Aquaculture food, nourishment used in fish farming, is special food made of a variety of special ingredients. Regardless of the type of fish farm feed your business uses, produces or sells, proper aquaculture feed use and application requires proper training and education in aquaculture feed.

Aquaculture feed manufacturers and aquaculture feed suppliers can offer tips and instructions on the best ways to safely store aquaculture food and how to properly offer it to fish. These tips, coupled with the appropriate aquaculture feed education and training courses, ensure that you use specialty fish farm feed and aquaculture feed supplies correctly. When you consider aquaculture feed education and training, you should:

1. Enroll in higher education courses that focus on aquaculture and fish farm feed.

2. Work with reputable fish feed manufacturers and aquaculture feed suppliers that provide vital hands-on training.

3. Attend workshops and seminars that focus on aquaculture feed to stay current on trends in fish farm feed and to network with others in the industry.

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Take education courses and utilize resources that focus on aquaculture and fish farm feed

Enroll in reputable courses of study that offer a solid background in aquaculture practices. Make sure the courses highlight fish feed aquaculture techniques and applications.

I recommend: Kentucky State University offers a course curriculum that ensures a solid background in aquaculture. A course on fish nutrition teaches about aquaculture feed basics and applications of fish food. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers quality information on alternative feed for fish farms and conveys extensive background information on aquaculture food in general.

Intern with an aquaculture feed company or organization

Hands-on experience with aquaculture feed manufacturers and suppliers provides essential training with commercial and specialty fish feed. From the early stages of fish feed production to aquaculture food safe storage techniques, you can acquire the best knowledge while on the job.

I recommend: The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University offers insight into internships that deal with aquaculture and fish feed. Take courses and secure an internship in aquaculture through the Northeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center for hands-on experience with aquaculture feed.

Attend workshops and seminars that focus on aquaculture fish food

Take advantage of the benefits of aquaculture feed workshops and seminars. Network with other professionals in the commercial fish feed industry and keep current on issues that affect aquaculture feed.

I recommend: Aquafeed.com offers seminars and courses across the country that focus on aquaculture fish food. Attend the annual Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference to network with others in the aquaculture feed sector and to meet vendors of fish farm feed and aquaculture feed supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join the United States chapter of the World Aquaculture Society for access to present and past publications and to stay up-to-date on trends in commercial fish feed and aquaculture feed supplies.

Aquaculture, or fish farming, requires you to use aquaculture feed to enhance fish, shellfish and shrimp production. Aquaculture fish food comes as oil, meal, seed or pellets to distribute within contained environments such as ponds. Healthy fish, shrimp and shellfish are typically raised in fresh or salt water. Whether you're raising fish in a backyard pond or water garden, or operating a commercial fish farm, one of the first steps in fish feed aquaculture is making sure you have the equipment and accessories necessary for producing an abundant seafood supply.

Aquaculture fish food comes in different forms. Moist and semi moist feeds are available as pellets. Because they spoil easily, these feeds must be kept frozen until they're used. Dry feeds are easier to handle and are more nutrient-rich. They can be crumbled into fine particles for pond distribution. This aquaculture food is best handled through belt conveyors and feeders. To find the appropriate aquaculture feed:

1. Determine the need for aquaculture feed. Many aquaculture feed suppliers raise fish to generate income and add to food production.

2. Identify the types of aquaculture fish food and aquaculture feed supplies.

3. Find aquaculture feed manufacturers with expertise on pond maintenance.

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Decide on the uses of aquaculture feed after getting started

Determine the type of fish farm, aquaculture feed and the quantity of fish that you want to produce.

I recommend: Global Aquatics, Ltd. assists beginning fish farmers with layout and business plans for building a fish feed facility on your property. Integrated Aqua Systems, Inc. specializes in tank design and construction for commercial fish feed use.

Find the right fish farm feed to meet your production goals

Stocking your farm with an ample amount of aquaculture feed supplies ensures growth of fish, shellfish and shrimp.

I recommend: LaBrake's Garden Path & Pond, LLC, sells hundreds of brands of aquaculture fish food pellets. Artemia International, LLC, supplies fish feed aquaculture for growth and enrichment of fish and shrimp.

Seek the best fish feed resources for maintaining your pond

Most aquaculture feed manufacturers and suppliers offer the latest in pond equipment and cleaning supplies to help you make the most efficient use of fish farm feed.

I recommend: M&M Suppliers offers a selection of oxygen meters and sand filters that help keep water quality under control. Fish food suppliers Zeigler Bros., Inc. sells oxygen meters, filters and other equipment along with a full line of aquaculture feed.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure to store any leftover dry and semi-moist aquaculture feed in a cool, dry facility of your yard or farm. These feeds last longer in well-ventilated conditions that prevent contamination from sudden temperature changes. Remember to also protect the fish feed from pests such as beetles and grain weevils.

