Calcium Montmorillonite Clay ??

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
Everything for ponds and pond fish is horribly overpriced. That's why
I buy
catfish food for my koi and large goldfish. It runs around $10 for a
50 lb
bag. Today I bought a large fish net I now need because of the size of
some
of my koi. It was $20 in the fishing dept. of an Outdoors/Sporting
goods
type of store - over $30 at a pet shop in Nashville.
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...

Marine aquarium dealers are even worse than that. I really think that
the FTC
should investigate these people because I think that they gouge the
consumer.

There have been many write ups on koi food (Koi USA) and why it should be
used over cheaper farm-fish stuff, not only better for the koi, but better
for one's filter and water quality. Koi don't process the same foods in
the
same way as catfish, their inner anatomy is different.

## I've been reading that here for years. However my koi and goldfish are
thriving on a diet of about 80% catfish food and 20% kitten and puppy chow.
There is no logical reason the people making pond fish foods should be
charging $5 a lb and up other than greed.

Nets from a fish store are designed to catch fish that are going to be
eaten. Good quality koi nets are for guiding fish into a container, where
a
koi sock net is than used to pick up the koi,
if it can't be bagged
straight from the container.
You don't want to be gill netting your pets or
taking off scales. ~ jan

## If you have show koi where even the loss of one scale can be a disaster,
this would definitely apply (socknets and containers). But even the most
expensive net and careful handling can split a fin or loosen a scale of the
fish really fights. Have you looked at them in the sporting section? They
have the *same exact mesh* as the overpriced koi nets in the pond and fish
stores!!!! They're probably made by the same people. The mesh is too fine
to gillnet fish. It's soft and barely 1/4" mesh. You may be thinking of
those harsh crab-nets with 1" mesh.
I have never taken scales off a fish using these nets. They knock more
scales off themselves and do more damage when spawning. :-(

Remember that mini water Lilly I mentioned for $4.88 from Wally-World last
year? The one that came with 2 fertilizer tabs, some rocks and a mesh pot?
It already has 4 blooms and more buds coming up. An acquaintance paid $35
plus S&H for hers...... the same plant!

--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

## I've been reading that here for years. However my koi and goldfish are
thriving on a diet of about 80% catfish food and 20% kitten and puppy chow.
There is no logical reason the people making pond fish foods should be
charging $5 a lb and up other than greed.

It's like my neighborhood. I always have to get three or four contractor
bids on a job before I can get one fairly priced. Why? First thing the
contractor sees when the drive into my neighborhood is $1.5M homes. *cha
ching*. I've saved as much as 30% or more on jobs, and the work has always
been good.

Anyway, with Koi, it applies. There is a perception that Koi are the habit
of those with money.

Hey. Anyone out there raise live food for their fish?

C//

"Courageous" wrote in message
...

## I've been reading that here for years. However my koi and goldfish
are
thriving on a diet of about 80% catfish food and 20% kitten and puppy
chow.
There is no logical reason the people making pond fish foods should be
charging $5 a lb and up other than greed.

It's like my neighborhood. I always have to get three or four contractor
bids on a job before I can get one fairly priced. Why? First thing the
contractor sees when the drive into my neighborhood is $1.5M homes. *cha
ching*. I've saved as much as 30% or more on jobs, and the work has always
been good. Anyway, with Koi, it applies. There is a perception that Koi
are the habit
of those with money.

## RIGHT! They're going to get what they can for their product - but not
from me. Also, when they see ponds, gazebos, manicured lawns and flower
gardens they also see $$$ signs.

Hey. Anyone out there raise live food for their fish?

## I harvest the fat worms from the compost heap. All the fish love them!

C//
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

There is no logical reason the people making pond fish foods should
be
charging $5 a lb and up other than greed.

The purpose of a business is to make as much money as possible by
producing a product people choose to buy. If people chose not to buy
these products they wouldn't be able to charge as much for it. If you
want to blame "greed" on the part of the companies then you ought to
blame the consumers for "sloth" and "ignorance" because we aren't
seeking out cheaper alternatives.

It's especially odd to see that you're complaining about corporate
greed when it relates to feeding decorative fish that live in
artificial outdoor ponds. Some might find it "greedly" for you (and
me) to engage in excess like that when place problem here exists in
the world. Unless you're the poorest schmuck on the planet, everyone
can call someone else "greedy" as an easy way of dismissing a situation
they are jealous about or do not understand.

Be careful of the word greed. Greed has got to be the most overused and
misused word in the English language. Yes, I won't deny that it exists
but it's overused generally by the truely greedy to restrict the rights
of others.

"scs0" wrote in message
oups.com...
There is no logical reason the people making pond fish foods should
be
charging $5 a lb and up other than greed.

The purpose of a business is to make as much money as possible by
producing a product people choose to buy. If people chose not to buy
these products they wouldn't be able to charge as much for it. If you
want to blame "greed" on the part of the companies then you ought to
blame the consumers for "sloth" and "ignorance" because we aren't
seeking out cheaper alternatives.

## Sloth no. Ignorance - yes! If people are willing the pay the price of
a diamond for a zirconium then they will laugh all the way to the bank. :-)

It's especially odd to see that you're complaining about corporate
greed when it relates to feeding decorative fish that live in
artificial outdoor ponds. Some might find it "greedly" for you (and
me) to engage in excess like that when place problem here exists in
the world.

## You can't compare apples to window shades. We're talking about obscene
profit at the expense of the gullible. Koi and GF thrive on cheaper diets
than what they're pushing on us.

Unless you're the poorest schmuck on the planet, everyone
can call someone else "greedy" as an easy way of dismissing a situation
they are jealous about or do not understand.

