Feeding Koi in the Fall and Winter
With a little bit of knowledge, understanding and a thermometer the stress of feeding outdoor koi is minimal.
When and what to feed outdoor koi is determined by water temperature. Koi grow and build up reserves for winter during warm temperatures.
During the summer months, koi need more protein because the bulk of their growth takes place at this time. They eat voraciously and can be a lot of fun to feed by hand since they are especially social creatures. In spring and fall, a seasonal feeding schedule needs to be followed which includes a lower protein diet and wheat germ.
When the cooler weather arrives and the water temperature drops to 70 degrees, it is time to start altering the routine. At that point, a wheat germ based food needs to mixed in with your summer koi food. Continue to monitor water temperature throughout the fall, and when the water temperature drops to 60 degrees, use the wheat germ based food only.
Koi fish metabolism slows when the water temperature reaches 55 degrees and their feeding needs significantly drop. At 50 degrees and below, stop feeding your koi until Spring. Sounds complicated? Keep the 70-60-50 rule in mind. At 70 degrees: low protein and wheat germ, 60 degrees: wheat germ only, 50 degrees: no food needed.
Keeping track of the weather during the temperature drop is helpful to determining when to stop feeding. If the weather will be changing in the days after the feeding, stop feeding them early. Koi can not digest food at low temperatures and undigested food will begin to decay causing illness.
A mild antibiotic added to the last feedings of winter will help keep the fish hearty during the cold months when the bacteria are low and the water's balance is not regulated as well.
If this all sounds a bit high maintenance, automatic koi feeders will do the work for you. While they won't load themselves with the seasonal food needed, they will dispense the food you load into them at specific times and intervals.
Research shows that it is better to feed koi small meals several times a day rather than distributing one large feeding. An automatic koi feeder also insures that the food is not wasted and the fish are not overeating.
Automatic koi feeders range from under 50 dollars to over 200 dollars. Some are a bit unattractive and detract from the beauty you value while others are beautiful pagodas that enhance the Japanese feel of a lovely koi pond. Either way, a vacation is much more enjoyable when the worry of your fish being belly up when you arrive home is eliminated.
Once spring arrives, reverse the process and begin including wheat germ and low protein foods until the temperatures rise. Your koi will become energetic and ready to entertain and calm you for another season.