Feeding goldfish

[IslandGuy]

Ok so new pond added 3 comets yesterday. They have been huddling/hiding under a rock on the bottom of my small 300 gallon pond. I purchased some goldfish food (discs). Now when is the best time to feed them? If they do not come out should I just feed them and watch the food go to the bottom?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[oldmarine]

Give them a couple of days, It's better to under feed than over feed your fish. They will come out and feed when they are hungry.

 

[MassKoi]

It is also a good idea to have a Pond thermometer. This way you know the water temperature and can feed accordingly. As old marine said they will come out of hiding in a couple of days.

 

[oldmarine]

After raising tropical fish for over thirty years I learned the hard way that it's always good to know what the water temp. in my aquarium or pond is each day.

Here in the Tacoma area, my pond water has been running at about 50 degrees C. to 65 degrees C. depending on the weather.

 

[IslandGuy]

My ponds runs about 5 degrees warmer...I assume fish want to eat when the temp is warmer?

 

[MassKoi]

Here is a feeding schedule that I try to follow.

less than 50 degrees
Do not feed Koi

50 - 55 degrees
4-5 times per week if Koi are hungry
Fish Food labeled Spring or Spring & Fall it's high carbohydrate and low protein. It's Wheat germ based food, Cheerios as a treat.

60 - 65
Once or twice per day everyday
Fish Food labeled Spring or Spring & Fall it's high carbohydrate and low protein. Vary diet with vegetables or fruits.

65 - 72
Once or twice per day everyday
Now you can choose fish food for purpose labeled either Growth, Color or Staple. These are higher in protein. Vary diet with vegetables or fruits.

72 - 80
3-4 times a day everyday
Feed fish food for purpose labeled either Growth, Color or Staple. These are higher in protein. Vary diet with vegetables or fruits.

Hope that helps

 

[koiguy1969]

My ponds runs about 5 degrees warmer...I assume fish want to eat when the temp is warmer?

the warmer the water the better their digestion and the faster their metabolism

 

[kirscp]

Here is a feeding schedule that I try to follow.

less than 50 degrees
Do not feed Koi

50 - 55 degrees
4-5 times per week if Koi are hungry
Fish Food labeled Spring or Spring & Fall it's high carbohydrate and low protein. It's Wheat germ based food, Cheerios as a treat.

60 - 65
Once or twice per day everyday
Fish Food labeled Spring or Spring & Fall it's high carbohydrate and low protein. Vary diet with vegetables or fruits.

65 - 72
Once or twice per day everyday
Now you can choose fish food for purpose labeled either Growth, Color or Staple. These are higher in protein. Vary diet with vegetables or fruits.

72 - 80
3-4 times a day everyday
Feed fish food for purpose labeled either Growth, Color or Staple. These are higher in protein. Vary diet with vegetables or fruits.

Hope that helps

Feeding has a couple different schools of thought.

I went an entire year with barely feeding my pond of gold fish. It incourages them to eat all the bug larva and algae in the pond.

With new koi pond, I feed them. They are not interested in eating yet. I also have some new koi to add, need to get them out of the fish tank.

Feeding does depend on your filter system. You can only feed as much as your filter can remove the waste.