Whether you just installed your new koi pond or just inherited one with a home purchase, you may be wondering how often and how much should I feed your new koi fish. It's a common concern and important question! After all, it could change the entire maintenance plan and longevity of your fish.
Well, wonder no more because we’re here to teach you all about feeding your fish. Whether your pond has koi fish, comet goldfish, pond sharks or shubunkins, we have one simple method that works for them all.
How Often:
Hand-feeding Fish at Dreamscapes Watergardens We recommend that you feed your fish once a day or every other day when your pond water is healthy and clean. This will provide enough nutrients for healthy fish and a healthy pond. Feeding them too often can put an excess amount of nutrients into your pond which will promote the growth of algae. If you want your fish to grow faster, feeding your fish twice a day will help to promote growth, and give you happy plump fish but will require more maintenance. By getting into a feeding pattern (i.e. same time and place at pond) your fish will learn when it is time to eat, and they will begin to look for you at to the location where they’re familiar with you consistently feeding them. After some time they will get so familiar with you and the feeding place/time that they will eat right out of your hands!
At this point we should raise awareness to the seasonal differences of fish food feeding. Seasonal fish food feeding? Is there really a difference? YES! There are different types of food contingent on water temperature and even a time to stop feeding entirely.
How Much to Feed:
When feeding fish we like to give them a few small handfuls at a time, following the five minute rule. The 5 minute rule is only giving the fish as much food as they can eat within a 5 minute time period. If they eat everything you give them within 5 minute, you can consider giving them more. If after the first 5 minutes there is left over food floating around, its time to put the food away. Be sure to pull the excess floating pellets out of the water so they don’t decompose in your water.
It is important to mention that fish food is NOT a fish’ only source of food! Fish can thrive off of eating the algae and plant matter that surrounds them and will do so if you miss a regular feeding time. While koi tend to eat more algae than goldfish, goldfish have been known to nibble here and there. Pond Sharks, on the other hand are ONLY algae eaters! Keep in mind, the fish are given a small amount of fish food at a time for a few reasons. One reason is so that they are encouraged to eat the algae growing in your pond, because it will help keep the algae growth in check. Also, large amounts of food that don’t get eaten would then flow into your filtration system, break down and then can cause algae growth from the excess nutrients that are broken down.
It is important to mention that fish food is NOT a fish’ only source of food! Fish can thrive off of eating the algae and plant matter that surrounds them and will do so if you miss a regular feeding time. While koi tend to eat more algae than goldfish, goldfish have been known to nibble here and there. Pond Sharks, on the other hand are ONLY algae eaters! Keep in mind, the fish are given a small amount of fish food at a time for a few reasons. One reason is so that they are encouraged to eat the algae growing in your pond, because it will help keep the algae growth in check. Also, large amounts of food that don’t get eaten would then flow into your filtration system, break down and then can cause algae growth from the excess nutrients that are broken down.
So Now What???
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania,
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania,
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