How to make floating fish feed?

Introduction

Most fish farmers purchase fish feed from commercial manufacturers. However, it is critical to note that medicating sick fish, brood fish conditioning, feeding juvenile or larval fish, and maintaining aquarium fishes can be a daunting challenge. In fact, commercial manufacturers may not readily manufacture specialized fish because it is not economical, considering the type and size of machines they use. In this regard, typical manufacturers package fish feed in 50-pound bags and manufacture one ton or more of these products. On the other hand, technicians, hobbyists, and small scale farmers buying these feeds in large quantities is considered a waste. On a positive note, floating fish feed can be manufactured in the laboratory, at home, or in a classroom. A dry type fish feed machine is used for producing high-quality floating fish feed for a wide range of uses.The final product is usually smooth in texture, excellent in shape, high in nutrition, and uniquely tasting. The fish feed machine has an adjustment for extrusion feed to adjust the time it will float in water.

Raw Materials for Fish Feed

A fish feed machine uses the following raw materials to make floating fish feed:

> Bone powder: it contains a magnesium: calcium ratio of 1:2 and is essential in manufacturing fish bone.
> Cotton seeds: they consist of about 54 percent ideal and form supplementary fish feed.
> Fish powder: it consists of about 60 percent protein and is easily digested by fish.
> Innards: they contain 52 percent protein and are ideal for feeding catfish.
> Maize: it is rich in fats, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins A and E; hence, it is a commonly used feed raw material.
> Mustard cake: it contains high-rate fat and about 30 percent protein and makes up about 20 percent of floating fish feed.
> Rice dust: it contains enzymes, vitamins B-1, B-2, and B-6, and about 15 percent protein.
> Wheat chaff: this material is rich in fiber and necessary in controlling fish diseases.

Advantages of Dry Fish Feed Machine

1. A dry fish feed machine is used to produce a wide variety of feed for all fish types as well as other aquatic animals in research laboratories or homes.
2. It consumes less power than most industrial machines; thus, it is convenient for use by small scale farmers.
3. The performance of a dry fish feed machine is very high because it uses a humanized design and advanced technology that simplifies operation.
4. It produces fish pellets of a broad range of diameters, that is, from 0.9 mm to 15 mm.
5. The fish feed machine has different molds to change diameters of fish feed.
6. A dry fish feed machine has a specialized screw sleeve that guarantees longevity because it is encased in a durable structure.
7. The fish food a dry fish feed machine manufactures is of the puffing type, making it easy for fish to digest.
8. The machine produces fish feed under high temperature and pressure; hence, making pellets easy to digest and destroying bacterial infections and salmonellosis.
9. Manufactured fish pellets can stay in water for over twelve hours without readily dissolving.

Advantages Over Wet Fish Feed Machine

a) It is cheap as well as easy to use and operate than the wet fish feed machine because it does not require a steam boiler.
b) It has a lower capacity than the wet fish feed machine; thus, it is economical to use by hobbyists, small scale farmers, and researchers.
c) The dry fish feed machine produces feed of a very high quality that also has floating capabilities.

Production of Fish Feed

a. Turn on the fish feed machine.
b. Ensure the raw material is put into the fish feed machine.
c. Do not heat the outside of the machine because heat is produced from the rotary process in the airtight system. As such, the raw material’s fiber and starch begin to swell as a result of high temperatures in the ripening process.
d. The shaping mold forms pellets in the pressure-tight environment of the machine.
e. The rotating screw shrinks the finished product into small round balls of required diameter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, commercial fish feed manufacturers use large machines to produce floating fish pellets in bulk. However, it is vital to note that purchasing such products might not be economical for small scale farmers, hobbyists, and researchers because of the large quantity of fish feed they are required to purchase. As a result of the exorbitant cost and possibility of wasting floating fish feed, a dry fish feed machine is useful in manufacturing fish pellets in small quantities. In fact, the machine allows users to gauge the diameter of fish feed that determines its floating time in water. The dry fish feed machine is better than a wet fish feed machine because it is cheap, produces high quality floating fish feed, and has a lower capacity; hence, it is economical for use by hobbyists, small scale farmers, and researchers who do not wish to buy fish feed in bulk because of the cost and possibility of wastage.