What Type Of Koi Fish Food Should You Use?

Have you ever wondered what type of koi fish food you should use? If you’re like most people you probably wonder which brand or type of food will provide the optimum nutritional value at the best possible price.

There are many different types of foods you can feed your koi. I like to use a pelleted food as my mainstay because it is easy to keep track of how much your fish eat.

Plus, it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the pond and decompose. You can see how much they eat and make adjustments accordingly so that you don’t waste food (and therefore money!) and foul your pond water.

I’ve published a new Squidoo Lens comparing several of the more popular brands of koi food.

I lean towards Hikari koi for several reasons.

You can select a high quality, well balanced koi fish food from their Economy, Staple & Gold varieties through their Saki-Hikari varieties, with their special growth formula and color enhancing formula, developed especially for breeders and show koi.

I also love that they have a Saki-Hikari Multi-Season Food so that you don’t have to worry about the temperature…it is specially developed to be fed through all the seasons …except, of course, when temps fall below 50 degrees fahrenheit.

So head on over to my Squidoo Lens and check out the information on some of the industries top brands of koi fish food!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

In the fall when water temperatures fall to 50-60 degrees, you should change your feeding schedule to once every 1-2 days.

A low protein food should be fed. Many companies make special foods for spring and fall, when you are switching from feeding to not feeding.

When the temperatures drop to below 50 degrees you need to stop feeding the fish altogether.

In the colder temperatures the metabolism of your fish slows down and food cannot be properly digested. It can take up to 3-4 days for your koi to fully digest their food.

Don’t be fooled on warm days when your fish may become active and “beg” for food. Stay strong and do not feed!

If your koi really do need a little food, they will find enough growing in the pond. The algae that is still coating the pond liner more than enough. You don’t want to literally kill your koi with kindness!

Koi fish food definitely needs to be fed according to temperature. In many parts of the country, temperature coincides with the season, which is why you hear that koi need to be fed according to season!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

It is important to keep feeding time a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Koi feeding is a very interactive part of the day for the Koi owner.

Koi need a well rounded diet, thus their feedings should include a variety of foods to keep nutrients in balance. Koi fish are omnivores which means they will eat meat as well as plant matter.

The environment and their owner are two sources of food for the Koi fish. Voracious eaters, they eat just about anything that comes their way and fits in their mouths! They eat foliage off of the underwater plants and this should be paid attention to as any plants left unprotected may disappear.

Insects getting into their range are also fair game, including worms, snails and crickets. Koi have also been known to pull themselves partly out of the water to gather up fallen acorns and nibble on the grass.

Owners can offer the Koi fish an assortment of delicacies that will be savored and enjoyed. Watermelon, peas, lettuce and corn can be offered as special treats. Getting the right amount of vitamins, minerals, fat, fiber and protein is important to their quality of life and feeding a special pelleted food will ensure that they receive it. The fish will rise to the surface to feed as the store bought pellets float on the surface of the water.

Feeding time is a good opportunity to check on their health. Check them for injuries, irregularities and see that they have good appetites. A healthy diet helps to enhance the coloration of the fish, making them brilliant and beautiful to watch!

Water temperature can also have an effect on their appetite, with 61-75 degrees Fahrenheit being optimal for them. Koi are most active during the summer months and should be fed a high quality diet during this period.

Feeding is not necessary during the winter months because their digestive sustem shuts down in cold water. When water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit any food left in their stomachs can become rancid. This can cause them to become very sick.

Highly entertaining and gorgeous, the Koi fish is a joy to own. They learn to recognize their feeder and gather round at regular feeding trimes. With patience they can be trained to eat right out of your hand! Never boring to be around, the Koi is a lively creature that will brighten up any backyard pond.

In conclusion, a balanced diet is extremely important, but there can also be plenty of fun and games involved.

Get your FREE 10-part mini-course and learn more about how to take care of Koi at my website KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon

ALMOST NEEDS:

Skimmer: Your skimmer draws in surface debris. It is possible to do this manually with a net and by using a pond vacuum to get any debris that makes it’s way to the bottom of your pond. If you can afford to get one it greatly cuts down on your labor!

UV Light: A UV light is especially helpful in newer ponds until beneficial bacteria is established as your pond matures. This piece of Koi pond equipment kills algal blooms that float about suspended in your pond water. Two things to note; you need the proper size for your pond or it won’t be effective and UV lights don’t kill string algae as it’s attached and doesn’t float about in your pond.

Jets: People that have jets in their ponds say that they would never want to do without them. While not a necessity they do provide exercises for your Koi who are river fish and enjoy swimming in a current. If you install them in the right places you can move water out of “dead” areas of your pond and direct it towards the skimmer where debris can be collected. Also if they are installed so the water breaks the surface they can help to oxygenate your pond! As you can see they provide many benefits.

