Pond Fish Feeding Seasonal Recommendations

So you have a beautiful pond with fish and the seasons are changing so you have questions:
            How often and what do you feed them?
            Does it matter what kind of food they eat? 
            Do you need to feed them in the wintertime? 
            Will the goldfish eat the same food as Koi?

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Your fish will be FAR more enjoyable and friendly pets if you feed them because they’ll learn to trust you and they’ll start looking to you as a food source. Truthfully, it is magical throwing handfuls of fish food in the water and watching them all come to the surface to gobble it up!  And yes!  Koi will eat more than goldfish will, so adding a little extra food to their diet can be helpful—they’ll actually eat algae, too. So don’t be afraid to let your koi help minimize your maintenance by letting they gobble up some algae. If they have to pick between the food we toss in and algae, however, they will choose our food everytime. Keep in mind that when fish poop breaks down, it contributes to the ammonia levels in the water and can be toxic to fish. If you haven't already, read our Ammonia blog
for more information.

If you are feeding ANY retail-bought fish food, you NEED to read the label, as there are temperature specific foods that help tackle each season

Spring/Fall Pond Fish Food Feeding

In spring when the pond temperatures in Central Pa reaches 50ºF, it is safe to begin feeding fish. Fish now are coming out of their winter hibernation and they cannot metabolize all of the ingredients of the all season formulas.

As the water ranges between 50-56ºF in the spring, the fish will begin to feed, and they need food that is easily digested, such as foods that contain WHEAT GERM.  Dreamscapes carries a Fall/Spring “Cold Weather” fish food that helps to with digestion. This is the ONLY food that should be fed at this time.

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Summer Pond Fish Food Feeding

During the warmer months, pond fish require a high-protein diet for growth and spawning. When the temperature goes above 65°, a summer staple or a high growth and energy food can be fed. Keep in mind that your fish can appear hungry even if you feed them 3x a day BUT the more you feed them, they more they poop, the slower the poop breaks down and the more fertilization algae has to grow.

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Winter Pond Fish Food Feeding

Winter is a whole new ball-park for fish when it comes to food-feeding and life-support mechanisms. When the water temperature drops below 50°F, the fish’s metabolism is too slow to utilize food. You absolutely need to STOP feeding your fish, as they are entering their state of hibernation and they are not capable of proper digestion in cold water and the food can decay in their system, sending bacteria into the bloodstream and killing them.

So What Now?

Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates 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 koi ponds and waterfalls in 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, PA