Every Koi owner loves to see a healthy Koi growing in their pond. Choosing the best Koi fish food is tricky. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend buying healthy Koi food.
It also depends on the Koi’s age, size, and season. I have broken down the best food to feed your fish and added some recommendations about feeding methods and the right quantity.
Types of Koi Fish Food
It is better to understand what foods you can feed your Koi fish.
Prepared Foods
Fish food pellets are the most common prepared food for Koi fish. Prepared foods help fulfill all nutritional needs.
Fish pellets come in floating and sinking varieties. The floating pellets are the most convenient food for observing Koi’s eating behavior.
Fresh And Freeze-Dried Foods
You should serve These important food types to your Koi fish. For fresh foods, you can choose between vegetables and a protein-rich diet.
Seasonal Foods
As the name suggests, seasonal foods change as season evolves. In colder months, you should opt for easy to digest food. When the water temperature is warm in summer, pick food rich in proteins.
What Is The Best Koi Fish Food?
All Koi have different food needs. So, to make it easy for you, I have listed the best Koi food to keep them healthy and happy.
Algae
There are algae tablets called Cyanobacterium available. These are small and perfect for pond fish food. They can also be used as floating food.
Koi eating algae has many benefits. It helps improve digestive health, boosts the immune system, and increases growth rate. Carotene pigments in algae also increase Koi fish body color.
Wheat Germ
The term germ doesn’t mean that it increases germ growth. It is the seed that grows the wheat plants. Wheat germs are easily digestible.
Wheat germs help grow Koi and Goldfish. They also contain vitamin E, which is good for blood circulation and oxygen levels.
Shrimp
Brine shrimps are the best source for Koi fish to get bio-enrichment. It means that shrimps eat anything in the water. They are also termed as water filters. When the Koi fish eats shrimp, all the nutrients are transferred into their body.
Brine shrimps offer vitamins A & D, proteins, and boost the growth of Koi fish.
Fish Food
Pellets are good food for medium-sized Koi. Fish food like flakes are suitable for baby Koi. The flakes are high in essential fats and proteins. It also includes insects, blood worms, larvae, and clams.
Chopped Vegetables
Chopped vegetables are another great source of nutrients that offer carbohydrates and other essential nutrients.
Important Tips to Feed Koi Fish
Remember the following tips when feeding your Koi fish.
- The food should be cut down into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
- It is better to toss it with your own hands.
- Don’t feed much as the leftover food clouds water.
- Koi fish have different food needs throughout the year, so feed them accordingly.
- Set a feeding time.
- Observe the behavior when you feed them a new food item.
- You can feed your Koi fish four times per day.
- Bond with your Koi fish by feeding them with your hands.
- Make the perfect, formulated pellets, considering all the nutritional needs.
How Much Food Is Good For Koi Fish?
This information is very important. Koi fish don’t have stomachs, and they don’t know when to stop. To avoid overfeeding, there are some points that you need to keep in mind to support their growth.
Feed your Koi fish twice a day in ecosystem ponds. Give them small quantities. Also, give them time to digest their food.
If the Koi fish are not in ecosystem ponds, it is better to feed them as much as they can eat in 5 minutes. Avoid feeding them extra and prepare a balanced diet.
Remember, a feeding schedule is necessary for the proper growth of Koi fish. Overfeeding might lead to health issues and lethargic behavior, as the fish like to feel better at the pond bottom.
What Factors To Consider When Feeding Koi Fish?
There are key factors that every Koi fish owner should know.
Size of Koi Fish
There’s no rocket science in it. Small Koi fish need small portions of food, while large Koi fish need a larger amount of food to stay healthy.
Seasons
When the temperatures are warm in spring and summer, Koi need more food as they are most active and their metabolic rate is high during this time.
In spring and fall, feed your Koi fish with carbohydrate-rich foods that give them energy and aid in temperature transitions. Wheat germs work best in this season.
In winter, Koi fish start to hibernate as the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This slows their digestive system, so it is better not to serve them any food during this time.
Water Quality
When a Koi Fish is fed up to four times a day, it produces more waste. A high amount of food and fish also lowers the oxygen levels of the water.
It will directly affect the digestive tract of your Koi fish. Maintaining water quality is highly recommended to avoid this.
Using Automatic Feeders For Koi Fish
Automatic food feeders are the best option for feeding your fish on time in the right quantity. These devices spit out food at regular intervals.
There are two models of automatic feeders. One provides pellet-like foods, while the other is used for flake-type foods.
What Food To Avoid Feeding Koi Fish?
Koi fish can eat anything they can get. They can even eat food that is not made for them. So, taking precautions when you want to feed them is necessary.
It is better to avoid food with excessive carbohydrates, like white bread. Also, avoid vegetables like peas, as they can disturb their digestive system.
Wildlife animals like frogs are also prohibited as they can carry parasites or diseases that can kill the Koi fish.
Conclusion
To maintain their health, koi fish need to eat healthy food. This increases their vitality and helps them enhance their glow. I hope my suggestions will come handy the next time you prepare food for your Koi fish.
