Koi Fish Food
Fish like any animal require food to live, grow and prosper. Ensuring your Koi Fish receive the best food you need to know more about what you are feeding your Koi fish.
Here is some information that might help you choose the best Koi food for your Koi fish.
If at all possible you should try to stick to as close as possible to what koi fish normally eats in their natural environment.
Koi fish are veracious eaters; they will consume almost anything that is available. Therefore it is important that you monitor what they eat to ensure that they remain healthy.
You can choose between feeding them live insects or commercially available koi fish food, or you can give them a combination of both. In addition to their normal food you can supplement their diet with occasional treats such as fresh foods and nutritional supplements.
Koi fish are omnivores, that means that they can and will consume both animal mater and plants. However, they have a preference for larvae and aquatic insects.
Some people opt not to have plants in their Koi aquariums because Koi fish will devour anything that is edible insight. But you as the Koi fish owner must ensure that your Koi fish get a balance of plant and Koi fish food.
The most convenient Koi fish food is a manufactured dried food made especially for Koi. There are different forms such as pellets, granules, chunks, tablets and flakes. All of these food are easy to store, and are convenient use, price wise they are relatively inexpensive.
When considering what type of Koi fish food you will need to take into consideration how old and what size your fish are, at what stage of development they are and even what time of the year it is. Summer you will feed a higher concentration of protein, because their energy levels are higher and their bodies demand a higher protein to maintain their energy levels. Winter months they are less active therefore they need a food that contains less protein.
Taking in to consideration the size of your fish you will obviously use smaller pellets for smaller fish, and larger ones for the larger fish. Some people believe that certain foods will enhance the colors of their fish. This works in theory but remember that the red color patterns are genetically embedded, and will not be greatly enhanced by extra supplementation.
Supplementation can also improve the overall health and boost the immune systems of your Koi. A warning must be given like any animal too much can also prove toxic so watch what you give your Koi fish. Some Koi fish foods already contain some supplementation so read labels and check ingredients to ensure that you are not overdosing your fish, which can be harmful and even toxic to them.
Apart from Commercially manufactured foods you can balance your Koi fish food with fresh food such as lettuce, your Koi fish will relish fresh lettuce as a treat, shred the leaves and let it float in the pond or aquarium. Romaine and leaf lettuce are the best to use. Another food Koi fish are fond of is oranges. High in Vitamin C and a powerful antioxidant. Cut into segment leaving rind intact, place in the pond.
Prawns are a favorite of Koi fish, high in protein and excellent for summer months when your Koi fish need more protein.
Insects and larvae will always be welcomed. Mealworms, bloodworms, blackworms, waxworms tubifex worms and soft-shelled crickets are usually firm favorites for your Koi fish.
Vigilance and regular checking on your fish you will be able to monitor their progress, health and well being.
