A pond thermometer is a great way to provide accurate readings of your pond water throughout the year. Because of the changes in the metabolism of your koi their digestion will become very slow during very cold months, when they produce little if any enzymes that enable them to digest their food. During warmer temperatures their metabolism speeds up, activity increases and growth occurs. This is when they will require daily feedings.
Each season also requires a different type of food. It is important to adjust the protein and carbohydrate content of their diet as well as the amount of food they eat. Some koi are more active than others so you will have to adjust the type of food and the amount of food to your particular type of koi. Another consideration is will be for koi that are smaller and still growing verses koi that has reached their maximum growth potential.
Summer Koi Feedings
During summer months when water temperatures are at their warmest, your koi will be very active. This is a time when they have the most potential for growth. It is also a time when they will need to be gaining some extra weight for the winter months when feeding is minimal.
Feeding your koi very small meals throughout the day will produce better results than feeding one big daily meal. Feeding small meals several times daily will help in the taming of your koi to eat right from your palms. Another benefit of taming your koi is the ability for you to check them over and if needed remove them from the pond should they become unhealthy and need some type of treatment or quarantine.
Spring Koi Feedings
During spring when the water temperatures are between 45° and 55°F koi do well on a low-protein diet because their digestive enzymes are not at their optimum. As temperatures raise from winter, their metabolism increases, however, it is not an instant change. If your koi have not been eating for weeks or very little food, you will need to slowly increase their food. Feeding too much too fast can create digestion problems. Vegetable-based food with protein are the most common foods offered during the time when they have a slower metabolism.
Feeding Koi During Winter Months
When the temperatures drops below . One way is to take your koi out of your pond and bring them into the garage or someplace where the water temperatures will not be dropping so low it could cause problems. The other way to help your koi cope is to stop feeding them altogether or to feed very minimally.
Rather than stating a set rule here it is best for you to talk to your koi dealer as to the type of koi you have and their feeding and wintering needs. Some koi require more oxygen then others as well as other differences that should be individually addressed.
Bad Feeding Habits for Koi
Some people enjoy feeding their koi fresh foods like sweet corn, peas, lettuce and brown bread. While these items may be ok from time to time, they can become a problem as they do not provide a balanced diet and in some cases can be very hard to digest. In addition, these types of food meals can create excessive waste and create cloudy water in your pond.
If your pond is adequately filtered with the water quality being stable, feeding your koi little treats such as those listed above should not prove to be a problem. One way to overcome the excessive waste would be to make sure the excess food is removed from the pond before it can rot and making these sorts of meals more as rare occasional treats presented during active summer months when koi digestion is at it's peek.
Maintaining a good habitual watch on your pond water temperature will insure proper food adjustments as temperatures change from one season to the next. Help your koi live a long and healthy life by educating yourself and learning from others rather than learning painful lessons from inexperience and a lack of proper education.
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