## Huh? What's to understand? The feed Co's producing catfish and other
fish chows are making a profit by selling it at $5 to $6 per 25 lbs. Some
ornamental fish foods sell for $5 and up *per lb.* Many people see that as
obscene profit and use the cheaper foods rather than enrich some greedy Co.

Be careful of the word greed. Greed has got to be the most overused and
misused word in the English language. Yes, I won't deny that it exists
but it's overused generally by the truely greedy to restrict the rights
of others.

## Are we talking politics here or fish food? :-)
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: ""Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

## Sloth no. Ignorance - yes!

Don't forget just plain stupidity. Plenty of people will /prefer/
to buy a thing branded for a specific purpose, even if they find
the same thing for less money, but not branded for that purpose.

Go figure.

C//

"Courageous" wrote in message
...

## Sloth no. Ignorance - yes!

Don't forget just plain stupidity. Plenty of people will /prefer/
to buy a thing branded for a specific purpose, even if they find
the same thing for less money, but not branded for that purpose.

Go figure.
=============================
It reminds me of a friend I had a few years ago. She would rather spend $40
to $50 for a pair of jeans at the LaRitz at the Mall than get almost the
same exact pair for $17.99 at Wal-Mart. I bought Halston cologne at K-Mart
for $19.99 but she wouldn't DARE shop at such a place - and paid $29.99 for
the same cologne at a fragrance store..... some people think the more they
spend the better the product. PS,... the $50 jeans don't last any longer
than the $18.00 jeans. :-)

As long as my fish thrive and reproduce on catfish chow at $10 - $12 per 50
lb sack with some kitten and pup chow that's what they'll get.

I did pick up the clay/cat litter this afternoon but am clueless as to how
people are using it to clear the water in their ponds. Any suggestions?
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

It reminds me of a friend I had a few years ago. She would rather spend $40
to $50 for a pair of jeans at the LaRitz at the Mall than get almost the
same exact pair for $17.99 at Wal-Mart.

In some parts of the market, you'd practically think it's a conspiracy.

Ever notice how non food items don't have ingredients lists?

Who'd pay for a brand name soap if they knew it was, um, just soap?

There's only about a half dozen industrial cleaning agents used in
cleaning supplies.

And so on...

C//

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
...


## Huh? What's to understand? The feed Co's producing catfish and
other
fish chows are making a profit by selling it at $5 to $6 per 25 lbs.
Some
ornamental fish foods sell for $5 and up *per lb.* Many people see that
as
obscene profit and use the cheaper foods rather than enrich some greedy
Co.

Fish food bought at pet shops generally cost more per pound than a pound of
Sirloin steak at a grocery store (especially marine fish food). This is
especially obcene when you consider that much of the product that goes into
it is by and large the leftovers from animal rendering plants and grain
processing plants with a little bit of choline chloride thrown in for good
measure (a product which the company my brother works for makes in huge
quantities for pennies for animal feed). Having said that, some stores
understand how obcenely expensive these products are. I frequent a garden
pond shop that is located about 5 miles from my home. They sell a generic
food that they buy in bulk and sell for about $1.99 for one pound bags, and
they still make a profit from it. Many farmers supply stores sell pond
fish food to farmers in bulk for far less than that per pound. Those who
say that Koi have special nutritional needs might think about what they are
paying for that little extra amount of nutition, which I have no doubt adds
little value to their food. If you are concerned about what your fish eat,
you can always suppliment their diet with inexpensive natural foods that
are likely to be much better for them in the long fun. I have found that
when I feed my catfish his generic food, the Koi prefer it to their own
food (which is also generic), and will play a game of cat and mouse with
the catfish just for the chance to get a morsel or two of the catfish food.
I have yet to loose a single fish because of their diet.

On Wed, 25 May 2005 20:48:31 GMT, "George"
wrote:

snip
===Fish food bought at pet shops generally cost more per pound than a pound of
===Sirloin steak at a grocery store (especially marine fish food). This is
===especially obcene when you consider that much of the product that goes into
===it is by and large the leftovers from animal rendering plants and grain
===processing plants with a little bit of choline chloride thrown in for good
===measure (a product which the company my brother works for makes in huge
===quantities for pennies for animal feed). Having said that, some stores
===understand how obcenely expensive these products are. I frequent a garden
===pond shop that is located about 5 miles from my home. They sell a generic
===food that they buy in bulk and sell for about $1.99 for one pound bags, and
===they still make a profit from it. Many farmers supply stores sell pond
===fish food to farmers in bulk for far less than that per pound. Those who
===say that Koi have special nutritional needs might think about what they are
===paying for that little extra amount of nutition, which I have no doubt adds
===little value to their food. If you are concerned about what your fish eat,
===you can always suppliment their diet with inexpensive natural foods that
===are likely to be much better for them in the long fun. I have found that
===when I feed my catfish his generic food, the Koi prefer it to their own
===food (which is also generic), and will play a game of cat and mouse with
===the catfish just for the chance to get a morsel or two of the catfish food.
===I have yet to loose a single fish because of their diet.
===
Been feeding a local prepared POnd Fish food now for years that a
local mill here makes for under $10.00 for 50# sack and my koi, GF and
catfish are all grwoing just fine......I have them in a natural pond
so they are supplementing foods with what they find there, but if it
was for me having to pay for KOI food, I seriously doubt I would pay
the kind of money they ask for it. Kaytee makes a good premium feed,
which is about $18.00 for 10# and is available at Petsmart, which is
not too bad pricewise when you consider what other brands with equal
ingredients cost. Often times they have it on sale and then I pick up
a few bags but mine eat the local feed as readily as koi feed, so its
more just to satisfy my own self they are getting what they
"should-hopefully" be getting in regards to nourishment.


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!

~~~~ }((((o ~~~~~~ }{{{{o ~~~~~~~ }(((((o