A question about nutrition and winter?!?!

[Brutuscz]

I recently got my hands on an older article written by Kaz Takeda. One recomendation he made was very new to me. He wrote that in places with very harsh winters (Like New england..where I am located) We should feed Trout chow for one month over the summer. He discusses that the high fat content in trout chow will better allow koi to survive the winter. Has anyone here heard or tried this? It sounds like a good way to fatten them up for the cold.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brutuscz I recently got my hands on an older article written by Kaz Takeda. One recomendation he made was very new to me. He wrote that in places with very harsh winters (Like New england..where I am located) We should feed Trout chow for one month over the summer. He discusses that the high fat content in trout chow will better allow koi to survive the winter. Has anyone here heard or tried this? It sounds like a good way to fatten them up for the cold.

Kinda out dated article. Trout chow was found to cause alot of tumors in koi in the early 70's. I would slowly get the fish from high protein to low protein in the coming months.

[johnsmith]

Yep, old school. If you bring your koi down to the survival challenge associated with very cold water and stasis, you need to know that glycogen needs to be stored and plentiful in the organs, the brain and the muscles. These reserves will be the only thing that sustains a koi through that trial. It is the fuel for operating a metablism in this state and 'regular food' won't do it! It needs to already be in the storage phase.

This is why Koz and many of the old timers tried to pack it on while the fish are active in late summer. There is a logic to it, but we now realize that if a koi is given free access to protein and lipids the season before, it will do a fine job of storing what it is it needs and that a excess lipids or protein is not the answer and in fact can be counter productive in terms of long term health. Besides, modern koi keepers tend to avoid 'survival ranges' in favor of optimal ranges and few higher value koi are asked to make it through a 35 F 16 week winter any more.

JR

[dick benbow]

that's the beauty of printed information, It can lay "dormant" for decades only to emerge as "fresh" information. We've learned a lot since then ( thank God!) and no longer need to return to the horse and buggy days.....I do commend the author of this thread for reading, studying trying to understand.This gives you a better learning perspective to understand what has gone on before this point. And it's good to have some seasoned olde koi keepers around to keep things in perspective (like JR and others) to be able to get a perspective.

Today's modern feed has protein percentage printed on the label with an ingredients list to follow. Just like the food we buy for ourselves. So you can purchase higher protein food (many use silkworm pupae mixes when their pond range is heated (artifically or naturally ) to high enough range to create the metabolism for the fish to be able to sucessfully consume ( and use) what you've given them.

Also the ability to control the heat of the pond in the severest winters is a definite elective in today's koi keeping.

Not only do serious koi keepers of show koi have control of the amount and % of feed but also the temperature and frequency at which it is given.

It has been fun watching the excited koi purchases, show result news, and evolvement of the author as a true koi-kracy for which I can only say
you get an "atta-boy"!

[Russell Peters]

It is a shame that a lot of this old information still exists for newbies to find because most people don't know to ask before they do. It is good you came to the board because trout chow will definitely be harmful to your Koi. Hopefully more and more people will learn to ask first.

[Brutuscz]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow that's the beauty of printed information, It can lay "dormant" for decades only to emerge as "fresh" information. We've learned a lot since then ( thank God!) and no longer need to return to the horse and buggy days.....I do commend the author of this thread for reading, studying trying to understand.This gives you a better learning perspective to understand what has gone on before this point. And it's good to have some seasoned olde koi keepers around to keep things in perspective (like JR and others) to be able to get a perspective. Today's modern feed has protein percentage printed on the label with an ingredients list to follow. Just like the food we buy for ourselves. So you can purchase higher protein food (many use silkworm pupae mixes when their pond range is heated (artifically or naturally ) to high enough range to create the metabolism for the fish to be able to sucessfully consume ( and use) what you've given them. Also the ability to control the heat of the pond in the severest winters is a definite elective in today's koi keeping. Not only do serious koi keepers of show koi have control of the amount and % of feed but also the temperature and frequency at which it is given. It has been fun watching the excited koi purchases, show result news, and evolvement of the author as a true koi-kracy for which I can only say you get an "atta-boy"!

LOL..Thanks Dick. With all my stupid errors..I now check here first, before doing anything. My last dumb move was the supaverm fiasco that cost me 5 fish. A friend gave me these old articles...some were good...and some seemed a little strange (like this one). Thanks to everyone for the advice....I'll leave the trout chow to the trout farmers!!!