Cold-weather feeding

[Shdwdrgn]

I've noticed wheat germ foods mentioned a few times for Fall feedings, and thought I would start a topic to compile knowledge about this subject. Anyone care to join in with their thoughts?

In the Fall, preparing for Winter:

• How does the wheat germ help the fish through the Winter?
• What affect will wheat germ foods have on pond and filter cleanings?
• When should you ideally switch over to this type of food?
• In areas where temperatures can swing wildly for a few months before Winter really settles in, how do you determine when to start using this food?
• Will it harm the fish if you start feeding them wheat germ too early?
• Are there any other suitable foods from around the house that we might use (Pasta, rice, vegetables)?

And finally, when Spring arrives:

• What types of foods should be offered in the Spring?
• At what point do you switch over to 'regular' food again?
• Are there any recommended foods that might help with algae bloom prior to biofilter bacteria becoming active?

In both Fall and Spring, it would also be nice to know if there are any special considerations that might apply to very small fry which will be spending the Winter outdoors (in regards to feeding)?

 

[fishin4cars]

Nishikigoi

Feeding care tips:
There are many factors to consider when feeding your Koi:

• Filter size
• Pond size
• Filter type and amount of time available to clean it
• How many Koi you have in your pond
• What season of the year it is

Most people generally feed their Koi 2-5 times a day. If you feed them around 2-3 times a day, they will grow slower or even stay around the same size. If you feed your Koi 3-5 times a day, they will grow fast and reach their maximum size sooner.
You do have to watch how much you feed your Koi; you don't want to overload your biological filter. If that happens, chances are your pond will have an Ammonia spike and that could possibly hurt or kill your Koi. Over-feeding your Koi can harm your Koi too. They can get obese and then suffer from the related health problems.
The more you feed your Koi, the more waste they will excrete. You'll need some way to remove the waste, or it will build up on the bottom of you pond. A good way to remove the fish waste is to install bottom drains and have them flow into your filter. You'll also need to take time each week to clean your filters, otherwise, the waste will build up in them and the water will start channeling through your filter material.
If you have a lot of Koi, you'll need a big pond and a big filter if you plan on feeding them a lot and growing them out. Most Koi usually grow to a couple feet in length, but if you have a Koi with a good bloodline, it could grow up to 3 feet long. Summertime is the grow out period for Koi. In a natural environment, a Koi will eat as much as it can during the summer in order build up fat to live off of in the winter when food in scarce. You should feed your Koi a food that is high in protein during the summer to boost their growth rates.

Koi can also be fed treats. Koi love oranges, grapefruit, lemons, watermelons, bread, earthworms, grubs and many other healthy fruits and vegetables. If you feed them treats once in a while, be sure to cut them in small pieces so your Koi will be able to eat them easily. Fruits like oranges and grapefruits can be halved and tossed into the water.
In the fall, when your pond temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you should start feeding your Koi a food that is high in wheat germ to help clean out their digestive system. When the water temperature starts dropping below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you should stop feeding them altogether. When the water temperature gets that cold, your Koi's digestive system stops and any food that is left in them will start to rot their digestive tract.
In the winter, Koi do not eat at all. Their metabolism slows down to a crawl, so they only need their body fat to live off of during the cold months. In the spring, your Koi's metabolism will just be starting up, so it is a good idea to feed them an easily digestible food that is high in wheat germ. You can start feeding them once the water temperature in your pond is constantly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A good way to tell when to start feeding your Koi is by looking at the sides of you pond to see if they have been nibbling at the algae that grows on it. Start by feeding them once a day, and then gradually increase to the amount you will feed them during the summer. When the water temperature gets constantly about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you can start feeding your Koi food that is high in protein.