Tips on Feeding Your Koi Fish



Posted: Monday, March 02, 2009

by Josh Law

Aside from having beautiful colors, Koi fish are also entertaining. Most Koi owners will tell you that they can be trained to eat right out of your hand and that they recognize the person who feeds them and gather around them during feeding times. How can anyone get bored with such an enjoyable creature livening up the waters of a backyard pond?

Being omnivorous, Koi fish have keen appetites and will eat a variety of foods including meat matter and plant matter. Koi receive their food from their owner and the environment and will eat whatever comes their way and whatever will fit into their mouths. Koi fish will sometimes nibble on the foliage of underwater plants as well as eat a variety of insects that get within their range including worms, and snails. Some owners have also reported seeing their Koi pull themselves partially out of the water to obtain fallen acorns or nibble on grasses.

Koi will also enjoy a variety of foods offered to them by their owners including a special treat of peas, lettuce, or even watermelons. Koi fish require the right combination of protein, fats, fiber, minerals, and vitamins and by feeding them pellet food, owners can ensure that their Koi are receiving these combinations. Most store bought pellet foods for Koi are made to float at the top of the water so the fish are forced to come to the surface and be visible to owners. This gives the owner the perfect opportunity to observe the fish and make sure that they have good appetites, are healthy and that they are not injured in any way. Vivid colors of the fish mean that they are eating a healthy diet.

Koi live in water temperatures from 61 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and during the summer months, when Koi fish are the most active, owners should feed their fish a good quality diet. It is not necessary to feed Koi during the winter months since their digestive system slows down in the cold water. They may nibble on algae at the bottom of the pond but once the temperature goes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, any food left in their stomachs can become rancid and cause illness to the Koi.

Owners do not need to put too much importance into how much they are feeding their Koi or the way they are being fed since Koi have such great appetites. It is for this reason that one of the best and most relaxing parts of the day for a Koi pond owner is when it is time to feed their fish. Owners take pleasure in the Koi's willingness to interact with them and see their fish in a different way so while Koi need a balanced diet, it is all fun and games when it comes to food.

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