What Do Koi Fish Eat?
So you’ve constructed a beautiful outdoor koi pond, planted aquatic plants and have chosen your favorite koi breeds.
Your koi pond is all set!
And of course you want healthy koi!
But wait, there’s more for you to do!
While koi fish are a hardy breed, they do need some tender loving care in artificial environments.
What does that mean? Simple. You need to feed your koi a good, balanced and healthy diet.
With a range of beneficial ingredients and nutrients for them to grow and thrive and of course be the healthy koi you desire.
Now I’m sure you’ve at least bought some fish food with you. But in case you’re wondering what else you can feed your koi, you’re in luck! I have the answers for you…
What Koi Fish Eat
The great thing about koi is that they’re not particularly picky. If you’re up for preparing your koi’s meal yourself, you can actually do that!
Koi fishes are omnivores. So you can easily add variety to their diet. As long as you’re serving in bite-sized portions, your koi will be able to eat it.
But of course the question of what koi fish eat goes beyond keeping your koi fishes alive. You want them to be happy and healthy after all! So how do you make sure that your koi has a healthy and balanced diet?
Here’s what to feed your fish keep healthy koi.
Well, regardless of whether you give them fish food or prepare their food from scratch… You have to make sure that they get all the following components:
Protein
If you’re starting out with koi fry or at least pretty young koi fish, then protein is an essential part of their diet.
A high-protein meal will help your koi grow fast.
For young koi, it’s important to have at least 40% protein in their diet.
When they’re older, you can reduce it to 30 to 35%.
Considering Carbohydrates For Your Koi Fish
Like our own diet, koi fish need their carbohydrates too! In fact, 30 to 40% of their diet should be carbohydrates.
However, be wary of rice and wheat because they have very high carb content. Instead, opt for fruits or vegetables with ample carbs.
Including Fats In The Koi Food
Your koi will need energy, especially during the colder months. So you need to include fats in their diet.
Note, however, that only 5 to 8% of their diet needs to be composed of fats.
Fiber Is Important for Healthy Koi
For better digestion, make sure that your koi fish get less than 5% of fiber in their diet.
Too much fiber can cause excessive excrement in the pond which may impact on keeping it clean and any maintenance requirements.
Just something to keep in mind…
So go easy on the portions.
Vitamins & Minerals Will Help for Healthy Koi Too!
Lastly, you should make sure that your koi fish get vitamins and minerals in their diet.
Try to integrate vitamins A, B, C, D and K to keep them healthy and thriving in their environment.
In Conclusion How To Ensure You Have Healthy Koi
If you don’t want to worry about;
– what koi fish eat
– keeping healthy koi
– making them food at home
– portion sizes
Then commercial food is your best bet!
You might even consider some bulk food options too?
However if you want to go all-natural…
Then you should keep these suggested proportions in mind.
Here’s to happy and healthy koi… And enjoy feeding your koi fish too!
If you found this helpful, please like, share and please share your thoughts in the comments below…I’d love to hear from you! 😉
