In fishing, food is one of the most important factors that contribute to the success of the business. Regardless of the type of fish feed you choose to use on your farm, whether it's local or you choose to go overseas during your production process, you need to make sure it's a good one. The choice of food you decide to use, as I always tell my clients, depends on some factors that must be considered before you decide to start using a certain food for your fish.
Aquaculture, the farming of marine organisms, has become critical to
meeting the growing global demand for seafood. The success of aquaculture
depends to a large extent on the quality and nutritional value of the feed
provided to farmed fish and other aquatic species.
In this article, I will share with you the different types of food that
you can buy and use for your fish. These companies produce different types of
food and can be used for any type. 15 Best Fish Feeds in Nigeria – New Discovering
Types of Fish Feeds
• Dry Fish Food
The first type of fish meal is dried fish meal. It is the most commonly used
type of fish in Nigeria. They are made from fibers and nutrients. This type of
food is a fish that usually eats in tropical and salt water areas. These foods
do not fall into water, they stay on the surface of water and last a long time
on the shelf without losing their quality.
• Vacation Fish Food
The next type of meal is the holiday meal, also known as a meal block or
weekend block.
This type of food is good if it is given to fish in tropical areas where
the breeder will not be present when the fish are feeding. This food, when
thrown into the lake, dissolves and falls to the ground.
One thing to be aware of is not to watch the amount of food that is
thrown into the water because the uneaten food pollutes the lake, which can
cause the fish to die if not eaten.
• Medicated Fish Feed
As the name suggests, medicated fish meal is a type of food that has been
treated with fish medicine.
If you notice anything unusual about your fish, you can add medicine and
food to feed your fish. Although everything has its own benefits, it is better
than the negative effects of this type of food on your fish.
• Freeze-Dried and Frozen Fish Feed
The following types of fish foods are best for tropical and spring fish.
Food is produced from natural ingredients in their habitat.
The ingredients used in dried fish feed are tubifex worm, mosquito larvae
and bloodworms. The mixture may also include water fleas and brine shrimp.
Another type of fish meal (frozen fish meal) is similar to dried fish
meal, except that it is fresh, which means it will perish. Unlike frozen
seafood, it is not processed in any way and can be sold in resealable packages.
The ingredients for these types of food are similar to dried food, but
can also include things like bloodworms and daphnia. Having learned the factors
to consider before choosing the best type of feed for your fish, let us now
dive into the different types of fish feed in Nigeria.
List of Best Fish Feeds in Nigeria
1. Skretting
2. Coppens
3. Aller Aqua
4. Top Feeds
5. Blue Crown
6. Vital Feeds
7. EcoFloat
8. Aqualis
9. Blue Crown
10. Omega
11. Aqua Boom
12. Livestock Feeds PLC
13. Zeigler Feeds
14. Dickem Feeds
15. Prime Feeds
16. Olam Nigeria
• Skretting
The first type of food you can use for your fish is Skretting. Skretting used to be known as Durante's fish meal. According to Skretting, they claim to be a world leader in providing innovative and sustainable feed systems for the aquaculture industry.
They have their manufacturing facilities in 18 countries including Nigeria. I like their food because it is high in nutrients especially if you fish from chips or fish your own fish and have a low feed conversion ratio (FCR) which makes the fish grow faster.
Skretting food is like an alternative to natural food for worms when they are young. After many researches and questions to other fishers, the main reason they don't like to use Skretting is that it is the most expensive food among other types of food.
The protein content of Skretting food can
reach 48%. They have a Nigerian office in Ibadan. Their food is available in
Superior Repro (for broodstock), Fish Starter (for larvae, fry and fry) and
Superior (floating food for older fish).
• Coppens
The second type of fish is Coppens. Coppens was developed by a company
called Alltech Coppens Aqua Center in the Netherlands. With their title known
as fish food specialist, they managed to take over the market in a tough
competition for Skretting food. Another
reason I chose to use this food is that, like Skretting, it has a lot of protein.
