Are extruded feed pellet machines a solution to the problems of feed wastage and water quality deterioration in aquaculture?

Nov 10, 2025

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Many aquaculture farmers initially used ordinary pellet feed to feed their fish and shrimp, only to find that the feed would disintegrate shortly after being thrown into the water, with half of it sinking and rotting uneaten, making the water increasingly murky, and causing the fish and shrimp to frequently fall ill. Later, they switched to feed made by extruded feed pellet machines, and all these problems were solved. Actually, it wasn't that the feed ingredients changed, but rather that the characteristics of extruded feed pellet machines perfectly matched the needs of aquaculture. Below, we'll discuss just how important it is.

Three aspects

First, fish feed pellet making machines ensure that feed is "water-resistant and pollution-free," preserving the lifeblood of aquaculture-water quality. Aquatic animals live in water; if feed crumbles easily when soaked, leftovers will sink to the bottom, decomposing and producing ammonia and nitrites, making the water smelly, causing algae growth, and making fish and shrimp susceptible to enteritis and gill rot. Extruded feed pellet machines, through high-temperature and high-pressure processes, create compact feed pellets with a protective film on the surface. These pellets remain intact for 3-5 minutes after being placed in water, giving fish and shrimp ample time to consume them. Less leftover feed naturally leads to cleaner water. For example, in ponds raising grass carp, using extruded feed reduced water changes from once a week to once every two weeks, saving on water costs and labor, and lowering fish mortality from 10% to below 3%.

Second, machines for making fish feed ensure that the feed is "easily digestible and absorbable," helping aquatic animals "grow faster and get sick less often." Aquatic animals have simpler digestive systems than terrestrial animals. The starch in ordinary feed isn't fully gelatinized, making it difficult for fish and shrimp to digest. Most of the nutrients are excreted in feces, resulting in wasted money and water pollution. Extruded feed pellet machines, using a high temperature of 110-130℃ during production, can gelatinize starch to over 85%, transforming it into small molecules easily broken down by the fish and shrimp's digestive systems. Protein digestibility also increases from 60% to 85%. For example, when raising tilapia, feeding them extruded feed results in a 2-3 gram increase in daily weight gain compared to ordinary feed, shortening the breeding cycle from 6 months to 4.5 months, allowing for earlier market entry and a better price.

Furthermore, fish floating feed machines can "customize feed" to meet the needs of different aquatic animals. For example, shrimp require small (1-2mm), sinking feed, while surface-dwelling fish require large (3-5mm), floating feed. Extruded feed pellet machines can produce feed of different sizes and buoyancy simply by changing the mold, eliminating the need to purchase multiple machines. Furthermore, it can add attractants and probiotics to the feed. For example, adding astaxanthin to shrimp feed makes the shrimp shells redder and shinier; adding immune polysaccharides to fish feed improves the fish's resistance. These are things that ordinary pellet mills cannot do, making aquaculture more flexible and precise.