Why Feed quality Koi Food

Feeding your Koi quality Foods and why

Japanese koi are the most colorful and magnificent fish that you can keep in any fresh water environment and there are many factors involved in raising these magnificent koi.

Many koi keepers have done all the right things in creating a koi pond large enough, with plenty of water movement and filtration to keep and grow large koi. They may buy quality Japanese koi that started out looking great, but as time goes by may loose koi to disease or have the colors seem to wash out. Many koi keepers overlook the importance of using a premium koi food that meets all the nutritional needs of their koi. It's like humans eating a diet of junk food and expecting to be trim and healthy and live a long life. 

Probiotic The Hikari Germ Process

The scientifically developed Saki-Hikari diets utilize the finest quality ingredients that can be found, including a patented, living probiotic. A merging of world-class technology, nutritional balance and patented ingredients allows Hikari to bring you this revolutionary diet. "Hikari Germ" is a strain of Bacillus bacteria which, when fed, proliferates itself inside the intestine of the koi offering many incredible benefits.

 

High Protein

The metabolism of koi reaches a peak at water temperatures of 75° F. During this time it is essential that they receive a high protein diet to aid in growth and color. They also need to be fed at least twice a day, three times is better. Koi do not have stomachs, and when their metabolism is high they forage constantly. Fish meal and krill for color are protein ingredients to look for in a high quality koi food 

Different Foods for the Seasons 

During the cooler seasons of spring and Autumn it is best to feed a food that is higher in vegetable matter, lower in protein, and easy to digest (Wheatgerm based foods). In the summer months, when the water temperature is above 70° F switch to a higher protein formula. When the water temperature is above 70° F it takes about 16 hours for the food to move completely through a koi digestive tract. At 50° F it can take up to 60 hours and food intake is much less. 

Only feed the koi as much as they will eat within a few minutes. It is much better to feed 3 times a day in the summer months. At 50° - 55° feed 2 - 3 times a week. When the water temperature goes below 50° F do not feed the koi at all. If the food is not digested due to the low metabolism it can rot in the gut of the koi and cause death.

Cost Versus Quality 

If you consider the cost of a high quality food versus the "cheap" foods, there is not that much difference. Keeping healthy koi using a high quality food means fewer outbreaks of disease and lower mortality rates. You are not spending money replacing koi or treating for disease with medications due to poor health because of a poor diet. You also have to go by weight and not just the physical size of the bag. Cheaper foods tend to be more airy while the premium foods tend to be more dense, so it looks like you are getting more food than you actually are with the cheap food. Many times, if compared by weight, the price is pretty close. In the long run it may actually be cheaper to buy the premium food. You will definitely notice the difference in the color, growth, and overall health of the koi over just a short time.

Whatever grade of Koi you have always make sure you feed the best koi food that you can afford and like us humans add variety to keep your Koi healthy and happy.

 

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Happy Koi Keeping  

Holiday Aquatics

www.holidayaquatics.com