Koi in your backyard pond (and other pond fish)
Fish, whether koi or goldfish, pond fish are not that hard to keep. Did you know:
- Studies show that regular viewing of pond fish can lower blood pressure and anxiety as well as improve mood. ①
- If you forget to feed the fish, they are totally fine, especially if the pond is healthy and there are aquatic plants.
- It’s rewarding to start with a little 3-inch fish and watch him grow to 24 inches long.
- People who are unable to walk or play with other pets have reported great enjoyment from watching pond fish and said it was a regular calming experience for them.
- Doctors offices, dentists, malls, and other spaces put in aquariums because watching fish is calming to people.
How often to feed these pond fish
In a natural ecosystem pond with healthy living water, a pond owner could choose to feed their fish once a week or even twice a day!
How much to feed the fish
No matter how often or when you feed them, make sure to feed them only what they can eat in about 4 minutes without the food sinking or ending up in the skimmer.
Not sure? You will need to feed them and stay to observe them eating. Another way is to take a net with a handle, set it up right in front of the skimmer opening before you feed them. After feeding them take it back out. Is there food in the net? Then you have fed them too much!
Too much food can actually make fish unhealthy and can even cause them to die.
What to feed the fish?
Most koi food is just fine for feeding goldfish and koi in a pond. Stay away from the flake stuff, that belongs in aquariums or for very tiny koi.
You don’t have to spend massive amounts of money for koi food. I’ve used Aquascape premium fish food, Blue Ridge Koi fish food and others.
The right type of food for the season
In early spring, the fish don’t need a high protein food. In fact, their digestion is just coming back on line so they need to be fed lower protein food to start. Feed them less than you would normally in the summer. Say, what they can eat in a minute when you first start feeding them and work your way up 4 minutes. You can change to a higher protein fish food when they are vigorously eating and the water temperatures are above 60 degrees.
Important!!!
Do not feed the fish until the water temperatures are consistently about 50 degrees! Stop feeding them when the water temperatures get down to 50 degrees. Not following this advice will cause you to kill your fish.
Back to how often to feed the fish....
I know, that sounds nuts. But how often you feed the fish affects several things. Answer these questions to figure out what is best for you and your fish:
- Is the pond a natural ecosystem that has lots of aquatic plants, and at least some algae?
- Does the pond have good circulation?
- Does the pond pump run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
- Do you want to interact with your fish?
- Do you want the fish to come out when you walk up?
- Do you have any interest in feeding the fish right out of your hand?
If you at least answered yes to 1 through 4, you really can feed them every day and even twice a day. Just remember to start slow in the beginning of the season and only feed them what they can eat in roughly 4 minutes.
Remember, that the more they eat the more they poop! So, if you have upped the feeding and are having algae issues, cut back the feeding.
If you have more of a solid concrete, little circulation, and no plants pond, you may need to feed your fish once a day, but no more, and test the water on a regular basis.
Pretty soon you'll want more and more fish....
So make sure you take the time to know the gallons in your pond so that you don’t overload the system.
If you end up with too many fish, never, never let them go in a local pond or waterway. They can procreate too fast and completely disturb the natural and existing ecosystem. Many a county has had to spend massive amounts of money to remove them.
Looking for Koi?
How about koi that you specifically pick out and that show up at your door?
How about 10% off?
Get your 10% off when you use my coupon code: sunshineponds when you order fish from Next Day Koi! (they have koi and goldfish!)
What other sources have to say about feeding pond fish:
References:
① – Gee, Nancy R et al. “Observing Live Fish Improves Perceptions of Mood, Relaxation and Anxiety, But Does Not Consistently Alter Heart Rate or Heart Rate Variability.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 16,17 3113. 27 Aug. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16173113https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6747257/