Auto-fills: While far from being a necessity an auto-fill makes maintaining your pond easier. As it’s name implies it always keeps your water at a pre-determined level. As water evaporates it is automatically replaced. This reduces the risk of forgetting to turn off the hose and inadvertently killing your fish by chlorination.

WANTS:

I consider pre-filters, underwater lights and automatic feeders to be in the “wants” category. They may be nice to have but definitely not necessities.

These are the basics, although there are definitely more details to consider when you choose specific pieces of Koi pond equipment.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

The smallest pond I would recommend building is 1500 gallons, which would be approximately 7 feet wide by 8 feet long and 4 feet deep.

This may sound very large to some people, but if you build a pond much smaller than that, you will probably not end up being happy with it.

One of the problems is that Koi fish are extremely addictive and just like with Lay’s potato chips, it is hard to be happy with just a few!

You also need to keep in mind that you may start out with several 6 inch long Koi, but within 3 to 4 years they could grow to be 2 feet long or more.

With very few exceptions, most people end up wishing they had made their first pond bigger.

Bigger isn’t always better though. The largest pond I would recommend building is 15,000 gallons. The dimensions would be approximately 17 feet wide by 21 feet long and 6 feet deep.

A Koi pond design much larger than that can cause you several problems. For example it can become almost impossible to catch one of the fish if you need to.

If it becomes necessary to medicate the pond it will become more expensive the larger your pond gets. In addition, all the water in the pond will need to be filtered at least once every three hours. Operating pumps large enough to get the job done can cost hundreds of dollars per month.

Last, but not least, if you design a pond that is too large you won’t be able to enjoy your Koi as much because the larger the pond the less your fish will be visible.

Make sure to plan your Koi pond design carefully to comfortably accomodate your Koi and please your sense of aesthetics!

You can find more helpful information about Koi pond design in my eBook “Koi Care Basics” found at KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Water Koi are known as one of the oldest species of fish and they can live to over a hundred years old but they are also considered among most delicate species of fish. These brightly colored creatures need special care. But if you do not know how to care for Koi don’t worry! It is not very difficult. To take proper care of them, you must pay attention to their maintenance.

Also known as Cyprinus Carpio, these ornamental varieties of Common Carp are known as symbols of love and friendship. These native Japanese fish are available in multiple colors including white, black, red, yellow, blue, cream and silver. Koi are slightly bigger than Goldfish and to take care of them, you need to be just as cautious as you are when taking care of Goldfish.

The preliminary steps of caring for your Water Koi include proper cleaning of your pond. In order to know how to properly care for your fish you need to be knowledgeable about Koi pond maintenance.

Your pond should be filled with water at all times and it should be both aerated and filtered.

Any sudden changes in temperature can cause problems for your Koi, thus you should monit\or your water temperature closely. These temperature changes stress your fish and cause suppression of their immune systems.

Debris in your pond must also be removed on a regular basis. You should keep the water as clear as possible. To maintain this clarity the filter should be cleaned daily.

You need to get special pellets to feed your Koi fish. These pellets contain all the essential ingredients that are important to keep the fish healthy, happy and active. They should usually be fed twice a day. (although this depends on temperature/season).

Other measures of  Water Koi care include gentle handling of your fish. These fish are very delicate so you need to be quite attentive and handle them very carefully.

Koi are covered with a protective slime. This slime should not be stripped. It helps protect them from fungus and bacterial diseases.

You must keep your other pets away from the pond, as the bright colors of Koi fish attract dogs and cats. These pets can easily make a meal of your prized Koi. Racoons and herons are also common pond predators that will enjoy making a tasty snack out of your fish!

Nets, motion detectors and even decoys can help to protect your Koi and having pond plants helps by giving them a place to hide.

You must remember that as your Koi grow they need more oxygen. They can get to be quite large so don’t be tempted to fill your pond with too many fish if you purchase them when they are smaller. Overcrowding creates a variety of problems in your pond.

Even though there is much more to learn these are some of the most effective measures of Water Koi care.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

The Japanese now call the wild carp “magoi”, and colored and inbred magoi are called Koi. Koi that are bred for color are called “Nishikigoi” which means colorful cloth (nishiki) and carp(goi). The depiction of the Koi fish is also one of the most popular and beautiful of the Japanese tattoo symbols.

Surprising to many Westerners is the large amount of ancient myth that surrounds the Koi fish and their elevated status in the Orient. Their glorious colors and color combinations may contribute to these tales. The colors include silver, gold, white, yellow, orange, black and even calico.

Some legends say that Koi fish can climb waterfalls bravely. They also say that if the fish has been caught, it will lay on the cutting board awaighting the knife without a quiver. In Koi symbolism this has been likened to a samurai warrior facing a sword.

This theme dates back to ancient China where a legend tells of how any Koi that succeeded in climbing the falls on the Yellow River at a point called Dragon Gate would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend the Koi became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.

