Choosing And Using A Pond Fish Feeder

Pond fish feeders come in a variety of styles and sizes. Your choice of feeder depends upon the size of your pond, feeding area, and the density of your fish. Some automatic pond fish feeders, such as the Fishmate P21 pond fish feeder, carry a small amount of food, but provide consistent and reliable feeding for small bodies of water and aquariums at a smart price. The feeders hold 1 to 1 1/2 cups of any type of fish food, estimated to last 21 feeding periods. The automatic motor will run continuously for a year on only 1 AA battery and is generally unaffected by the weather. Easy-to-program controls regulate feeding amounts, times, and quantity. During consistently rainy or damp times, the feeder should be stored in a dry location. Although the Fishmate P21 pond fish feeder is ideal for small bodies of water, in larger ponds it is insufficient, requiring consistent attention and refilling.

The stylish Koi Cafe pagoda-style automatic pond fish feeder holds up to 4 pounds of food and comes in a variety of colours. The solar charger guarantees consistent power to the rechargeable 6-volt batteries and allows the programmable digital timer to dispense food up to 8 times a day. The feeding duration may be easily adjusted from 2 to 59 seconds. The feeding duration is necessary as different types of food will be more difficult to dispense, although pellets must be smaller than 10mm to be used in the feeder. The primary advantage of the Koi Cafe is its design and solar recharging.

Super Feeder sells a general indoor or outdoor feeder which can be used for small ponds or aquariums. The hopper holds 1.5 gallons of feed but the basic package does not come equipped with a remote plug-in timer. The dispensing controls allow a few ounces up to several cups to escape from the hopper. The hanging platform must be provided by the user, although a structure is recommended by the website.

Pond fish feeders that cast food out are more appropriate for larger areas of water that require food to be more evenly spread. Most of these feeders hold at least 6 gallons and require little maintenance. FeedCaster from Moultrie offer stability and consistency. The 6 gallon feeder casts food up to 25 feet out at a rate of up to 6 times a day. The electronic controls also allow feeding duration to be altered between 1 to 20 seconds.

FeedCaster’s 30 gallon feeders come in two styles which both carry 100 pounds of feed. The cheaper FeedCaster Pro is equipped with a durable plastic hopper and the FeedCaster Pond Fish Feeder is composed of a powder coated 20 gauge galvanized metal hopper. Both feeders have an adjustable dispense rate of 1 to 20 seconds, releasing feed up to 6 times a day. They also have an on-board battery level monitor, informing you of battery replacement. The Pro has a narrow casting distance of 20 feet and can be adjusted through electronic controls. Heavily outfitted, the FeedCaster Fish Feeder casts food up to 35 feet, is powered by a solar panel, and can be operated from up to 300 feet away with a reliable remote control. Although relatively expensive, this sturdy design offers the broadest range of features for a large feeding area.