Is It Possible for Pet Food Extruder Machine to Produce Floating Pellets?

Jan 19, 2026

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Core Raw Material Ratio: Starch is the Foundation of Buoyancy. When producing floating feed using a floating fish feed pellet extruder machine, starch-based raw materials are the core for forming the buoyancy structure and should account for 30%-50% of the formula. It is recommended to choose raw materials with high starch content and good gelatinization properties, such as corn and wheat flour. Starch gelatinizes under high temperature and pressure to form a network structure, encapsulating the pores after water vapor expansion, giving the pellets stable buoyancy. If the starch content is below 25%, it cannot form a sufficient supporting structure, and the pellets easily sink; if it is above 55%, the pellets lack hardness and are prone to collapse. This ratio requirement is completely consistent with that of floating feed produced by extruders, essentially adapting to the raw material characteristics required by the extrusion process.

Adjustment of Protein Raw Materials and Auxiliary Materials. Protein raw materials should be controlled at 25%-40%. Fish meal, soybean meal, and meat and bone meal are suitable choices. Excessive protein content will inhibit starch gelatinization and reduce buoyancy, requiring balancing with starch raw materials. Simultaneously, 5%-10% oil can be added to improve feed palatability, and the oil can form a protective film on the pellet surface, enhancing water resistance. Regarding auxiliary materials, 1%-2% food-grade binder (such as carboxymethyl cellulose) can be added to further stabilize the particle structure and prevent it from collapsing during floating; however, excessive minerals should be avoided, as their high density will reduce buoyancy.

The compatibility of raw material pretreatment with the extrusion puffing of small floating fish feed pellet extruder machines is crucial. Raw materials need to be crushed to 80-100 mesh; uniform particle size ensures sufficient extrusion puffing and avoids uneven internal pores in the pellets. Simultaneously, impurities such as stones and metal must be removed to prevent wear on the extruder screw and die, consistent with the raw material pretreatment standards for fish food production machines. For high-fiber raw materials (such as brewer's grains), the addition amount should be controlled below 10%. Excessive fiber hinders starch gelatinization, affecting the puffing effect and leading to decreased buoyancy. This limitation also applies to dedicated extruders. Proper raw material ratios and pretreatment allow the extruder's puffing function to be fully utilized, producing feed pellets with stable buoyancy and balanced nutrition.

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MIKIM's fish feed pellet production lines and supporting machinery offer excellent value for money. Not only are they affordable, eliminating middlemen markups and allowing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fish farmers to purchase complete sets of equipment at reasonable costs, but they also boast exceptional efficiency. The fully automated process, from raw material crushing and precise ingredient mixing to extrusion pelleting and maturation, is completed in one continuous flow. This results in high starch gelatinization rates and uniform pellet formation, significantly improving production efficiency and feed quality, truly achieving "low cost, high output." Choosing a MIKIM fish feed pellet production line means enjoying comprehensive pre-sales and after-sales service, including 24-hour online customer support, a one-year warranty on the entire machine, professional on-site installation, commissioning, and maintenance, and a stable supply of spare parts. Customers can buy with confidence and use with peace of mind, with both excellent value and service quality!!!

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