A beautiful Koi watercolor painting

Eventually the fish came to be associated with so many masculine and positive qualities that it became Koi symbolism for the annual Boys’ Day Festival in Japan. In this festival, colorful streaming Koi flags are traditionally displayed for each member of the family.

The various colors of the koi fish represent each of the family members. Black Koi symbolism stands for the father, the red and orange Koi symbolize the mother, blue-and-white Koi flags stand for the son and the red and pink Koi flags stand for the daughter.

In tattoo imagery, especially in combination with flowing water, the Koi fish symbolizes many of the same characteristics such as courage, the ability to attain high goals and the strength that enables one to overcome life’s difficulties.

Many people are drawn to Koi fish art for the colors and meaning hidden within. Koi tattoos have become more popular in recent years. People believe that the placement of the fish on the human body is symbolic.

They think that if the Koi is swimming down the body it symbolizes that the person is trying to overcome hardship, while if it is swimming up the body it means that the person has already overcome many of the hardships in their life.

Buddhist monks say that humans “swim” through the “ocean of suffering” without fear like a fish swims through water. Thus, many people view the Koi fish as the symbol of how we should persevere in life. According to tattoo websites, Koi symbolism represents good fortune, prosperity and riches. Also the Japanese feel that the depiction of this fish on the human body represents male strength.

In Japan Koi symbolism represents perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose. The strongest Koi will swim upstream until it reaches the final waterfall where it vaults into the mists and becomes a water dragon.

Based on that legend the Koi has become a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals.
Others say it means good luck and good fortune especially in China where seven golden Koi represent good luck. Another example of Koi symbolism is that the larger the Koi, the richer you are. This probably stems from the fact that large specimens are very expensive.

It has been said that if you are determined and don’t conform to what society expects, you are like a Koi swimming upstream against the current. Koi symbolism represents yin and yang in ponds. Normally there is a balance of one black to nine gold.

Koi are referred to as “living jewels” or “swimming flowers”. The positive attributes associated with Koi fish have made them popular choices for body art, jewelry and paintings for centuries. If you look into oriental art you’ll find many beautiful examples of the Koi symbolism.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Koi fish are an ornamental variety of domesticated Common Carp or Cyprinus Carpio. Also known as Japanese Carp, these pretty fish are known as symbols of love and friendship. You can find Koi in a multitude of colors, including white, black, red, yellow, blue, cream and silver.

An attractive small Koi pond

In addition to increasing the serenity in your garden, these small ponds add to your reasons for spending time relaxing in and enjoying your garden.

Another bonus of a small Koi pond is that building one is not an overly tough task. You can build it in hours without spending huge amounts of money. To make your job even easier follow these simple guidelines…

First, decide on location, where to place the pond in your garden? Selection of a shady is always a wise decision as shade will help moderate water temperatures and provide some cover for your Koi.  You must also select a place where you can easily keep your pond clean and free from garden wastes. You don’t want chemicals or fertilizers to run into the pond since this would be likely to kill your fish.

You should also make sure that the place you have chosen for your pond has easy access to electricity. Electricity will be required for running your filter and water pump.

Size is another important factor, particularly if you are the one who is going to dig the hole. The size of a pond also varies in accordance with the number of fish, and depending on where you live you will also need to make sure your pond is of adequate depth. If winters get below freezing you will need to make sure that a good portion of your pond is a minimum of three feet deep.

To build the small Koi pond in your garden you will need a liner or preformed tub. After digging the hole, you can put the tub in  and fill the dirt around it. This is the easiest way to prepare a Koi pond. But, if  you are using a liner  you must be cautious. Some rubber liners can be dangerous for fish.

The last, but most important component of your pond is your fish! You can have just Koi fish, or even a mix of gold fish and Koi. It is very enjoyable deciding on which colors and types to select and in just a short time they will become beloved pets!

Now your striking Koi pond is ready. If you would like to make it even more beautiful you could place a small wooden bridge over it. This will offer an arresting look to your garden. You will surely be enchanted by the beauty and tranquility of your small Koi pond!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Koi are by nature very curious and each has a unique personality. Koi pond plants might become food, provide entertainment or even be ignored. Unfortunately there is no way to predict how your particular fish will react.

Koi & Pond Plants

In general it works out better to introduce your Koi into a planted pond than to introduce a Koi pond plant into an established Koi pond. Koi are curious fish and will go over to investigate the new addition. Then, if one begins to nibble on the plant they will all nibble on the plant as they learn from each other.

However, if you put a few new Koi into an already planted pond chances are that they’ll probably leave the plants alone. Exploring a new environment and finding new things to do can occupy them, thus providing a bit of protection for the plants.