It is also expensive but not as Skretting.
If you have the money to spend, you can use it to replace the Skretting
stream. The protein content of Coppens can reach 56%. Their food is available in Progress (for
fries), Start premium, Pre-grower, Special pro, Grower, Essence and Repro (for
broodstock). They are not only involved in the production of fish food, they
also have products for fish such as eel, tilapia, trout, etc.
• Aller Aqua
A third type of fish food is Aller Aqua. Aller Aqua is produced by a
company named Aller Aqua.
According to them, they have been producing seafood for more than 50 years, although it is a family business and has offices in Denmark, Poland, Germany, Egypt, China, Zambia and Serbia, where they deliver more than 60 countries worldwide.
They have food for Fry, Grower, and Bloodstock fish that
will help them at every stage of their life cycle. Aller Aqua not only produces
food for African catfish, they also have food for fish such as poop, eels,
salmon, tilapia, trout, etc.
• Top Feeds
Top Feeds is the next best marine food you can buy for your fish. They are produced by Premier Feed Mills Limited (subsidiary of Flour Mills, Nigeria), with their production facilities in three locations in Nigeria: Ibadan, Calabar and Kaduna. Due to their popularity and success in poultry feed production, they started producing seafood.
If you are looking for a low
floating food, then Top Feeds is the fish food I would recommend, especially if
your fish is around 3 months old. Their food is available in Regular (for fry,
juveniles, and combinations) and Omega fish food (for table fish and
broodstock). They also have feed for Tilapia fish.
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• Blue Crown
The next type of fish is Blue
Crown. Blue Crown is manufactured by a company called Olam Group. They have
their offices in Ilorin, Kwara State. They
also produce poultry feed, but have branched out into fish production that
provides fresh fish to more than 15,000 rural farmers in Nigeria.
For many Nigerian fishers, whenever they decide to stock cheap
international brand foods (like Skretting and Coppens), the one food they
choose is Blue Crown, why? Due to the nutritional strength and balance of amino
and protein. The Olam Group produces other fish, but Blue Crown is superior to
the other two.
• Vital Feeds
The sixth type of fish feed is Vital Feed. It is manufactured by Grand
Cereals at their office located on Abeokuta Express Way. Vital Fish Feed, like Skretting, has a low
conversion rate and a high conversion rate, which allows farmers to get a good
profit during harvest. According to Grand Cereals, their fish meal is specially
formulated to float when served, making it the market leading fish meal.
Their thickness ranges from 2mm to 9mm. They all come in 15 kg packages. Essential Foods also provides fish for
goldfish, tilapia and Aquaboom.
• EcoFloat
Another food that can be used for your fish is Ecofloat.
Ecofloat is another product of Olam Group's three fish stock. If you're
looking for floating food on a budget, go with Ecofloat. At some point as a
farmer, you will want the food you feed your fish to stay on the surface and
not sink in the water, Ecofloat solves this problem without any worries. Other
types of fish feed that you can use to raise your fish are Zeigler, Aqualis,
Chi, etc.
• Aqualis
Aqualis is committed to providing high quality food for freshwater and
marine species. They offer different types of food to suit different levels of
taste and nutritional needs of species. Aqualis focuses on sustainable
production methods and promotes the health and well-being of farmed fish.
• Blue Crown
Blue Crown specializes in the manufacture of premium quality baits for
both freshwater and saltwater species. Their feed is designed to support the
growth and quality of farmed fish. Blue Crown promotes sustainability and
actively contributes to the development of responsible aquaculture practices.
• Omega
Omega is a well-known aquaculture feed brand that offers a variety of
feeds for different types of water. They use modern technology and nutritional
science to develop foods that improve fish growth, nutrient conversion and
overall health. Omega feed is designed to support environmentally sustainable
aquaculture practices.
