Most folks are going to grab whatever is handiest and cheapest for the fish in their ponds. Little thought is given to what kind of food it is and for what purpose. The fact is ornamental pond fish really DO NEED to be fed because Mother Nature cannot supply worms through rubber liners. We, at Pond Doc’s, DO look at the label and size up just what the food does for the fish. Some brands are extremely poor quality and build fat on the fish. Yes, fish suffer from obesity just like humans do! Others are on the other end of the spectrum, supplying the equivalent of our steaks and caviar. These always carry the big prices as well. It’s been our experience that most want a good, nutritious food for their fish that is reasonably priced. For that reason we’ve always carried our own private label bulk food which we sell by the pound. Our M-Grow, M-Wheat and M-Color are all great sources of nutrition for ornamental fish.
If it’s good, nutritious food why is there more than one kind?
M-Grow is staple food. Staple food is fed throughout growing season. It’s high in proteins and builds up the fish so it can survive the lean months of winter when the fish doesn’t eat at all. Many brands refer to this type of food as “Spring & Summer” or “all-season”.
M-Color is the same as M-Grow with spirulina added. Spirulina brings out the reds in the fish. If your pond is filled with brightly colored goldfish you might want to use this food all season long to make the reds redder. I wouldn’t recommend it for white fish because it tends to turn them pink. Other brands of color foods may label them as “color enhanced” or “spirulina”.
M-Wheat is a food that is lower in proteins and higher in wheat germ than M-Grow. This is an important food needed during early spring and fall when pond water is in those in-between temperatures. It’s not the best food to feed year round. Wheat germ-based foods are digested quicker and are not as harmful to the fish if the temperatures suddenly drop and the fish’s digestive system slows down. Other brands of wheat germ foods may label them as “Spring & Autumn” or “seasonal”.
Medicated Foods are really in a different classification because they are only fed when trying to battle infections and as a preventative in early spring. They are milled or coated with antibiotics and are available in sinking, floating and triple-antibiotic formulas. Our own Doc’s Prescription Triple Antibiotic Food is the crème of the crop of medicated foods. It is coated with 3 different types of antibiotics to give it the ability to treat a broader spectrum of infection and is fortified with Vitamin C.
