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Feeding Koi
Hi again,
2nd question.... I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? Nasa |
Feeding Koi
"Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... snip I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? snip Last year, I bought a box of Koi sticks and tossed some in now and then when friends and family wanted to see the fish. Other then that, we never feed them. This year they got the end of that original box, until the dog got her head stuck in it, and decided to eat the rest of it. Anyway, we haven't fed them since April'ish and they continue to grow and be healthy. My 2. BV. |
Feeding Koi
"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message
... "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... snip I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? snip Last year, I bought a box of Koi sticks and tossed some in now and then when friends and family wanted to see the fish. Other then that, we never feed them. This year they got the end of that original box, until the dog got her head stuck in it, and decided to eat the rest of it. Anyway, we haven't fed them since April'ish and they continue to grow and be healthy. My 2. BV. Likewise. I rarely feed the fish, and then only for my own amusement. A 6" koi that I put in the pond in January was 14" in June when the water got so clear it couldn't hide anymore. We did have a constant crop of toad tadpoles sharing the pea soup, so there was plenty of meat and greens available. OTOH, if you have an ultra-clear, ultra-filtered, ultra-sterile pond with no plants and UV killing the algae, you probably need to feed. |
Feeding Koi
"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message
... "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... snip I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? snip Last year, I bought a box of Koi sticks and tossed some in now and then when friends and family wanted to see the fish. Other then that, we never feed them. This year they got the end of that original box, until the dog got her head stuck in it, and decided to eat the rest of it. Anyway, we haven't fed them since April'ish and they continue to grow and be healthy. My 2. BV. Likewise. I rarely feed the fish, and then only for my own amusement. A 6" koi that I put in the pond in January was 14" in June when the water got so clear it couldn't hide anymore. We did have a constant crop of toad tadpoles sharing the pea soup, so there was plenty of meat and greens available. OTOH, if you have an ultra-clear, ultra-filtered, ultra-sterile pond with no plants and UV killing the algae, you probably need to feed. |
Feeding Koi
Size and number of fish are controlling factors here. A small number of
fish, or small fish, will find plenty of good bugs in the algae sweater of the pond, snails, veggies, and the like. As you get more fish, and larger fish, the pond gets smaller and the availability of the natural goodies is not enough to go around and then the fish need to be fed supplemental foods. I feed mine 3 or 4 times a day during the heat of the summer, and since I heat to about 70 degrees all winter, I feed twice a day during the winter. I have in my larger pond around 25 fish at any given time with an average length of about 24 inches and a total weight of fish approaching 250 to 300 pounds. They would not survive without supplemental feeding. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... Hi again, 2nd question.... I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? Nasa |
Feeding Koi
I am going to feed mine the Mosquitoes from the mosquito magnet.
"RichToyBox" wrote in message news:XTzNc.173246$IQ4.91104@attbi_s02... Size and number of fish are controlling factors here. A small number of fish, or small fish, will find plenty of good bugs in the algae sweater of the pond, snails, veggies, and the like. As you get more fish, and larger fish, the pond gets smaller and the availability of the natural goodies is not enough to go around and then the fish need to be fed supplemental foods. I feed mine 3 or 4 times a day during the heat of the summer, and since I heat to about 70 degrees all winter, I feed twice a day during the winter. I have in my larger pond around 25 fish at any given time with an average length of about 24 inches and a total weight of fish approaching 250 to 300 pounds. They would not survive without supplemental feeding. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... Hi again, 2nd question.... I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? Nasa |
Feeding Koi
We have nine koi and perhaps 6 goldfish. They would not make it without
food. They are thriving now at 20+ inches and 6 years. We use catfish/trout food for them...they are carp, after all. Some knock the food, but it is very cheap ($11/50# bag) and nutritious. Our game biologist sees no problem with it. We just can't see feeding $3.95 koi food that costs more per month than they did! Some have suggested that the catfish food was for early growth and would shorten their life by as much as 20%. On a lifespan of 50-200 years, that is not too big a deal...especially since I am almost 60...(ummmm make that 39 and holding). The archives will have a lot of info for you about koi food. Whatever you do, enjoy them. Site below shows you them a year and two ago. Jim -- ____________________________________________ See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... Hi again, 2nd question.... I would like the groups thoughts on feeding koi. It seems there are many ideas about it. I have read on the "web of misinformation" that people have successfully kept koi (and goldfish) in outdoor ponds -- and never feed them, leaving them to mother nature. I have had salesmen totally freak at the idea of not feeding goldfish -- which most websites say can (and some say should) be done. I have read that koi need to be feed from multiple times a day to not at all -- depending on the water tempature. So what does the group think? Nasa |
Feeding Koi
