[Bern]

Hi Kev,

There used to be a poster on many of the boards that did have the relevant background to examine and comment on the nutritional value of pellets. Sadly, I haven't seen him post for a couple of years. However, he didn't completely disagree with you. His major rants were at the bulking agents used in their production that weren't best suited to a carp diet. At best he thought pellets were a good staple and could be the basis of a good diet. But it needed augmenting.

Over the years that I have been in the hobby I have seen many foods come and go and have tried most of them at some point in time. I too know that my pellet of choice is much cheaper in Japan for the reasons you mention. I continue to use it because a: - I haven't found a locally made alternative, and b: - it doesn't throw up any surprises e.g. discolouration etc, that I have occasionaly experienced with other foods.

So like you I make a paste food - but the commercially available Kusuri one which I supplement either direcly or additionally with treats like cockles, mussels and prawns. I also use garlic paste in the paste mix and occasionally blend it with orange juice or soy sauce for flavour. When making up a pearl barley mix, I'll add a spoonful of the dry paste mix to it as well.

So my koi's diet for several years now consists of pellets and paste food.
When I am lazy or in a rush they get more pellets, when I have the time more paste food . But in the main a mixture of the two.

BTW - Note to other readers. Kev and I know each other we are in the same Koi Club.

rgds Bern