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How to Feed Your Koi Fish
The vivid oranges, reds and whites of Koi and goldfish are the result of a complete and balanced diet. The right food ensures vibrant colors and proper body shape. Because Koi and goldfish do not have teeth or stomachs, easy digestibility is of prime importance. Highly digestible foods minimize waste, enabling pond filtration systems to operate more efficiently and keeping the pond ecosystem healthier. Pond Koi Fish need the proper combination of protein, fats, fiber, minerals and vitamins. Too much or too little of any particular nutrient can have an adverse effect on both the health of the fish and the quality of the water. Fish should be fed one to three times daily. Only feed as much as they will consume within five minutes.
When the water temperature begins to drop below 50F in the Fall, the fish’s metabolism will slow. Switch to the most digestible food, Spring & Fall Diet. Stop feeding entirely when the water temperature is less than 39F. In the Spring, when water temperature is between 39F and 50F, resume feeding with Spring & Fall Diet. Above 50F, use any of the Koi fish food.
Below is the Seasonal Feeding Cycle Chart
To ensure pond fish have healthy and long lives, it is important to select the most appropriate fish food according to the size, type and digestive abilities of the fish. Choose quality food based on nutritional balance, age of the fish and weather conditions, you are contributing to the overall health and longevity of your fish and a pleasurable hobby.
Nutrition and Growth
Fry and young fish grow rapidly in their first year, and koi, often increase in length by 4-8 inches each year. Therefore, it is important that they receive a nutritionally balanced diet throughout their lives to continue to grow and thrive.
Food is comprised of various elements, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and must meet standard requirements - and a delicate balance- of each. The required amounts of these nutrients vary depending on water temperature, species, size of fish and maturity.
Each component has a vital role in fish health:
Proteins: Essential for tissue formation, repair of damaged tissue and injuries and reproduction. Because proteins cannot be stored in the body, the fry and young need large quantities on a regular basis, especially in captivity where protein sources are not readily available in their surrounding habitat. A deficiency of protein causes koi to grow more slowly. Proteins can only be used effectively for growth in warm water temperatures over 50 degrees F.
Fats: Provide a source of energy. Fatty acids, such as triglycerides and phospholipids, are vital components of membranes surrounding all cell walls. Koi are unable to make important fatty acids known as linleic and linolenic acids, essential for growth therefore they must be provided in fish food. Omitting fatty acids from the diet can cause symptoms of fin erosion and heart and liver.
Carbohydrates: Form a source of energy. Fish metabolize them less readily than other mammals. An overabundance of carbohydrate in the diet is very bad for koi health and may result in degeneration of the liver. Excessive storage of carbohydrates can lead to heart failure.
Vitamins: Essential for the normal metabolism and growth of fish; requirements of some vitamins are increased during spawning.They are divided into two categories: fat soluble and water soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are found in a variety of forms, all of which are metabolized slowly and can be stored in the body fat. Water-soluble vitamins are easily absorbed and are not usually excreted.
Minerals: Aid basic metabolic functions, as well as performing their own duties, which include building skeletal structures, osmoregulation (water balance), building of nerves, and maintaining the efficiency of gaseous exchange in the blood system. Normally 12 percent of the diet is made up of minerals, being contained in fish food in the form of ash. Most minerals are absorbed from the surrounding water.
What to Feed and How Much
It's essential to choose a premium food to ensure fish receive proper nutrition. This is particularly important with koi, which are often kept in a relatively bare pond, with few other sources of food available.
The amount of food to give pond fish depends on numerous factors including temperature and the size of the fish. In general as the fish grows, its metabolism slows down and, consequently, its food requirements are reduced.
Weather Conditions and When to Feed
The nutritional requirements of pond fish vary considerably throughout the year. For optimal fish health, remind follow TetraPond's Seasonal Feeding Cycle. Generally, there are three simple rules to steer you through each seasonal change.
A wide variety of foods is available to feed in water temperatures above 50° F. There are specially formulated foods to meet specific needs of fish:
Maintenance food - provides nutrition for energy, longevity, and overall health.
Color enhancement diet - is highly nutritional and brings out vibrant reds and yellows on Koi and ornamental goldfish.
Growth food - is high in protein and contains essential amino acids that help younger fish grow more rapidly.
Variety blend - promotes natural color enhancement, health and vitality.
Feed wheat germ-rich foods in water temperatures below 50° F. It is a vital ingredient that maintains the immune system during late fall and early spring when fish are prone to disease. When water temperatures drop below 50° F, the fish's metabolism slows and the ability to process foods is greatly reduced.
Stop feeding in temperatures below 39° F. Feeding fish in water temperatures below 39° F upsets the natural intestinal flora, diminishes the immune system and can lead to infection and disease. Koi can obtain what little nutrition they require from within the pond (e.g. from algae) or from their energy reserves. Remember, fish should be fed one to three times daily, at any time of the day, and only as much as they can consume within five minutes. See our complete line of pond fish foods link to product catalog pond Koi fish food
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