by Carolyn Weise, Ecological Labs, Inc.
When I started in this hobby, we opened our koi ponds by feeding them Honey Nut Cheerios. That was a long time ago! A lot has changed since then with the introduction of Spring foods containing less protein and more digestible vegetables. And now, I live in the semi-tropics of Florida instead of the freezing cold of New England. There is hardly any comparison other than the people and koi ponds. Now, we even have a temperature guide to help us figure out when to feed what to our wet pets. So, when the night-time water temperature is below 65˚F (as in fall) or the daytime temperature has reached 50˚F in spring and your fish are looking for food, the Cold Weather Food is the one to feed. It is not Cheerios. It has vitamins and other nutrients to start your fish out the right way.
Then, as the water warms up to 66˚F or above, it will be time to feed the higher protein foods to give your koi the best energy and growth during the summer season this year. If fed too early, they might not be able to take up the valuable nutrients and would likely discharge it as waste. The water in Southern Florida generally doesn’t get colder than 68˚F (in my pond), so these koi can be fed the same foods all year round. Koi are temperate zone fish and thrive in ideal temperatures of 65˚F – 75˚F, although they can “survive” in a wide range of temperatures (35˚F – 85˚F). Remember, when the summer is very hot, like Florida, and perhaps your pond is 80˚F, you should start feeding 1-2x/week instead of daily. If it ever reaches 90˚F, stop feeding and consider adding shade to the pond.
