- I think My babies are hungry, but what do I need to do?
1. Wait for over 50-degree water temp. Use quality food, like Aquascape.
2. Feed just enough, they eat it all.
3. Figure out how much they eat so in busy times you know how much to drop in.
- When do I start feeding my koi and goldfish?
As the temps are rise, the fish get more active. It can be very tempting to start feeding as soon as you see movement but remember, usually Minnesotans don’t start feeding their koi until late April!
The decision of when to start feeding is water temperature. Wait for that water temp to stay above 50 degrees. The fishes digestive system has been in Torpor, or hibernation and is slowly waking up.
- Do I have to feed the fish in my pond?
Early in the spring, the first thing to grow is algae. The fish will start nibbling on those algae. For them it’s a nice salad of aquatic greens! You do not have to feed the fish, but it sure is a lot of fun!
- What do I feed the koi in my fish pond?
Find a quality fish food. There are many brands out there, but they are not all made the same. We use Aquascape’s fish food, either of the Cold Water, Staple, or Color Enhancing.
- How much do I feed koi fish?
Feed them as much as they will eat. BUT REMEMBER, any food that enters the pond turns into aquatic nutrition which could turn to algae! Feed them all they want, and make them “clean their plate” before giving them more. I start with a tablespoon of food in one hand, add about 2 pieces per fish to start, and then add food a bit at a time. After a few feedings, you’ll start to realize how much they’re eating so on those busy times of life you can just throw that much in, be it a teaspoon, tablespoon, or cup!
- How do I keep the koi fish food out of the skimmer?
1. Start with just a little bit of food. Make them finish their “first serving” before they get more. This will also help them be more friendly and come to greet you when they see you.
2. Get a feeding ring, a plastic circle tied in the area where you feed them.
3. Use sinking food. With this method, it’s a bit harder to get them to come “say hi.”
4. Shut the pump off so the food can’t flow into the skimmer. Depending on how big your pond is, this probably isn’t feasible.
- Is too much better than not enough?
If in doubt, feed less. Constantly overfeeding can create poor water quality conditions. Even if your bacteria are healthy and thriving, the system struggles to get rid of the nitrates. If nothing else, add a floating plant island to convert the free nitrates into beautiful plants! We also love constructed wetlands or bogs; you could look into adding one of those!
Take care of those babies!