Have You Started Yet?......

[adreamer2]

Has anyone started feeding their koi yet?....

I know I'm going to get flack for this, but I threw a very little bit of flakes on the pond today (near 60 degrees) just to see if any of my koi would come up....

i was troubled when I saw one of my larger koi, jump out of the water....

So, I wondered if any of them survived the winter....

and they were all there... I did not throw enough that it would become stuck in their gut, but just enough to tease them to the surface where I could determine if I needed to take any out....

My turtle seems happy.... and a large frog that morphed over the summer from a large tadpole seemed well.....


adreamer2

[B.Scott]

I feed all winter long except for a 7 week fast. I use a new range of frozen food that includes a sinking winter pellet good above 6°C ( about 43°F). Of course I never let my fish never get that cold but it works for me. Just little amount every few days.

As of yesterday I'm at 14.5°C with the covers still on the pond and have been feeding small amounts daily for about 3 weeks of the mid temperture pellet and will switch to the summer pellet as soon as the water stabilizes above 18°C.

B.Scott

[dick benbow]

As an outdoorsman and avid fisher of trout, I would often see them jump for the joy of living or while chasing an active insect...BUT I have never seen a koi jump for any reason other than something is bothering him ( or her )

Like Scott, I heat my koi and feed lightly all winter with a tiny break in between
to cause the ladies to reabsorb their eggs.

Now is an excellent time to catch a koi and do a scrape to see what parasites may be getting ready to go into production full time as outside temps get into the lower amnd mid 50's.

Ahhh....the time of spring when a young koi fancier's heart.....can panic when they find out things are not well from the winter's toll taken on their favorite wet pet! KHA drivers....start your engines.....

[D@z]

Quote: Originally Posted by adreamer2 Has anyone started feeding their koi yet?.... I know I'm going to get flack for this, but I threw a very little bit of flakes on the pond today (near 60 degrees) just to see if any of my koi would come up.... i was troubled when I saw one of my larger koi, jump out of the water.... So, I wondered if any of them survived the winter.... and they were all there... I did not throw enough that it would become stuck in their gut, but just enough to tease them to the surface where I could determine if I needed to take any out.... My turtle seems happy.... and a large frog that morphed over the summer from a large tadpole seemed well..... adreamer2

Im not sure where you got your information from but 60 F is the summer growing season for me. I live in the UK and dont heat, my water sees 3 or 4 C and my fish do just fine. I feed wheatgerm over around 45 F and always have without ever having a problem.

You shoud give your fish more credit, they wont take food if the temperature is too low for them to do so safely. Feed wheatgerm and if there is any left after 10 minutes fish it out. I can guarantee there wont be though if your water is 60 F.

[Russell Peters]

I feed once a day even at 50F. At 60F I am feeding two to three times a day.

I have never had problems with this regimen.

Below 50F I do not feed.

[adreamer2]

These guys are hardy... I mean really hardy.... they survived 3 partial drains.... One occurred just day before yesterday... down to about 1/4 of the pond... and they were fine.... I refilled the pond and they are happy....


These guys survived a complete freeze twice... and they made it!!!....

I don't see anything wrong with them.... Not even scratching on the rocks.... ((but, no concrete telling just yet))....

Temps today are in the low 40s (4.4 Cel).... and tomorrow the same... ((pond temps are 52 degs.... (11.11 Cel).... Todays temps are 61 degs ((16.11 Cel))....

I pretty much fear feeding them right now....

Wheat germ, huh?!!!.....

Someone else said that too.....

I'll go and get some...

sounds like a good idea to me, guys!!!.....

This is good advice!!! Thx!!!


adreamer2