Page 51 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 69
P. 51
One thing worth mentioning, is that Koi get used to a Following the National Show at the end of June, Andy
particular type or brand of food and can be a bit fussy if increases the temperature to 22ºC and changes to a
you change it, so when you change the food to try high protein food of 40% to maximise growth and
another brand or the protein content, it’s a good idea to continues this until mid-September when he lowers the
mix it in with the current food they are used to, so they temperature to prepare for The All England Koi Show.
can make the adjustment gradually. Don’t be fooled into
thinking your Koi won’t know the difference, Koi are One thing Andy mentioned, for the benefit of newer Koi
intelligent, it’s like saying we won’t know the difference keepers entering their Koi into a Show for the first time,
between different brands of baked beans! Feeding Koi was to stop feeding their Koi five days before the Show,
to keep them in good health is one thing, getting a Koi to empty their digestive tract and avoid polluting the
in top condition for a Koi Show is something completely water during transportation and in the Show vats.
different. Following the Show, Andy increases the temperature
KOI GET Some Koi owners in Japan take their Koi back to their STOP FEEDING back to 22ºC and returns to feeding a 40% protein food
USED TO A Koi dealer to get them in top condition for a Koi Show, KOI BEFORE as there is still time to grow his Koi during October.
During the year while his Koi are enjoying the higher
these guys are experts, other Koi owners leave their Koi
PARTICULAR with the Koi dealer all year round who delivers their Koi A SHOW, temperatures, Andy feeds a handful of silkworm pupae
TYPE OR to the Show for them. Personally, I think most of us TO AVOID which is high protein. At the beginning of November,
Andy starts reducing the temperature during the month
want to see our Koi every day, but each to his own.
BRAND OF POLLUTING and begins feeding 35% protein food, and by the
Andy Baker’s Koi Feeding Year beginning of December has reduced the temperature to
FOOD, DON’T THE WATER 12ºC, he stops using his automatic feeder and returns
I was talking to a friend of mine, Andy Baker, who has to feeding a low protein, wheatgerm based food of
THINK THEY had a lot of success at UK Koi Shows over the years about 30% protein, to prepare his Koi for the winter.
DON’T and asked him for his views on feeding, how he feeds Andy pointed out, that he carries out this procedure
his Koi throughout the year, and how he prepares his
KNOW THE Koi for a Show. because he takes his Koi to Shows and needs to reduce
the temperature to minimise the risk of his Koi getting
DIFFERENCE Andy explained that it isn’t a case of following the same white spot, which is induced by a sudden drop in
routine every year, but responding to the weather and
temperature. Another point he made, was that if he
taking into account the Koi Shows he will be taking his
wasn’t showing his Koi he would have a longer growing
Koi to and exhibiting at.
season, keep a higher temperature and feed a high
Andy heats his pond and keeps it at 12ºC at the protein food all through the Summer until October.
beginning of the year, which he feels keeps his Koi’s
Andy said, that this is just a guide and each year is
immune system functioning and adds a scoop of low
different, it’s a case of watching the weather and
protein wheatgerm based food, of around 30% protein,
responding to what it brings.
once or twice a day to keep their digestive tract
functioning.
He follows this system through February, March and
April, then sets up his automatic feeder to operate at
16 times a day from 6.30am to 10.30pm and begins
increasing the temperature to about 18ºC to 19ºC at
the beginning of May, preparing his Koi for the BKKS
National Show. At this time he is using a higher protein
food of about 35%.
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