"Benign Vanilla" wrote in message ... Last year, I bought a box of Koi sticks and tossed some in now and then when friends and family wanted to see the fish. Other then that, we never feed them. This year they got the end of that original box, until the dog got her head stuck in it, and decided to eat the rest of it. Anyway, we haven't fed them since April'ish and they continue to grow and be healthy. ============================= But how large is your pond and how many koi are in it? A few koi in a large pond is one thing - a smaller pond with a lot of fish is quite another. -- Carol.... "I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes." ~~~~~~{@ "They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same." http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Feeding Koi
On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 21:34:47 +0000, RichToyBox wrote:
Size and number of fish are controlling factors here. A small number of fish, or small fish, will find plenty of good bugs in the algae sweater of the pond, snails, veggies, and the like. As you get more fish, and larger fish, the pond gets smaller and the availability of the natural goodies is not enough to go around and then the fish need to be fed supplemental foods. I feed mine 3 or 4 times a day during the heat of the summer, and since I heat to about 70 degrees all winter, I feed twice a day during the winter. I have in my larger pond around 25 fish at any given time with an average length of about 24 inches and a total weight of fish approaching 250 to 300 pounds. They would not survive without supplemental feeding. Ok, This all makes sense -- However, how do you know when the fish can survive on just the pond and when they need to be feed. My pond for example has 7 goldfish, 2 Koi, a couple mosquito eaters, and 6 guppies. My pond is somewhere between 700 - 900 Gallons. It has a water lilly, anachris, and hyacinth. And all the fish are under 5". Nasa |
Feeding Koi
I think a good indicator would be when all the anacharis is gone. Of course
koi love anacharis and that might not be very long. Koi are omnivores and love good veggies, probably more so than goldfish. If they are being under fed, they should stop growing and start to look emaciated. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 21:34:47 +0000, RichToyBox wrote: Size and number of fish are controlling factors here. A small number of fish, or small fish, will find plenty of good bugs in the algae sweater of the pond, snails, veggies, and the like. As you get more fish, and larger fish, the pond gets smaller and the availability of the natural goodies is not enough to go around and then the fish need to be fed supplemental foods. I feed mine 3 or 4 times a day during the heat of the summer, and since I heat to about 70 degrees all winter, I feed twice a day during the winter. I have in my larger pond around 25 fish at any given time with an average length of about 24 inches and a total weight of fish approaching 250 to 300 pounds. They would not survive without supplemental feeding. Ok, This all makes sense -- However, how do you know when the fish can survive on just the pond and when they need to be feed. My pond for example has 7 goldfish, 2 Koi, a couple mosquito eaters, and 6 guppies. My pond is somewhere between 700 - 900 Gallons. It has a water lilly, anachris, and hyacinth. And all the fish are under 5". Nasa |
Feeding Koi
I think a good indicator would be when all the anacharis is gone. Of course
koi love anacharis and that might not be very long. Koi are omnivores and love good veggies, probably more so than goldfish. If they are being under fed, they should stop growing and start to look emaciated. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "Nathan A. Smith" wrote in message ... On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 21:34:47 +0000, RichToyBox wrote: Size and number of fish are controlling factors here. A small number of fish, or small fish, will find plenty of good bugs in the algae sweater of the pond, snails, veggies, and the like. As you get more fish, and larger fish, the pond gets smaller and the availability of the natural goodies is not enough to go around and then the fish need to be fed supplemental foods. I feed mine 3 or 4 times a day during the heat of the summer, and since I heat to about 70 degrees all winter, I feed twice a day during the winter. I have in my larger pond around 25 fish at any given time with an average length of about 24 inches and a total weight of fish approaching 250 to 300 pounds. They would not survive without supplemental feeding. Ok, This all makes sense -- However, how do you know when the fish can survive on just the pond and when they need to be feed. My pond for example has 7 goldfish, 2 Koi, a couple mosquito eaters, and 6 guppies. My pond is somewhere between 700 - 900 Gallons. It has a water lilly, anachris, and hyacinth. And all the fish are under 5". Nasa |
Feeding Koi
In this order, first the plants will disappear, then the guppies & mosquito
eaters. as soon as the koi are big enough to eat them... even though they normally would not eat them, but if they're hungry enough they will. Now you have 7 goldfish & 2 koi, this is assuming their immune systems are in really good shape, spawning will produce no babies as every egg and baby will be eaten. ~ jan On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 05:33:26 -0600, "Nathan A. Smith" wrote: Ok, This all makes sense -- However, how do you know when the fish can survive on just the pond and when they need to be feed. My pond for example has 7 goldfish, 2 Koi, a couple mosquito eaters, and 6 guppies. My pond is somewhere between 700 - 900 Gallons. It has a water lilly, anachris, and hyacinth. And all the fish are under 5". Nasa (Do you know where your water quality is?) |
Feeding Koi
In this order, first the plants will disappear, then the guppies & mosquito
eaters. as soon as the koi are big enough to eat them... even though they normally would not eat them, but if they're hungry enough they will. Now you have 7 goldfish & 2 koi, this is assuming their immune systems are in really good shape, spawning will produce no babies as every egg and baby will be eaten. ~ jan On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 05:33:26 -0600, "Nathan A. Smith" wrote: Ok, This all makes sense -- However, how do you know when the fish can survive on just the pond and when they need to be feed. My pond for example has 7 goldfish, 2 Koi, a couple mosquito eaters, and 6 guppies. My pond is somewhere between 700 - 900 Gallons. It has a water lilly, anachris, and hyacinth. And all the fish are under 5". Nasa (Do you know where your water quality is?) |
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