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Old 28-10-2011, 12:10 PM posted to rec.ponds.moderated
~ jan[_3_] ~ jan[_3_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Apr 2007
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Default Anyone Feed Cheerios?

On Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:14:47 EDT, JB wrote:

On 10/18/2011 9:36 AM, Phyllis and Jim wrote:
As I remember, the food goes through the koi quickly. I would guess
most anything would work in the short run...even nothing as they will
eat algae. Another order for a small time could certainly end up
wasting food.

Around here we have fed our koi catfish/trout food for about 15
years. They are doing well and growing. I recognize that folk differ
A LOT about the OK-ness of doing that. Years ago it was pointed out
to me that catfish food could cut their lifespan by 20% as they could
get fatty livers. Our koi are the inexpensive kind (Pet Smart, Wal-
Mart and donations from friends). I am scot enough that I hate to
spend a ton of money for 10 fish worth $4 each. Catfish food has gone
from $11 per 50# sack to $13 per 50# sack. A sack lasts a season more
or less. The koi can last 100 years! 20% would still put their life
spans way beyond ours (Phyllis and I are 66).


The only thing is.... as a koi gets bigger it becomes worth more.... so...
a lot also depends on how big the pond is, does it have vegetation for them
to feed on, that will cover the lack of best nutrition in a less costly
food. Because of their size many of my BF koi are worth 10 times what I
paid for them if I were to see a similar koi at a dealer. Thus the need to
keep them as healthy as possible.

Yes, you're right. We've had long debates about which food is best. I
can't argue with your logic. ~jan feeds Show Koi, as do I. She's had
fish eaten by a heron; I've seen the videos. How do you factor that into
your computations about food costs and fish longevity?!


LOL! I think when a raccoon or heron takes a fish, one would be glad they
fed them cheap. The raccoons took one that still makes me sick today to
think about, the heron took one with koi pox, and I wasn't quite as
attached to it for that reason.

Got the season's first freeze warning tonight. Fish are going to slow
way down from this point forward.


I continued to feed the Sho Koi up until last weekend when I covered the
ponds. Just in time too as we had our first frost this week. The by-pass DS
did for me is working great, still have the high-volume pump on and will
probably go to slow flow this coming weekend. I am hoping to get the
pre-filter cleaned this weekend and then I can rest pond wise. Oh wait...
the lily pond needs it's filter cleaned out.... s

Bonsai need to be dug in and winter fertilizer put on the lawn... most
likely next weekend, then is will be raking leaves and using the mower as
needed/weather permitting. ~ jan
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Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us