0.5-1T/H Crucian Carp Feed Extruder Machine in Poland

Crucian carp feed near the surface, especially in warmer months. Anglers needed floating pellets that would stay on top for hours while fishing. The mill owner decided to invest in a crucian carp feed extruder machine in Poland to produce 0.5-1.0 tons per hour of high-floating bait pellets. He bought a single SPHS75x2 extruder. The mill already had a hammer mill, a mixer machine, and a cooler. Only the extrusion step was missing.

Common carp are bottom feeders. They eat sinking pellets. Commercial carp farms use pressed sinking feed almost exclusively. Crucian carp behave differently. They are omnivorous but prefer to feed in the water column or at the surface.

Anglers have known this for generations. Floating bait catches more crucians than sinking bait. The mill's existing pressed feed produced a sinking pellet that was useless for crucian anglers.

The extruded floating pellet stays on the surface for 30-60 minutes, slowly releasing attractants. The mill owner saw a niche market with almost no local competition. Most floating bait for crucian carp in Poland is imported from Germany or Hungary. Expensive. The mill could produce a comparable product at 40% lower cost.

The SPHS75x2 is the smallest twin-screw extruder in the RICHI line. Output is rated at 0.5-1.0 tons per hour for floating feed. The mill planned to run it one shift per day, two or three days per week. Annual output of 150-200 tons would be enough to supply a significant portion of the Polish crucian bait market. The 55kW main motor runs on the mill's existing electrical service. No upgrade needed.

The twin-screw design gives precise control over expansion, which is critical for floating bait. The mill experimented with different screw configurations to get the right float time. Single-screw extruders would have been less flexible. The mill also appreciated that the SPHS75x2 has a differential-speed conditioner, which provides better starch gelatinization than a single-shaft conditioner.

High starch gelatinization means more expansion and longer float time.

Crucian bait needs high attractability. The fish are not eating to grow; they are eating because something smells good. The mill developed a recipe focused on palatability rather than nutrition.

The formulation is 40% wheat flour (for expansion and binding), 25% soybean meal (protein and aroma), 15% fish meal (strong odor attractant), 10% corn gluten meal (yellow color), 5% rice bran (texture), and 5% molasses (sweetness and surface coloring).

The fish meal is not the high-grade product used for aquaculture. The mill uses a lower-grade, stronger-smelling fish meal imported from Denmark. The molasses is added in the mixer and gives the finished pellets a dark amber color that crucian carp seem to prefer.

SPHS75x2 fish feed extruder Output Table (floating bait):

Shipping from Qingdao to Gdańsk: Sea freight 42 days, customs 5 days. Import duty 2.7% (EU). The machine arrived without damage. Installation took 10 days.

First month problems included pellets sticking together (fixed by adjusting dryer temperature), uneven pellet length (fixed by synchronizing cutter), and inconsistent float time (fixed by switching wheat flour supplier).

After nine months, the mill sells about 5 tons of crucian bait per month and has expanded into bream, perch, and coarse fish baits.

Crucian carp feed extruder machine in Poland from RICHI Machinery — high‑expansion floating bait for anglers and fishing ponds. RICHI supplies SPHS series twin-screw extruders for specialty feeds, pet food, and bait. Contact us for formulation support and custom die sizes.