Fish Health

Guide to Koi Feeding

August 29, 2012 By nanfoster

Simple Koi Feeding Guide-feeding frequency, water temperature and type of foods

Many people ask what type of food, frequency and water temperatures to use when feeding their Koi and Gold Fish. I hope this simple guide will help people with their koi feeding and gold fish feeding..

First, use a good pond thermometer. You need to know the water temperature in order to feed your koi appropriately.

Second, when the water (not air) temperature is less than 50 Fahrenheit or greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The fish cannot digest the food–DO NOT FEED THEM!

Third, always use good quality koi food. Avoid foods with corn content, as koi do not digest corn easily and will simply add ‘waste’ to your pond which will increase nutrients for algae blooms. Look for foods with wheat germ (fresh is best).

Also, always use appropriately sized food. Small koi and gold fish will have difficulty digesting some pellets and do better eating flaked food.

Koi Feeding – Frequency and protein content:

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed once or twice a week, or more if they are hungry. Feed High Carbohydrate, low protein foods with Wheat Germ in the main ingredient (some people feed organic wheat bread and unsweetened cheerios).

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed up go five times a week. Feed low protein (25%) and vegetable based foods.

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 6o-65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed once per day. Gradually increase their protein to (35%),

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 65-67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed two to three times per day. Their diet should be mainly 35% or more protein.

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed three to four times a day. Their diet should be mainly 35-40% protein with color enhancers.

Koi Feeding Important Notes:

High protein foods will make fish grow faster and make them healthier than high carb diets.

Keep your koi food pellets in a cool, shaded storage location in an airtight container to maximize food freshness.

Baby Koi (less than one year old) need sufficient carbohydrates, especially when water temperature gets cooler.

Remember that koi feeding should never be done when the water is too warm (over 90 degrees) or too cool (50 degrees or less).

Koi Food Types:

Small koi and gold fish will have difficulty digesting some pellets and do better eating flaked food.

ttp://shop.funkykoi.com/Tetra-Flaked-Pond-Fish-Food-p/046798162100.htm

http://shop.funkykoi.com/Wardley-Products-Premium-Spirulina-Plus-Ten-p/043324005238.htm

If you feed your koi appropriately; using the right frequency, protein content for the water temperature; your fish will grow large and stay healthy for many years to come. Remember your pets rely on you to feed them, just as children do. Feed them well and they will do well.

Happy Koi Feeding!

Feeding Koi during the hot summer months

August 4, 2012 By nanfoster

Microblift has this to say about feeding in the hot weather:

“What Should I Do Now?

August is traditionally the hottest summer month. If possible, shade the fish pond. If that is not possible, shade the filter. This will provide some measure of relief from the heat. A hobbyist told me she adds blocks of ice to her pond. I don’t think that’s a good idea. In fact, I think that might be very stressful to the fish, more so than being subjected to the warmer water. Doing partial water changes is helpful, adding the water slowly the pond to cool it gently. Sudden temperature changes are never desirable. Continue adding PL (or HC in ponds over 10,000 gal) and Barley Straw Extract (or Pellets). But if the water is above 75F, stop using Sludge Away and don’t use any algaecides until the weather cools down. If the algae problem is so bad that you have to do something, do it manually. If water temps reach 90F, stop feeding!”

Link to beneficial bacteria: http://shop.funkykoi.com/category-s/99.htm

Link to water treatments: http://shop.funkykoi.com/category-s/47.htm

Link to pond thermometer (free with first online order): http://shop.funkykoi.com/Laguna-Pond-Thermometer-p/pt945.htm

Ash Content in Fish Foods

July 23, 2012 By nanfoster

Recently, a customer selected one food over another based on the Ash Content (calcium / minerals). The customer indicated after doing some searching on the internet, he selected the other brand because the food had 2% lower ash content. That got me thinking–what exactly is in the Ash Content in the food we feed our healthy and vibrant koi and are there other ingredients that are better for the fish and lower in fat?

