Home  

  Main Index MAIN
INDEX 		Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS 		Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE 		Log in LOG
IN

Home: Koi Health: Koi Feeding, Nutrition and Diet:
Koi winter feeding

 





 


Ira-Hayes
Koi Lover

Dec 12, 2004, 11:25 PM

Post #1 of 5 (911 views)
Shortcut
Koi winter feeding Can't Post
Hi all - I have a 3,000 gal 5ft deep pond with biofilter set up and 7 Koi 20 - 26inches and live in Sussex, Southern England.

My problam is with winter feeding. All of the books I read and food packets tell me to stop feeding when the temperature is below 10c and only feed once a week or so at temperatures of 10 - 15c. The books say that at these low temperatures the fish will become dormant, go to the bottom and not want to feed. However my fish seem just as hungry as ever, I can't get near the pond without them coming to the surface looking for food and when left alone they certainly don't seem to sit about at the lower levels of the pond. I am currently feeding them Hikari wheatgerm in very small quantities (two or three large pellets each) once or twice each day and they are eating all that is offered (I feed them high protein in the summer and a mixture of HP and staple in the spring/autumn). Should I still being doing this at these low temperatures? If they refused the food I would happiliy stop feeding them but they appear to be as hungry and active as they are in the summer. I have read that at lower temperatures they find it hard to digest food but what would happen in the wild or in a large self-sufficient pond where natural foods are always available? Would they carry on eating or stop when it got cold?

I would be grateful for any help or advice you could give. Thanks


koistudent
Koi Lover

Dec 31, 2004, 2:41 PM

Post #2 of 5 (835 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Ira-Hayes] Koi winter feeding [In reply to] Can't Post
Do not feed when the temp goes under 50 degrees farenheit, i know its hard but control yourself for the good of your fish =). It is winter here as well and cold to me but i live in california, I thought the temp was 30 degrees but turned out it was only 50, so i kept feeding. So if the temp goes under 50 do not feed.


koifishgirl
Koi Kichi


Jan 1, 2005, 4:04 AM

Post #3 of 5 (819 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Ira-Hayes] Koi winter feeding [In reply to] Can't Post
In the wild I would think that they would eat when they get ready. That question is a good one and might be worth the time to research. Maybe that is why are koi seam to grow slower in a man made lined pond is because they cant get the food the need. I think I will take a little time and look into thisWink.
Judy


SpudNuts
Koi Lover

Jan 1, 2005, 11:06 AM

Post #4 of 5 (809 views)
Shortcut
Re: [koistudent] Koi winter feeding [In reply to] Can't Post
I agree, monitor the water temp. Mine hibernate when the water temp is below 50f. I stop feeding and even shut down my filtration system because your bio also shut down at low temps. In the winter, all I have is a aeration pump. Keeps O2 levels and also the bubbles keep the surface from freezing.


Wolfie
Koi Lover


Jan 16, 2005, 2:52 AM

Post #5 of 5 (766 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Ira-Hayes] Koi winter feeding [In reply to] Can't Post
It is generally believed that you should not feed high protein koi food below 10c and should stop feeding wheatgerm (and anything else) under 5c. So your koi might be swimming around and quite active under 10c.

I only give them wheatgerm in the winter and usually only when the weather is a bit warmer and the fish look interested. I won't feed them under 5c, even if they give me puppy dog eyes. *laughs*

Koi digestive systems do slow in colder weather, so it is important not to feed them protein, which is harder to digest. Make sure you are feeding them less then you do during the warmer months, but feeding them wheatgerm while your pond water is still above 5c shouldn't be a problem.

Your bio filter will continue to work providing you don't get seriously low temperatures. I keep mine running through the winter in order to keep the good bacteria from dying. Without the water running through it, you will have to start from scratch every spring.

Good luck with those fishies!

always,
Wolfie



(This post was edited by Wolfie on Jan 16, 2005, 2:55 AM)

 
 
 



Search for (options) Back to Koi.com.my Main Page

  Disclaimer  Privacy Statement     
Copyright 2001~ 2002 Hileytech Sdn Bhd , All Rights Reserved.  
No part of the forum postings can be copied without prior permission from Hileytech Sdn Bhd and the Author of the Posting.
For comments and Suggestion, Please contact the Webmaster at koi@hileytech.com