Koi Foods

Tips to feeding your Koi fish.

Water temperature plays a big role in how and when to feed your fish.
Attention should be taken when observing the temperature conditions of your pond, and the activity level of the fish. Consider your own experience and knowledge when dealing with your own fish. The temperature guidelines below are written to assist the general hobbyist during different temperature times of feeding.

86°F + (30°C)
When water temperatures reach this breaking point Koi fish tend to lose some of their appetite. Feeding during this temperature zone should include foods that are easy for fish to digest. It is not recommended to feed more than two times per day during this period. Attempts to shade some of the pond should be taken in order to lower the temperature levels of the water.

68°F - 86°F (20°C - 30°C)
This would be the perfect temperature to heavily feed koi fish, assuming your filtration system is adequate enough to handle the increase in biological load that the waste is going to be putting on your system. Feedings should take part at about two to four times a day. During this time you should observe how your fish are acting prior to feeding, one can usually tell when the fish do not look good to eat anything any further. The best way to administer food is by doing so in small amounts and more frequently, this feeding method is said to increase the size and girth of fish most effectively.

59°F - 68°F (15°C - 20°C)
Be careful to watch your fish at around this temperature, and try your best not to feed more than twice per day. When the temperature of your pond at this level is going down the metabolism of your fish also goes down. Food being fed to fish will be more difficult to hold down and digest, and the process of biologically breaking down the waste is beginning to slow down. It should be noted to avoid over feeding as any food not consumed will become waste in the pond.

50°F - 59°F (10°C - 15°C)
During this temperature zone you should never feed more than twice a day. You should pay close attention to the feeding habits of your fish as a drop in urge to eat should be seen in your fish by right about now. As always remember it is better to be conservative then to overfeed especially at this temperature or lower.

41°F - 50°F (5°C - 10°C)
When the temperatures have dropped to this point you can stop feeding until the spring season. If your fish are more active and seem to be readily able to feed you can feed small amounts probably once or twice a week. When, and if you decide to feed during this time try to keep it between the optimal hours of the day usually between 10am and 2pm.

Lower than 41°F (Below 5°C)
Completely stop feeding. Fish at this temperature or lower go into a hibernation mode ,and should not be fed any foods. The guide provided above should be used as a general example. Nobody is going to know your fish and your water conditions better than you the hobbyist.

Reading the guidelines above is for a better understanding as of what to do when temperatures change. If you encounter problems using the feeding advice given above please contact your local pet professional and have them arrange a feeding chart specifically for you.