41 replies to this topic

[koikeepr]

The fall/winter is a great time to buy food and other pond items as much of it is on sale.

I got an email from the Dr's Foster & Smith site last week, and they're having a flat $5.99 shipping fee through December. Since food is often expensive to ship due to weight, I took advantage and bought a gaggle of it in various 2 and 5 pound bags. I plan on offering a nice blend to the fish next spring. There was some good pricing. I even purchased a 10lb tub of pond salt that was very reasonable and some other stuff.

Additionally, i used an electronic coupon code that might of help to some of you to score additional savings. Here's a few different ones:

$5 off anything you buy (thereby reducing shipping to only 99 cents!): 11318418
$5 off $49 order $10 off $100 order $15 off $150 order in November: 3384/2151
Another $5 off anything: 2823-2021

Hope this helps someone with a deal.

I also ended up buying one of those nano cube aquariums in the 24 gallon size, since they had an awesome price on them. I gonna bring 2 of my small watonai indoors this winter to see what happens. I can later use the thing as a bit of a mini nursery or a QT/hospital tank for small fish. It's little gallonage, I know, but for babies or some indoor experimentation it should be fine.

[migsly]

I never feed my fish. They live off the fat of the pond. From time to time I might feed them some whole wheat bread. It's 100% whole wheat bread by Nature's Own.

[DoDad]

I don't wnt to talk about food. even if the shipping is free.

[migsly]

DoDad said:

I don't wnt to talk about food. even if the shipping is free.

lol.

[koikeepr]

The previous owner of my pond had a dozen feeder goldfish in the pond. Never fed them, no filtration. Water was pea soup and you couldn't even see them unless they came to the very top. They obviously did fine like that for years.

I still have those fish in the pond, and they are now about 5 times the size they were then because they are eating a nice healthy diet. Of course, to me, the size of any of my fish doesn't matter.

Feed or not to feed. To each his own with their respective ponds. For me, like any pet in my household, I do feed them.

[DoDad]

Pound for pound of cost of food my koi eat better than I do.

[koikeepr]

i hear ya! don't think I pay this much for my kids either. LOL

[koiguy1969]

koi keeper,what brands do you feed?

[koikeepr]

every year, I usually build a blend of Blackwater, Hikari, Blue Ridge Koi Farm (I'm partial to these guys as they are in state and have a great product at a great price) and Pondcare summer staple for filler as I start to run low and need to supplement. This year, I'm going to try some of the Dr. Foster's home brand (which I understand is made by one of the bigger manufacturers) and has 40% protein in the mix as well. I'll often use a pinch of spirulina food mixed in too, as I like to keep things interesting for my "kids".

Of course, I'm always throwing in peas, shrimp, dried krill and watermelon and other things that they love in between all this. I'll buy some frozen foods such as blood worms and such too. If I'm digging around the garden, and I spot an earthworm I'll chop that sucker up and throw that in, too.

[koiguy1969]

oh... i was only asking because on the chance you fed TETRAPOND koi vibrance or the Wardleys TEN Meijers sells tetrapond cheaper regular price than those sale prices...and the same with Kmarts for the Wardleys.....i like the tetrapond koi vibrance myself... hikari and occasionally wardleys but i feed all the treats too! i got the tetrapond koi vibrasnce 2.42lb bags for $7.99 at meijers season clearence

[DoDad]

I like Hai Feng quick grow as a basic food. Cost about $28 for 11 lbs. or $2.55 a lb.
It has very good contents compared to other low cost food
I always look at the ingredients.
INGREDIENTS:
Wheat germ meal, Soybean meal,Fish meal, Wheat flour, Shrimp meal, Dried yeast, Organic Minerals, Vitamins(A, D3, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E).
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
32% min. Crude Protein, 3% min. Crude Fat, 15% max. Ash, 4% max. Crude Fiber, 9% max. Moisture.
Take a look at TetraPond Koi Vibrance.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein min 31.0% Crude Fat min 5.0%
Crude Fiber max 2.0% Moisture max 7.0%
Phosphorus min 1.1% Ascorbic Acid
(Vitamin C) min 100 mg/kg

Ingredients: Wheat Starch, Fish Meal, Corn Flour, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Feeding Oat Meal, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Germ Meal, Potato Protein, Monobasic Calcium Phosphate, Soybean Oil, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Riboflavin-5-Phosphate, Inositol, Niacin, A-Tocopherol-Acetate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Stabilized Vitamin C), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Cyanocobalamin, Cholecalciferol, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Artificial Colors, Ethoxyquin (as a preservative).

[koikeepr]

I have mixed in Koi Vibrance when my supply is low as it's readily available at most pet shops if I'm in a bind during the heat of summer. I try to not use color enhancing foods with my younger koi as I feel that it pushes them to "finish" faster than they should at a younger age.

I agree that's it's pricier than most other koi foods that are comparable or better.

[nc0gnet0]

Ethoxyquin

I know this is a big no no in dog food...............

[DoDad]

I don't like color enhancing foods. I do use High Silk 21 to enhance the whites of koi If I'm taking them to a show. You've seen the muddy looking heads on koi. High Silk cleans out their livers and the koi turn nice and white. I start feeding about 3weeks before the show and then the last 5 days they get nothing.

[DoDad]

They say it's not good for fish. They put it in there so the oils don't go rancid.

nc0gnet0 said:

Ethoxyquin

I know this is a big no no in dog food...............