Koi Information » Feeding Koi

In addition to the peace and tranquility of Pond Keeping, spending time with your Koi can be equally rewarding. Koi are very sociable and love a crowd of friends. They are less apt to be shy when they are in a large group.

Your Koi will eat from your hand, provided you have the patience to earn their trust and friendship. Here are a few helpful hints:

• Feed them in the same place every time.
• Drop a small handful of pellets and stay there to observe.
• The bravest or hungriest will start to eat and the rest will follow.
• They must see you when they eat.
• Don't walk away from the pond before they start to eat.
• Withhold food for a day if they won't eat in front of you.

Gradually, the Koi will equate you with food. This usually takes about 3 to 5 days. Tease them closer with small sprinklings of food. Put your hands in the water while they eat. The Koi will learn that food comes from your hand. Start with just a few pellets.

The bravest Koi will soon be nudging your hand. It is only a matter of time and all of your fish will swimming, jumping and splashing toward you every time you walk by the pond.

A Koi's metabolism functions best at temperatures above 70° F. High protein foods are difficult to digest when the water falls below 65° F.

However, Koi still need sufficient carbohydrates for energy when water temperatures are low. This is particularly true for Koi less than 1 year old.

Squash, bread, peas, citrus fruits, and watermelon are good sources of carbohydrates. Never overfeed your fish! Koi do not have a stomach. Feed smaller quantities more frequently for better nutritional absorption.

Feed only as much as the fish will eat in about 3-5 minutes. Koi pellets should be fresh and used within three months to prevent oxidation of the food.