Koi Fish Food

Because kois are omnivorous eaters, they can eat any available plant or animal. However, there are certain foods that they need to have as well as avoid if they are to grow and spawn well.

Feeding basics. Kois can be fed a mixture of fish meal and fresh food for variety in their nourishment as well as for their nutrient requirements. Feeding time should not exceed five minutes to prevent your fish from overeating, especially as kois do not have stomachs.

You must also keep in mind the type of koi, its color, growth rate and size when choosing what food to give them. Additionally, consider the season or time of year in defining their diet as a cooler or warmer temperature impacts directly on their metabolism.

There are two types of food for kois—the sinking and the floating kind. Sinking foods are most-suited to the bottom-feeding koi. Your viewing pleasure is enhanced though with floating food as the koi come to the surface to feed. It also alerts you to leftover or uneaten food which can be skimmed off immediately after feeding to keep pond waters pristine.

Although color is determined by genetics, there's a growing trend among koi breeders to feed their fish to enhance their hues. Carotene is used to achieve a striking red, although too much of it can turn white pigments to pink. Spirulina platensis, a type of algae, is preferred by some because it brightens up the koi's red hues while preserving their white coloring.

A healthy fish, however, means more vivid colors and the right nutrients at the right time are the better option.

Nutritional requirements. The type and amount of nourishment that you will give your kois will depend largely on their size. However, food should be small enough for the smallest fish in the pond to latch on to. Whatever their bulk or dimensions, the nutritional requirements of pet kois remain the same though.

Proteins are the most essential nutrient in koi diets because of the amino acids, which are important for growth, tissue repair, and egg/sperm production. Lowered levels of protein for long periods of time will retard koi growth and cause spinal deformities. Krill, prawns and shrimp are protein-rich treats; krills can enhance the red color in kois because of its carotenoid content. Other protein-rich foods that kois prefer include water-borne insects and larvae, like mosquito larva. Worms are also special treats for kois, especially earthworms.

Kois need to have fats and carbohydrates, too, for their energy requirements. Fatty acids are vital for healthy cells; without it, kois can suffer from fin erosion as well as heart and liver problems. Excess fats in the liver as well as stale food can cause death and disease. Also, the conversion of food into energy is slower with carbohydrates, and too much of these can lead to heart failure and liver deterioration.

Vitamins and minerals are also necessary in koi metabolism and reproduction. However, most proprietary koi food—which are manufactured in the form of pellets, granules, tablets, chunks and flakes—includes these in their formulations and in the appropriate balance.

Kois are what they eat and as a serious koi enthusiast, it pays well to be mindful not only of the integrity of their swimming grounds but also of the substance of their diets.