pigs and dogs are totally different animals. Catfish and koi are BOTH
fish and the koi and goldfish thrive on the cheaper food.

:: I quickly reminded him how coyotes are same as dogs and they eat
:: anything....to which he came back.."Dogs have been domesticated
:: for ages and have lost their natural defense against the germs in

## This is total baloney! They only lose their immunity if they have some
disease or are raised in a totally germ free environment. Those selling
these outrageously expensive foods will always have a reason you should
SPEND, SPEND, SPEND! What will keep a coyote or wolf healthy will work for
our domestic dogs. In fact my dogs, aged 9 to 11 are thriving on the cheapo
dog food from Wal-Mart and table scraps. Who told me about this cheapo
dogfood? A woman raising coyote, dog, wolf crosses about 18 years ago.
That's what she was feeding all her breeding stock.

:: 2. What is the cost of Koi food compared to the cost of the Koi?

## Depends on what you pay for the koi and how much you pay for the food.
I don't think most people have ponds full of $5,000 - $5,0000 koi. Even
they would no doubt thrive along with their cheaper friends on the cheaper
foods. Buy hey, if you can afford a couple of small $80+ bags of koi-chow
over the summer go for it! :-)

--
Carol.......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@

In the last chapter: DesertPond picked up the keyboard and pecked out:
:: Anyone in Arizona know a feed supplier that carries Catfish food?
:: My guys are getting bigger and my wallet's getting thinner. :-(
===================
Check on the net or your Yellow Pages for any feed or farm equipment stores
in your area - start calling around! The place that sells it closest to me
is Tractor Supply.
--
Carol.......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{@