Koi Winter Fasting Limits

[Seefdro Tvneik]

Smart koi people.....Can you please tell me what Winter fasting limits usally are for larger koi. This will be a long winter for my koi.

Since this will be a longer than unusual amount of time for feeding I was wondering how it effects koi stored energy? Is there a chance for starvation if pond temps won't go within a safe feeding temperture range by a certain point? I don't think fasting effects the smaller koi as I believe the little ones can survive off algae growing on the pond walls. My concern is for the larger koi.


I don't think algae alone could support the larger koi "survival" needs. Especially if your maxing out on the amount of koi in your pond system.

I know the best option would allow for a heated pond to control feedinig periods, but I have not been able to fit that into my budget. Perhaps this year?

Any thoughts koi people?

[PapaBear]

I think you may have your reasoning on this running in the wrong direction.
Assuming they are healthy and well fed, mature Koi go into winter with substantial fat reserves to supply their minimal energy needs and their metabolism is slower, oriented more toward maintenance than growth.

Juveniles on the other hand have minimal fat reserves due to smaller body size and a metabolism oriented toward rapid growth, which burns calories much faster.

[KoiCop]

I agree, Larry: The young koi will die first.

And if the winter is too long, reserves will run out on the big girls, too.

[Seefdro Tvneik]

Still not sure what too long would be? We had some early cold and I don't think I have fed the gang since first or second week of November. The weather forecast for metro-Detroit calls for cold weather another two weeks?

So that means almost no food for 6 months......Except for pond algae.....I know Larry mentioned my logic is reverse. But I think with smaller koi algae could supplement its energy needs better compared to larger koi. A larger koi who would require more algae fuel to maintain safe late winter/early spring health. I have always understood that larger koi have the extra fat reserves, but I think the little koi have one advantage based on algae keeping them going longer in early spring. Less requirements mean less fuel to keep the koi body going.

Yes, I have experienced this before and have seen some koi really struggle towards the end of winter.....

This is one reason I don't like to add large koi to my pond...The reason being if they have spent 2 to 3 years in a warm climate and then I put them in my Michigan pond I fear for their winter tolerance........Although it seems the most important factor is ALWAYS genes.....

[KoiCop]

Originally Posted by Seefdro Tvneik

Still not sure what too long would be?

I think there are too many factors influencing the results (such as Winter's severity, the amount of rain and snowfall, the koi's size, health and stored energy reserves going into winter, the pond's size, type, depth and water quality, water changes and provisions for sufficient off-gassing, etc.) to promulgate hard and fast rules about the length of Winter and its effect on koi.

I'm guessing that's why no one's taken a shot at answering your question?

But just for giggles, let's put some numbers up and let the big guns in the hobby blast away.

Assuming (dangerous, I know) that all the above variables have been maximized in the koi's favor, they should come out:

8-12 weeks under the ice -- Good shape
12-16 weeks under the ice -- Fair shape
16 weeks or more -- Poor shape

[PapaBear]

I think you are probably on the right track Don, assuming that the assumptions don't make ass's of us all that is

I remember having a similar discussion last year (or maybe the year prior) when talking about winter feeding. What it basically came down to regarding algae grazing was that they derive roughly the same amount of energy from it that it takes to move it though their gut. The colder the water the less they eat AND the less it is digested, even though it spends up to 4 days in the gut. The digestive enzymes are simply running at 1 or 2% efficiency on a food low in nutrient value in the first place.
I know in our own experience and from comparing notes with others that the algae feces come out looking like tiny little round bales of green hay. Still very green and fibrous, which is a clear indication that while it may fill the gut, no real digestion for extracting nutrition takes place.
(yeah, I know.... Ace Ventura, Turd Inspector)