I did very little internet searching, basically, I went to the University of Florida’s website and found an article about preparing your own fish food. This excerpt is from the University of Florida (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa097): “Other Feedstuffs. Fiber and ash (minerals) are a group of mixed materials found in most feedstuffs. In experimental diets, fiber is used as a filler, and ash as a source of calcium and phosphorus. In practical diets, both should be no higher than 8-12% of the formulation. A high fiber and ash content reduces the digestibility of other ingredients in the diet resulting in poor growth of the fish.”

High Fiber and Ash which reduces digestibility may indicate there will be more fish waste in the water, so keep that in mind when you read the product labels on the fish food you purchase.

To add to this topic: In the heat of the summer, it is best to reduce protein content and that may mean changing to ‘cold weather formula’ to make it easier to digest.

The list of ingredients for Shinju Koi food, uses fresh wheat germ and is lower in fat and fiber content than one of other food we sell:

	Crude Protein (min)	Calcium (min)	Fat (min)	Phosphorus (min)	Ash (max)	Fiber (max)
White Pearl – Premium All Season	38%	1.5%	3%	1.5%	11%	3%
Color Pearl – Color Enhancer	38%	1.5%	3%	1.5%	11%	3%

White Pearl – Premium All Season Ingredients:
White Fish Meal, Wheat Flour, Defatted Soybean Meal, Defatted Wheat Germ Meal, Dried Brewers Yeast, Mono Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Niacin, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Vitamin C, Inositol, Folic Acid, Calcium Pantothenat e, Cyanocobalamine, P-Aminobenonic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate, Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate.

Color Pearl – Color Enhancer Ingredients:
White Fish Meal, Wheat Flour, Defatted Soybean Meal, Fresh Wheat Germ Meal, Spirulina, Dried Brewers Yeast, Mono Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Niacin, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Vitamin C, Inositol, Folic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Cyanocobalamine, P-Aminobenonic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate, Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate.

versus

Ecological Laboratories Growth and Energy Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (Min.) 40%
Crude Fat (Min.) 7 %
Crude Fiber (Max.) 4%
Moisture (Max.) 8%
Ash (Max) 8%
Phosphorus (Min.) 1.3%
Copper (Min.) 7mg/kg
Vitamin A (Min.) 11,000 IU/kg
Vitamin C (Min.) 400 IU/kg
Vitamin D3 (Min.) 4,500 IU/kg
Vitamin E (Min.) 250 IU/kg
B. licheniformis (Min.) 60 million CFU per lb.
B. subtilis (Min.) 60 million CFU per lb.

Ingredients Growth & Energy Food

Fish meal, wheat, dehulled soybean meal, corn gluten meal, wheat middlings, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fish Oil, Krill Meal, Iron oxide, Dicalcium Phosphate, DL-methioninie, salt, spirulina, betaine anhydrous, L-absorbyl-2-phosphate, Astaxanthin (color), Ethoxyquin (preservative), Bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Vitamin E supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Ethylenediamine, Dihydriodide, Ferrous Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A supplement, Vitamin B12 supplement.

How’s The Water Quality in your Pond?

June 16, 2012 By nanfoster

If you haven’t tested your water quality yet, you should do it now and keep an eye on it through the entire season and beyond. If you need testers, we have them available, both at our physical store and on line.

There are many good articles about water quality and koi health on line and I’ve read quite a few of them.

I am sharing this link, from Hanover Koi Farms, located at 1332 MOULSTOWN RD. N. HANOVER, PA 17331. Their article, available online, is very inclusive and informative!

http://jnfkoifarms.com/symptomsofkoi.html

Happy Ponding!

Protect your fish with aeration

March 13, 2012 By admin

Why Aerate your Pond?

Aerators add valuable oxygen to your pond.
Aerators increase dissolved oxygen levels which increase the number of GOOD bacteria.
- Good Bacteria helps keep your pond clean and clear with less organic build-up at the pond bottom.
Aerators replaces the need for de-icers and heaters during normal winters (severe winters may still need to add de-icers). Bubbling / moving water does not freeze easily–therefore keeping a hole in the ice to allow toxic gases to leave the pond.
- Toxic gases come from decaying organic matter and fish respiration.
- Aerators save energy and your money when you can shut off your deicer.
Fish LOVE aeration. Just watch them hover around the bubbles!