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Thread: Koi feed alternative idea?
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16-11-2018, 12:54 PM #1
Koi feed alternative idea?
Hi guys
Have been a member on here a long time and have always tried to think of new ways to improve the hobby. I am conducting a theoretical business plan for my last year university degree study and could really appreciate some help. I am basically designing and working out the viability of a black soldier fly farm as use for ornamental fish feed/ Koi treats. I just have a few questions below, if you would prefer not to answer on this thread then please pm me. Would really appreciate some help and advice.
1. Have you heard of black soldier fly larvae before?
2. How much do you spend on Koi food a year?
3. How much do you spend on Koi treats a year/ what types?
4. Would you consider trying out a new insect based alternative?
Any further input or help/suggestions would be really helpful. Any further questions welcome!
Cheers Chris
YouTube- https://youtube.com/c/FancyGoldfishFanatics
High end goldfish collector
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16-11-2018, 01:15 PM #2
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16-11-2018, 01:41 PM #3John
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16-11-2018, 03:07 PM #4
Hi Chris.
1. never heard of them.
2. This year about £120
3. about £50
4. As above if there were any additional benefits I would consider.
And to echo John's sentiments. Good luck
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john1, 14crazychris Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-11-2018, 03:47 PM #5
Hi Chris
Answer to your questions
1 No
2 £100 approx
3 £30 mainly silkworm pupae also shrimps. Did try egg fly'd lice but found it very dusty, not sure what benefit it had on the koi. They did eat it though.
4 depends on the nutritional aspect and what benefits you get out of them.
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16-11-2018, 06:01 PM #66000g in ground koi pond
+3000g lily/Anoxic pond attached
29 koi (40 to 65cm)
Bottom drain, Mid water & Skimmer to Drum
JBR boichamber->Blue eco 500 pump ->below surface return.
Blue Eco 240 -> Large MB -> Waterfall -> Planted Anoxic pond (25 baskets)
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14crazychris, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-11-2018, 06:28 PM #7
1. No
2. £100
3. £0
4. Depends on cost
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14crazychris, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-11-2018, 08:06 PM #8
Have seen them before, they are a flat type of maggot, and I think very high protein so maybe not a complete substitute for pellet food, more a koi treat. They are available as a freeze dried fish and reptile food.
2. Around £400 (too much)
3. Probably £50-£70 on various treats ( only a guess)
4 Would feed as an additional treat
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14crazychris, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-11-2018, 10:58 PM #9
Here's an article about black soldier fly being used as food in uk fish farms.
https://www.theguardian.com/environm...armed-creature
Looking at the price of this, you'd need a hell of a lot to make a decent profit (I read it as 300 grams for £5.99 but hard to be certain because they've stolen the advert wording from Aquacadabra!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-x-Fluva...YAAOSwmOZbiB3O
1. Yes, but only through reading the Guardian article above. Not thought beyond that.
2. First Year keeping Koi (April). Around £140 so far to feed 8 Tosai.
3. Harvest live food for free. Frozen mussels, £2.20 per 500 gram bag from Asda....1 bag every 4 - 6 weeks. Also Dried mealworm - Spent £1 on 2x 90 gram bags. in June, have around 20 grams left.
4. Would definitely consider buying if in the same price range as the treats mentioned above.
4a) If its in really fancy packaging with lots of statements about how it will make my Koi amazing, and Koi Dealers swear by it and constantly recommend it as a health treat to enhance X,Y and Z I might stretch to £8 for 500 grams.
4b) If its in quality sealed packaging with lots of statements about how it will make my Koi amazing, and Koi Dealers recommend it as a main daily food source for growth/colour/vitality (delete as appropriate) I might try out a bag at say £35 for 2kg.
4c) If it was sold in a fine powder type format that didn't cloud water etc I'd definitely keep some handy for feeding fry when the brineshrimp "factory" is out of sync.
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14crazychris, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-11-2018, 07:45 PM #10
Hi everyone
Thank you very much for the responses! This is really really helpful information and some great ideas! Any other answers to the above questions would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers Chris
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkYouTube- https://youtube.com/c/FancyGoldfishFanatics
High end goldfish collector
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17-11-2018, 09:00 PM #11
1. Have you heard of black soldier fly larvae before? No.
2. How much do you spend on Koi food a year? Approx £450
3. How much do you spend on Koi treats a year/ what types? Probably around £35 for a few lettuces, water melon, and a few silk worm pupae and meal worms. Tend to buy these at show offer prices, and give them my organic veg box salad if I am not going to be able to eat it before its past it's best.
4. Would you consider trying out a new insect based alternative? As a treat yes, but not as part of their balanced diet I am trying to feed most of the year. I restrict high protein feeds to the months where pond temps are over 22C, so mainly June-September.2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
Aquaforte Dm vario 20000 pumps
Still for sale. Postage available for cost Sent from my SM-S901B using Tapatalk