• Aqua Boom
Aqua Boom focuses on producing feed for farmed tilapia, a popular fresh
fish species. They provide nutrients that support optimal growth, a strong
immune system, and efficient utilization of nutrients. Aqua Boom is dedicated
to promoting the sustainable growth of tilapia farming through innovative feed
solutions.
• Livestock Feeds PLC
PLC Livestock Feed is a Nigerian aquaculture feed brand that provides a
wide range of feeds for different types of aquaculture. They are known for
their commitment to product quality and safety. PLC Livestock Nutrition focuses
on providing nutrients that promote optimal growth, feed efficiency and disease
resistance in farmed fish.
• Zeigler Feeds
Zeigler Feeds is a global aquaculture feed brand specializing in the
production of feed for a wide variety of species including fish, shrimp and
crustaceans. They are known for their advanced formulation, combining
innovation and technology to improve growth and performance. Zeigler Foods also
brings sustainability and environmental responsibility to its food production
process.
• Dickem Feeds
Dickem Feeds is a trusted aquaculture feed brand that focuses on
providing the right feed for a wide variety of animals. They provide
appropriate nutrition for different growth stages, ensuring that the
nutritional needs of farmed fish are met throughout their life. Dickem Feeds is
committed to improving the profitability and sustainability of aquaculture
through its high-quality feed.
• Prime Feeds
Prime Feeds is a well-known aquaculture feed brand that aims to meet the
nutritional needs of a variety of fish and shrimp species. They use advanced
research and development practices to create foods that maximize growth, health
and performance. Prime Feeds is committed to providing a feed that supports the
full sustainability and profitability of aquaculture operations.
• Olam Nigeria
Olam Nigeria is a well-known aquaculture feed brand operating in Nigeria,
offering a wide range of feed for different species of animals. They are known
for their commitment to quality and innovation in pet food production. Olam
Nigeria is focused on developing the best growth-promoting feed, feed
conversion and prevention services in farmed fish, thereby contributing to the
development of a sustainable aquaculture industry in the region.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing A Type of Fish Feed
When you get to know the different types of seafood and fish in Nigeria,
there are some things you should think about before you decide which one to
choose.
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• Availability
The first thing to consider before choosing your favorite fish food brand
is the availability of food in the market. You don't want to choose a product
that, when your back is gone, is no longer available in the market. Depending
on your situation, some of the types of food mentioned above may not be readily
available in the market. So, before you choose Skretting, Coppens or other
brands, be sure to do your best and ensure that it will be easy to buy another
pack after your fish have used the first one.
• Amount of money
Another thing to consider when choosing a fish food brand is price.
Consider your budget and how much you are willing to spend and wear before
choosing the brand. For example, just because I had the money to buy Skretting
during my production process, that doesn't mean you have the same money to
spend. Plan your expenses and make sure you have enough money to support the
project before you start.
• Quality
The third thing you should consider is the quality of the electricity.
Yes, the foods mentioned above are great, but that doesn't mean there aren't
processed foods. Before buying any food,
make sure you know the quality, protein level and other ingredients of the
food. If you buy in large quantities and can find a factory, go there to buy
and if they don't sell, they will recommend their chosen distributor where you
can buy the food first.
Final Thought
The success of your fish farm does not only depend on the type of feed,
other factors contribute to the success of the fish farm. All of the foods
mentioned above are very good depending on the side of the fish you want to
indulge in. I use Skretting for newly hatched fish for the first few weeks and
continue until they are two months old. On the other hand, Skretting is Coppens
for fries.
As they get bigger, I use other types of fish food. I always advise my
clients, if they have money as a beginner, to use Skretting or Coppens for the
first two months (from fry or children), then they can go to 'face with Aller
Aqua, Blue Crown or important.
Just because I use these types of recipes and they work well for me, that
doesn't mean they will work for you. These are the foods that I have used over
time and have worked for me and have worked for many farmers, you have to
balance and look for food that will be suitable for your farm and your use.
We will all be successful. I would like to know what kind of fish feed
you use in your farm in the comments section.
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