It was a LONG winter and now your fish are swimming around staring at you like they're starving.
-Is it 'okay' to feed them?
-Are you starving your fish by waiting?
-Will they die if I don't feed them?
The difference between regular house pets and the average fish is the type of interactions you have with them. When your dog greets you at the door when you come home, do you automatically assume he's wagging his tail because he's starving? He's probably just happy to see you. Chances are that so are your fish but because our interactions with them only extend to feeding time-- there is often confusion with their personality and their hunger signs. How much and how often you need to feed them, anyway? Right?
-Is it 'okay' to feed them?
-Are you starving your fish by waiting?
-Will they die if I don't feed them?
The difference between regular house pets and the average fish is the type of interactions you have with them. When your dog greets you at the door when you come home, do you automatically assume he's wagging his tail because he's starving? He's probably just happy to see you. Chances are that so are your fish but because our interactions with them only extend to feeding time-- there is often confusion with their personality and their hunger signs. How much and how often you need to feed them, anyway? Right?
Temperature Parameters when Feeding
It's always most critical to check the fish food container for temperature sensitive information because it can be unsafe and even fatal to feed certain times of fish food at the wrong time of the year. Most outdoor fish foods have a COLD WEATHER variations to their regular season fish food and this is important because the fact that a fish digestive system works at a reduced rate when the water temperature drops below 55 degrees. In fact, you shouldn't feed your fish at ALL during some portions of the year.
Dreamscapes carries Microblithe Fish Food in Cold Weather, Summer Staple and High Growth and Energy varieties during regular retail hours from April-November. The temperature parameters for our food are as follows:
Cold Weather fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 50-65 degrees.
Summer Staple fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 66-85 degrees.
High Growth and Energy fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 66-85 degrees
In fact, fall feeding recommendations are that when water temperatures dip below 50 degrees in late October, you should stop feeding your fish entirely until spring. Historically in the zone 5-6 spring, fish feeding can begin as early as mid-April depending upon Mother Nature and if your pond is full sun or full shade.
Dreamscapes carries Microblithe Fish Food in Cold Weather, Summer Staple and High Growth and Energy varieties during regular retail hours from April-November. The temperature parameters for our food are as follows:
Cold Weather fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 50-65 degrees.
Summer Staple fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 66-85 degrees.
High Growth and Energy fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 66-85 degrees
In fact, fall feeding recommendations are that when water temperatures dip below 50 degrees in late October, you should stop feeding your fish entirely until spring. Historically in the zone 5-6 spring, fish feeding can begin as early as mid-April depending upon Mother Nature and if your pond is full sun or full shade.
So Now What???
In the Spring if your water temperature hasn't quite reached the parameters on the back of your fish food container but your fish look hungry, WAIT. They are okay-- I promise. Drop your thermometer into the pond periodically and check it out. Remember, they may look hungry, but it's dangerous to feed them earlier than their bodies can handle.
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, PA
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, PA
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