Aquaculture has become one of the most popular ways to farm, produce, breed and raise fish and shellfish. According to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, aquaculture accounts for almost 50 percent of worldwide fish production. Some freshwater and saltwater species that live on aquaculture feed include tilapia, salmon, shrimp, crayfish, oysters, striped bass and many others. Before diving into the world of aquaculture and aquaculture feed, get to know some of the basic terminology related to this brand of seafood production.

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Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the farming or cultivating of freshwater and saltwater fish in a controlled setting, such as a fiberglass aquaculture tank or an aquarium. Aquaculture farmers raise tropical and ornamental fish, such as koi, as pets. Aquaculture also applies to the cultivation of edible fish such as trout, catfish or prawns.

I recommend: Detailed information about aquaculture and its processes can be located at the Tennessee Aquaculture Association. NorthernAquaFarms also gives a comprehensive introduction to aquaculture and its history.

Dry feeds

Dry feeds are nutrient-rich particles that are easier to distribute throughout aquaculture ponds, particularly in fresh water. Varieties include flakes, seeds or plant-based meal used to raise ornamental fish.

I recommend: Learn more about fish nutrition at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Moist and semi-moist feeds

Semi-moist and moist feeds fall into another category of aquaculture feed, which are usually available as meal, oil or frozen pellets. They can be used to raise fresh water and salt water fish for consumption. To prevent spoilage, moist and semi-moist feeds must be stored in cool, dry facilities.

I recommend: Articles from the Omega Protein Corporation report on the advantages of using moist feeds, such as fish oil and fish meal.

Brine shrimp

Brine shrimp are tiny shellfish used as a saltwater aquaculture feed. Brine shrimp can also be found under the name Artemia or Artemia Cysts.

I recommend: Artemia International posts information on aquaculture feeding applications, storage, processing and other technical features.

Fiberglass tanks

Fiberglass tanks are lightweight, corrosion-resistant and gel-coated, which makes them safe for holding aquaculture feed and performing aquaculture-related applications. Fiberglass tanks come in all sizes, depending on the quantity of fish and shellfish to be raised. Common fiberglass tank shapes include circular, rectangular and 'raceway' style.

I recommend: Study the differences between fiberglass tanks types and styles at the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cooperative Extension and Global Aquatics.

Biofilters

Biofilters are among the most common accessories used in maintaining aquaculture feed. These devices prevent contamination by cleaning, aerating and maintaining water quality in aquaculture systems. Biofilters remove excess solids, gases, nitrites and ammonia that can affect the quality of aquaculture feed in tanks.

I recommend: Review the basics and the benefits of biofilters at L.S. Enterprises. Integrated Aqua Systems also provides detailed information about filtration systems applications and features.

Keeping the inhabitants of a fish farm healthy is vital and requires a multifaceted approach that includes quality aquaculture feed. Every fish farmer should include funds in the budget to purchase the fish food needed to help keep the inhabitants healthy and thriving.

There are many factors that determine the amount of money you need to allocate to your fish feed budget. Consider the following suggestions to help you prepare for aquaculture feed pricing and costs for your farm:

1. Consider all natural fish feed to minimize the impact the food has on the aquatic ecosystem.

2. Buy in bulk to take advantage of quantity discounts.

3. Factor the cost of fish feeding equipment into your budget.

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Try natural aquaculture fish food

Natural aquaculture fish food offers a quality alternative to processed foods. Generally, natural food won't cloud the water like processed foods. The price you pay for the food depends on the type of food you need. Generally, frozen foods are more expensive than flake or pellet foods.

I recommend: Natural Solutions sells fish farm feed priced from around $15 for two pounds to $50 for 10 pounds for ChenGro Quality Floating Koi Food. Its Pond Care Spring and Autumn Pond food, which contains spirulina algae is priced at around $90 for 18 pounds. Doctors Foster & Smith sells frozen fish feed starting at around $4 per package. This company offers quantity discounts.

Purchase feed for aquaculture applications in bulk

Purchasing feed for fish farms in bulk is almost always a smart investment. By doing this, you will save money on shipping and in some cases, you will get a quantity discount.

I recommend: You can find aquaculture food at Harrietta Hills. This company offers Koi food for under $11 per pound, trout food and general pond feed for under $30 for a 40 pound bag, with quantity discounts available. The Alternative Pond and Garden Mart sells fish food in packages up to 40 pounds. Prices vary greatly depending on the product; however, you can expect to pay around $125 for a 40 pound bag of Koi feed.

Invest in fish feed equipment

Fish feed equipment is a time saving investment for most fish farms. In most cases, this equipment also minimizes food waste. When you are pricing fish feed equipment, you can expect to pay more for automatic feeders than you will pay for feeder rings or manual feeders.

I recommend: LaBrake's Garden Path & Pond sells fish feed rings and other fish feed equipment that starts at around $5 each. You can find aquaculture feed supplies at Memphis Net and Twine. Commercial fish feed equipment starts at around $100 for a 300-gallon economy model. Automatic fish feed timers are priced at around $85 at Aquatic Eco-System. This company also has feeding systems and components that are competitively priced. For example, auger feeders start at under $450.