Page 54 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 83

be delivered at regular intervals, so that both the Koi their Koi a few pellets in the morning on warmer days
can digest the food and the creation of waste and
ammonia can be spread over a period so there are no
ammonia spikes, but there is still a regular supply of
ammonia to feed the nitrifying bacteria in the filter.
Depending upon the temperature Koi require more or
less food, so as the temperature rises in the spring, Koi
become more active and their appetite for food grows,
and the population of nitrifying bacteria living in the
filter increases to cope with the increasing demand on
the filter to maintain water quality.
This is the start of the growing season and high growth
food can be gradually increased as the temperature of
the water rises to maximise the growth of the Koi, and
DEPENDING because they are becoming more active they are able
to digest the increased protein (around 45%) to both
UPON THE grow and maintain their shape.
TEMPERATURE At this time some Koi keepers may decide to feed
colour enhancing food, particularly if they are intending
KOI REQUIRE to enter their Koi into a Show. These colour enhancing
MORE OR foods include ingredients, like spirulina, which is
derived from seaweed and is the food which gives the
LESS FOOD flamingo their pink colouration.
Care has to be taken when using a colour enhancing
food because while the food enhances the Beni (red)
pattern of the Koi, it can turn the white skin a pale
shade of pink. So Koi keepers wishing to show their Koi
stop feeding colour enhancing food several weeks
before taking their Koi to a Show.
As summer progresses, Koi continue to grow and as
the temperature of the water gets lower at the end of
the summer, a food with a lower protein (around 35%)
content is fed. Then later in the autumn as the water
gets cooler, a wheatgerm food with a protein of around
30% is enough to maintain the health of the Koi and
keep them in good condition as they prepare
themselves for the winter.
Some Koi keepers choose to stop feeding their Koi for
a couple of months during the winter, to keep their Koi’s
shape and remove any excessive fat that may have
been built up over a heavy feeding summer season, to
maximise their growth during the summer. Others give
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during the colder months. It’s all about knowing your
Koi, your pond and the way the weather affects them.
To summarise, Koi need to receive regular feedings
throughout the day which enables them to receive the
maximum benefit from the food and keeps a regular
supply of food to the nitrifying bacteria in the filter.
Use a food with good quality ingredients (not a cheap
USE A FOOD high protein food formulated to grow trout and salmon
quickly for the catering industry), and the right level of
WITH GOOD protein for the temperature of the water and the time of
QUALITY the year. Ask your Koi dealer for help if you need it.
INGREDIENTS I hope this simple guide will help you understand the
different types of Koi food, when to feed them, and
TO FEED why, and leave you to see what is on offer and make
YOUR KOI your personal choice.
Feeding Koi for Shows
Some Koi owners in Japan take their Koi back to their
Koi dealer to get them in top condition for a Koi Show,
these guys are experts, other Koi owners leave their Koi
with the Koi dealer all year round who delivers their Koi
to the Show for them. Personally, I think most of us
want to see our Koi every day, but each to his own.
Andy Baker’s Koi Feeding Year
I was talking to a friend of mine, Andy Baker, a couple
of years ago, who now sadly is no longer with us. Andy
had a lot of success at UK Koi Shows over the years
and I asked him for his views on feeding. I wanted to
know how he feeds his Koi throughout the year, and
how he prepared his Koi for a Show.
Andy explained that it isn’t a case of following the same
routine every year, but responding to the weather and
taking into account the Koi Shows he would be taking
his Koi to and exhibiting at.
Andy heated his pond and kept it at 12ºC at the
beginning of the year, which he felt kept his Koi’s
immune system functioning and he said he added a
scoop of low protein wheatgerm based food, of around
30% protein, once or twice a day to keep their
digestive tract functioning.
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