Quick feeding/water temp question.

[chibae]

I normally feed my micro "pond" fish every 2-3 days. It is more for my enjoyment, and to count noses, than anything else. I have read to stop feeding altogether in the fall once the water temperature has been a 55 degrees f, or lower for seven days in a row. If this is a good rule of thumb to go by, where should I be measuring? Surface, middle or bottom? Or average? Right now my 24" deep "pond" is 76 degrees about an inch below the surface and 65 degrees at the bottom.

 

[GBBUDD]

It's not so much the fish as it is the plants and bacteria , more so the bio filters at 50 bacteria is not thriving. It is pretty much neutral and as temps continue to drop the bacteria is not doing it's part by absorbing amonias eyc and converting them to non toxic. Like the bacteria as your temps drop so does your fish. If you watch them when temps get lower it's like watching drunks eat. They miss their mouths and try over and over. But when they do eat often the food is not fully absorbed or if it is the waste has nothing to help convert it to non toxic levels.
So can you feed below 50 sure. Can your pond handle the waste , that depends on your design.

So in short it's not a must stop feeding it's best to stop so you dont polute the water . It's nor a omg it's 50 it's a guide line

 

[Lisak1]

I was going to say the same - watch your fish. You'll see the change. And remember you never HAVE to feed your fish. They will survive just fine without food for many many months. Better to err on the side of stopping too early than continuing too long.

 

[Ronfire]

My fish don't charge up for the food when it gets colder so I slow the feeding down and then quit. Usually beginning of October and don't start back up until March/April. They all do well over the winter under the ice and seam to be larger in size when it thaws out.