Feed Training of Yellow Perch: Feed Training of Yellow Perch Geoff Wallat Ohio State University South Centers - Piketon


What is Feed Training?: What is Feed Training? Training fish to switch from their natural diet to accepting a formulated diet. Other names: Artificial, prepared, ain’t what they normally eat diets Understand nutritional needs and behavior of the fish, helps with feed training Sturgeon Goldfish and catfish


Yellow Perch Fry Natural Foods : Yellow Perch Fry Natural Foods Natural foods: start with zooplankton. Rotifers, cladocerans, copepods Daphnia spp. & Bosmina spp. – Water fleas Picture Credit: Plankton Management for Fish Culture Ponds, Morris and Mischke, Tech Bulletin Series #114, NCRAC, USDA


Yellow Perch Fry Natural Foods: Yellow Perch Fry Natural Foods Move to larger feed items as they grow. Insect larvae, worms, grubs, etc. Pisciverous: Eat other fish (and each other!) Walleye Culture Manual, NCRAC Copyright © 1997/98 The Fishing World


Three Approaches to Feed Train: Three Approaches to Feed Train Hatchery Start at first feeding Mouth gape Use rotifers,newly hatched brine shrimp, krill Wean progressively onto formulated diet over 7-14 days. Produce your own natural food source, food for your food source, and keep small fish alive LABOR! Pond-Tank-Pond Fry stocked to fertilized ponds (or hatched) Culture for 4-8 weeks Bring into tanks, high density, “force” feed All Pond Fry incubated in ponds Same initial 4-8 weeks with fertilization Lights, belt feeders, feed and fish concentrators


Yellow Perch Fry: Yellow Perch Fry Formulated Diets High protein (45% -50%), higher fat (16-20%), high energy diets – they’re trout diets Brown and others (Purdue U) are working on dietary requirements of juvenile perch Some recommendations on fry diets out there


Pond-Tank-Pond Method: Pond-Tank-Pond Method Fish are harvested at ¾ inch average size (6 weeks) Brought to flow-through tanks High densities, crowding and competition for food Highest we’ve had is about 2 ounces / gallon or 60 grams / gallon = 0.13 lb / gal Recommendation: Do not exceed 0.25 lb/gal Duration: 2 to 3 weeks, most on feed in first week


Pond-Tank-Pond Method: Pond-Tank-Pond Method Salt is key – 2 to 3 grams per Liter of water daily Use formalin or hydrogen peroxide for fungus only if really needed (25-100 ppm) formalin, hydrogen peroxide same (?) 10-15% Body Weight per day feeding on belt feeders Krill powder top coat, about 10% of diet Schooling fish, round tanks definitely better Siphon tank bottoms daily – Remove mortalities and uneaten feed Well water / Pond water mix, or well water alone


Pond-Tank-Pond Method: Pond-Tank-Pond Method


Feed Training: Feed Training


Challenges: Challenges Hard to estimate number of fry from pond accurately Small fish, average 0.1 – 0.3 grams each Algae, tadpoles etc. throw off weights During feed training, have some not accounted for in regular mortality checks Cannibalism ? Dissolve?