Hi Donald
I come from Malaysia which is in the equatorial region. We have hot weather year in and year out (and thunderstorms as well) and our water temperature is fairly constant at 28 degC. With this temperature we are able to feed our kois very aggressively within the constraints of our filter system.
Cute maids? I only find them cute if they have good white, hi or sumi!!!
My maid is only allowed to feed my kois and only very, very occasionally (when I am lazy) she is allowed to clean my filter.