Highest protein pellets?

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JeBassMaster

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 17, 2021
20
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8
Anyone have a good gauge on what the highest protein content feed would be for large predators? I know massivore is a good one but curious if there are pellets with higher protein content? I am trying to grow some big largemouth bass here in a bit and want to ensure I get the best first year growth out of them possible to increase my chances of having very large fish down the road. Thanks
 
Not by that gauge but I can tell you what I feed and confirm that my bass are healthy and stout.

Hikari Carnivore Sticks, a Walmart tilapia filet or two per week, occasional bugs from off of Amazon that they don't seem to be huge fans of but may change their minds if they get really hungry. I also toss a few shrimp in the tank once in a while as well as the larger Bug Bite pellets.

There are many here w/ much more experience than I have pertaining to bass but mine has been that they grow more rapidly if you feed them more often. Portion size and the number of meals offered per day have seemed more important than feeding the absolute highest protein. That, and water changes. Bass growth blossoms when water changes are often enough that NO3 is close to zero.

Caveat: My bass are peacocks and not largemouth.
 
Not by that gauge but I can tell you what I feed and confirm that my bass are healthy and stout.

Hikari Carnivore Sticks, a Walmart tilapia filet or two per week, occasional bugs from off of Amazon that they don't seem to be huge fans of but may change their minds if they get really hungry. I also toss a few shrimp in the tank once in a while as well as the larger Bug Bite pellets.

There are many here w/ much more experience than I have pertaining to bass but mine has been that they grow more rapidly if you feed them more often. Portion size and the number of meals offered per day have seemed more important than feeding the absolute highest protein. That, and water changes. Bass growth blossoms when water changes are often enough that NO3 is close to zero.

Caveat: My bass are peacocks and not largemouth.
Thanks for your input! Yeah, a balanced and consistent diet with clean water is definitely the keys to growing these fish fast. Largemouth are known to reach around 15 inches in their first year in big ponds with the right genes and plenty of food. I think with my plan I could maybe get them to 20 or longer in their first year which would literally be unheard of. The goal for me is to get a very long fish with a huge frame that will fill out as they slow down in growth after the first few years. I know temensis can hit that with the right conditions for comparison. I will have mine in an outdoor pond that will be 4-6000 gallons once complete and will have plenty of live food such as bluegill, shad, tilapia, trout, crawfish, etc. But, I want to have them be trained to eat from my hand and take some extremely nutrient dense foods that I can personally supply. My current idea is supplementing them with alligator meat stuffed with massivore pellets. Alligator because it is the most protein dense lean meat out there. 46 grams in 3.5 oz of meat with very low fat. Literally could be a super food for these fish to push their growth to the absolute max which is what I am looking at doing.
 
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There is a lengthy thread on pellet foods around here somewhere,check it out,it's quite entertaining and informative.
 
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I want to have them be trained to eat from my hand and take some extremely nutrient dense foods that I can personally supply.

This is a trick I'd like to witness. I have a few bass in an 800 gallon aquarium and feeding time is an act of violence. Gently sticking my hand in that tornado has never occurred to me.
 
This is a trick I'd like to witness. I have a few bass in an 800 gallon aquarium and feeding time is an act of violence. Gently sticking my hand in that tornado has never occurred to me.
It's a fine art my friend haha, I got my start keeping largemouth bass and rainbow trout in a 30 gallon ice chest in my garage hand feeding them nightcrawlers. Feeding time was always a blast, especially having them jump for stuff you dangled above em! Progressed over the years to bigger setups... now getting myself in position to grow giants and keep doing it. Bass have an incredible personality that's for sure!
 
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