Koi pond plants that have recently been potted do not have well developed root systems to help hold the soil in the pot and the plant in the soil. If your Koi can find any way to get to the soil they will uproot your plant. Rooting is an instinctive behavior for members of the carp family.

One way to keep them out of the soil is to place rocks on top of the dirt. Of course this only works when the rocks are larger than the Koi’s mouth and it won’t prevent them from pushing the rocks out of the pot.

To prevent that from happening you can plant in a pot that is two or more times deeper than the dirt. If the Koi want to get at the dirt they’ll have to stand on their head which is quite uncomfortable for them. Even so, you still need to place the rocks over the soil.

Another option for protecting roots is to grow your Koi pond plants without soil. You can plant them in plastic net baskets with golf-ball size lava rocks. The fish aren’t interested in the rough textured rock, your plants will get their nutrients from the water and the spaces in the rocks allow bacteria to grow. This method will both help keep the Koi away from the roots and help keep your pond water clear.

Leaves are considered a delicacy by bored or hungry Koi fish. There are a couple of ways to handle this problem. You can make sure your Koi are well fed and offered a variety of foods, including fresh and / or rotate pots in and out of the pond. Pots sitting out of the pond give plants a chance to recover while the pots in the pond are available as a tasty snack! Watercress and water celery are particularly good for this.

Keep the plants that you most want to protect in shallower water and at the edges of your pond to make them harder for your Koi to reach. They aren’t averse to coming up out of the water a little ways to get to a delicious meal!

The addition of fast multiplying duckweed or mosquito fern to the pond offer a nice alternative to your more prized Koi pond plants.

As your Koi get larger you might need to separate your plants from your fish. Often barriers can work well. Most of these include netting with holes just large enough for Koi fry and water currents to pass through. Your success rate with netting can vary as the fish can learn to wiggle over the floating nets. If one does it the others
wil surely follow since Koi are quick learners. However you could get lucky and they may not figure it out.

Koi pond plants

Some Koi enthusiasts build cages from wire around their plants and this can work well as long as you are certain that there are no sharp edges for your fish to get scratched on. Opportunistic diseases can take over if an open sore or scratch is available to fester in.

A last thing to keep in mind is that many Koi ailments are treated with salt and some Koi keepers keep a minimum salt level in their ponds. This is probably okay as long as it is a very low level. A pound of salt per 100 gallons of water will kill all of the submerged plants.

If you have a sick fish and want to medically treat i with salt you will need a higher concentration and should remove it to a seperate tank for treatment purposes.

If you are careful and do some planning you should have very little trouble with Koi pond plants.

To learn more about how to take care of Koi pond plants visit KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

With that in mind let’s get down to the basics!

The first thing you need to do is to determine the sex of your Koi. This is impossible to do until the fish becomes sexually mature which usually hapens when it gets to 10 inches or longer. Even sexually mature fish can be tricky to sex but in general a male Koi will be less plump than a female Koi because a mature female has filled ovaries that expand her body.

The sexually mature male Koi typically looks more slim and streamlined and often has larger and somewhat more pointed pectoral fins than the female. There are some exceptions to these general rules and it is possible to have a scrawny female or fat male Koi fish.

When Koi breeding season begins the male Koi will develop two white spots on his head and on the first rays of his pectoral fins. The breeding tubercles will look like small white elevated spots and can be hard to recognize. The Koi breeder sometimes becomes alarmed and treats their fish for itch when they notice the small white spots, but with practice soon learns to recognize them.

Koi breeding can produce an endless variety of colors and patterns!

If you keep a lot of Koi together a so-called flock spawning will occur. A flock spawning will give you an abundance of healthy offspring but breeders try to avoid them because these fish often display less desirable colorations.

Thus, during professional Koi breeding, the fish keeper will select desirable parent fish and place them in their own pond. You will need one female and two to three males for a successful Koi breeding.

If you don’t want to dig a new pond especially for Koi breeding you can use a children’s swimming pool. To increase the chances of spawning you can change the water frequently and lower the water temperature somewhat.

Adult Koi eat live foods such as worms and flies and parents won’t hesitate to eat eggs as well as free swimming offspring in their own pond! During professional Koi breeding when a large survival rate is important the eggs are best placed in their own ponds.

Collecting the eggs will be difficult if you let your fish deposit eggs all over the pond. Most breeders therefore use spawning mops. A spawning mop can be made from frayed nylon ropes or pieces of cotton string that are placed on the surface of the pond.

The breeding fish see the mops as floating plants and will most likely choose them as a breeding site.

During the Koi breeding you will eventually notice that the males are chasing the female. This behavior usually goes on for several days before any eggs are released.

When the females deposit their eggs at the spawning mop the males will immediately go over and fertilize them. The spawning mops can then be removed and placed in a fry raising pond.

As you can see, though it takes some preparation and attention it is not all that difficult to perform a successful Koi breeding.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com