Each fish rearing tank is supplied with a hanging demand feeder. A demand feeder is activated by the fish when hungry. It consists of a feed hopper having a hole on the bottom with a control plate and rod. The control plate is adjusted to the width of a feed pellet and keeps feed from pouring out of the hole. A rod connected inside the hopper and through the hole and the center of the control plate extends down and into the water. The feeder holds 50 lbs. of floating feed. When a fish is hungry it bumps the rod with its head and feed spills from the plate into the water. The fish can then eat. The fish learn to do this in about 3 days. The control plate can be adjusted to release feed easily during the training period. The manager can assist feeding by tapping the rod and releasing feed. Using demand feeders is a good practice. It reduces labor that would be needed if multiple feedings were scheduled throughout the day. Tilapia have a small stomach and long intestine and are better suited to eating many small meals rather than two or three large ones. Feed tables, growth rate charts and sampling are not needed. Finally, they do not overeat and feed conversion ratios are approximately the same for demand feeder and hand fed rearing.
We use a floating pelleted feed with 32% protein.