Food Recommendation

[FastEd]

What have you guys found to be the best all round food for new KOI.

[KoiCCAPW]

What do you mean by 'new' koi? Young koi or new additions?

I've really liked OSI koi food this last year. The fish like it seems to leave the water pretty clean.

[moikoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCCAPW What do you mean by 'new' koi? Young koi or new additions? I've really liked OSI koi food this last year. The fish like it seems to leave the water pretty clean.

OSI 168 or 188? i fed them 168 last summer. thinking about trying a different brand.

[HEADACHE6]

I see a lot of people say about food "I like brand X because my Koi like it " . Kids would eat Candy all day if you let them , They Like it . But that doesn't mean it's good for them . I can't say I can tell a difference from one food to the next as far as what my koi "Like" . They like it all .

So besides "Koi likes it" , what other things do you look for when you feed your Koi (solids in SC , etc.) ?

I agree with Mike on the sinking pellets , the Koi search for some time after feeding them .

[FastEd]

What i meant by "new" was young KOI. I want a food that would bring out there colors as well as make them grow faster.

[Auntiesue]

Grow faster? Bring out the colors? Both can be achieved with good water quality and BIG WATER. Fish grown too fast can really distroy color and body conformation. Color being brought up with color enhancing foods will cause the whites to go down and the color, once peaked, to break up too fast. You really don't want to speed this process up. Nuture the genetics of the fish with good water and a good quality food. The rest will follow.

Nothing about this hobby can be rushed.....if I've learned anything over the years, it's that patience is truely a necessity in this hobby.

[Lam Nguyen]

Hi FastEd, I am new to the hobby and very interested in finding a staple koi food for my koi as well. In fact, I am devoting this summer to learning more about koi diet and the koi food that are available. I feel that the type of food that you choose should depend on where you are at in the hobby and where you want to be. For me, I have narrowed my pellet choices down to three: (1) Dainichi, (2) Saki-hikari, and (3) EA.

I am currently feeding my koi Dainichi growth (med pellet size) about twice daily as well as a serving of Izeki paste food for dinner (my koi just rips through the Izeki paste and I use it as more of a treat than a staple food). I also throw them a slice of watermelon or leaf of lettuce about every other day. I just ordered a 33# bag of Saki-hikari Growth, so I will be switching over to that once the Dainichi pellets are gone. EA is still pretty new so I will wait to hear from what others have to say.

Koi food has been discussed in several posts in the past, so I don't know if you have done it or not, but I would try using the search engine. Also, I learned a lot from Koi Coach Dick Benbow so hopefully he will visit and contribute to this thread. Also, if I am correct, JR is promoting the EA food, so hopefully he will contribute as well. Hope this helps and welcome to Koi-Bito.

[aquitori]

The other day I bought another bag of Sweet Potato (L) $78, at the rate my fish are eatting this will last 4 weeks.

I guess the way to figure out what food is best for your fish is:
1.waste
2.overall look and condition
3.cost

I dont mind the cost as long as my fish show and look healthy.

[Auntiesue]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori The other day I bought another bag of Sweet Potato (L) $78, at the rate my fish are eatting this will last 4 weeks. I guess the way to figure out what food is best for your fish is: 1.waste 2.overall look and condition 3.cost I dont mind the cost as long as my fish show and look healthy.

How are you liking that SP so far? I've been feeding it for some time and really like how it brings up the whites and the luster of the fish. I'm wondering if you are seeing the same thing....or is it too early yet for comments?

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Auntiesue How are you liking that SP so far? I've been feeding it for some time and really like how it brings up the whites and the luster of the fish. I'm wondering if you are seeing the same thing....or is it too early yet for comments?

I have been using the food for about 4 years now, I love the fact that even after the fish have become use to the food there is still very little waste. I got quite a few hobbyist here in NorCal using the stuff, I guess the complaint is the price and where to buy it. Right now JNorth has a fish with me that I am conditioning and I have to say it is looking better and better each week on this food, hopefully it should be ready for our club show in Sept..

Tony