Koi-Food

[B.Scott]

Also, What is super clean 5 for those of us who have neber heard oh it?

[crazy kujyaku]

Super Clean C is one of Izeki's product that contains enzymes. these enzymes are suppose to assist bacteria in resolving ammonia and nitrous acids in the water. It was originally intended only as a water conditioner, not for feeding.

But, as aquitori can testify, some people have experienced wonders in mixing it with feed.

Personally I haven't tried it. That's why I'm asking Aquitory to elaborate.

BTW, where in holland do you live in B. Scott?

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by crazy kujyaku Thanks Sword Fish. I should contact you next time i'll be in singapore. Aquitori, it's interesting that you add super clean c in your feed. I have heard of a friend who did this because his koi weren't fit. it did wonders for him. Can you elaborate on the reasons why you add this? FYI, I'm a big fan and a current user of izeki's paste food.

Super Clean C is pretty much the only Izeki product we can get here in the Valley...Well anyways, I use the product for food digestion. Since Koi do not have stomachs this aids in the digestion process and helps with the water quality and bio.

[crazy kujyaku]

Aquitori, is the super clean C the responsible agent for improving the shiroji? Where i live, i can't get the other stuff you mentioned.


also, i have heard that hi-silk and egg white is risky?

If i want to try using egg white, what's the percentage?

Koi is funny, sometimes they prefer paste food, other time pellet. like now, mine seem to prefer pellet.

[B.Scott]

Hi CK,

I live near the Hague in a small town called Voorburg.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by crazy kujyaku Aquitori, is the super clean C the responsible agent for improving the shiroji? Where i live, i can't get the other stuff you mentioned. also, i have heard that hi-silk and egg white is risky? If i want to try using egg white, what's the percentage? Koi is funny, sometimes they prefer paste food, other time pellet. like now, mine seem to prefer pellet.

I try to give a fine balance of food to my koi. Since it is cold here in California I have been feeding mostly Hikari Wheatgrem once a day. I feed the paste food Tuesday and Thursday. I haven't had any problems with the egg whites harming the fish, 1/4 cup is enough for 1 1/2lbs of my mix and since I can buy it in a carton at the local market I can consider it safe. Well FDA safe for that matter.
With Hi-Silk and any high protein you want to mix it with something to cut protein(e.i wheatgrem). To much protein in the early spring and late spring is way too much on the koi's digestion, in fact I don't feed Hi-Silk until June when the temps are at it's hottest here in San Jose.
I feed my koi this way to get the best quality out of them. So by winter when the water is cooler my koi are at their best. I am not too concerned about growing my koi out big with my paste mix my pond is way too small to get big growth anyways. I would rather have the overall quality of my koi shine, then have over fed big koi with the quality down.

[B.Scott]

I know Bil uses powdered eggwhites to bind his DIY paste as far as ai know he has no trouble with it.
My own fish will leave pellets high and dry when given the choice between that and paste food.
I do try to avoid feeding carbs with a high glycmic index and prefer things a bit less digestible.
B.Scott

[bil]

Don't throw the prawn heads away, as they are the best bit IMO. Silkworm I am not so keen on as they are very greasy. Like Scott, I like to steer clear of high GI foods.

This is the recipe I use. So far it holds together better in the water and forms a nice malleable dough. It freezes well, if it is a bit sticky when thawed, just dust it with a bit of seaweed flour.

For 1 Kg (approx)

600g fish paste
150g seaweed flour
40g clay
100g egg white powder. (aka albumin in the UK from carp bait sellers eg http://www.ccmoore.com/ £8 a kilo.)
6 Vit B complex pills
1/2 teaspoon of vit C powder
25 ccs oil (half safflower, half codliver oil) I use more in the summer.
clove or two of garlic if you like.

The paste is easier now. You need a mincer tho, not a blender. A good food processor will also work, but it needs processing thoroughly. The grinder gives a finer paste.

I cook up the herring or mackerel with no water, allow to cool and add an equal weight of prawn heads, put it thru the mincer and mix together. Gives a lovely thick paste. Bag it into 600g amounts and freeze. Obviously the base paste can be made in fairly large amounts if you wish. 5 kilos of herring plus 5 kilos of prawn heads will give enough paste to make 16 kilos of food.

On the day, take 600g of the thawed fish paste, and stir in 150g of egg white powder until it goes to a sticky paste.
Mix in six crushed vit B tabs and 1/4 teaspoon Vit C powder, followed by 25 ccs oil (codliver and safflower/sunflower 50:50 plus a bit of wheatgerm oil if you like).
Then stir in 40g Refresh clay, and when that is mixed weigh out 150g seaweed flour. Add the flour and knead well to make a dough. Don't use all the seaweed flour if you don't need it, as too much will make the paste too dry and crumbly.

Also feed some fresh veg like squash, sweet potatoes etc and some live food, prawn tails and mussels. For squash or pumpkin, I skin it and cube it into suitable sizes, drop it into boiling water , bring to the boil and simmer for about 3 - 4 minutes, less for small cubes, more for big. I then put it immediately into cold water to stop it cooking. I don't bother skinning sweet potatoes.

[Arthur]

If I cannot eat as many as you do, where would I find 5kg of prawn heads?

Arthur

[B.Scott]

Arthur,

I like you am now as large a consumer of prawns as Bil is. As a substitue I use dried gammaris shrimp but in a lesser weight as these have no water content and are more concentrated than prawn heads. iI you do have a few prawn heads but not enough you can mix the two.

B.Scott