Koi are one of the most beautiful species and a good, balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to ensure they thrive in your home. an outdoor pond or aquarium.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about feeding koi fish, including what and how to feed them.

Koi Fish Facts

The so-called koi fish is actually a selectively bred Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus). Breeding originated in Japan in the 19th century and has since spread throughout the world, making it one of the most sought-after species of pond fish.

Some people keep koi fish at home in huge aquariums, but most koi owners grow them in open ponds, usually gardens, where koi fish add a special design element that cannot be replicated by anything else.

Since koi are admired for their beauty, it is only natural that there are dozens of species, each with its own unique characteristics and characteristics.

What do koi fish eat?

Koi fish are omnivorous, eating almost anything they find, including both plant and animal food, ranging from algae, hyacinths, and water lettuce to various types of larvae, crustacean species, worms, and even other fish. !

Because they are adapted to eating that can digest most types of food, their diet in the wild is very varied and it can be difficult for you to replicate on your own.

However, on the contrary, a wide range of food options make it easy and fun to properly feed koi. Let's go through all the options one by one so you can understand when and which option to choose to ensure the health and longevity of your fish.

Hopefully your koi fish will remain healthy and with High quality koi food for healthy koi carp you can certainly contribute to that.

Fish pellets

This option is the easiest for you as it contains everything your koi needs to be happy, including a good ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Your koi will be healthy if you only feed them fish pellets and not supplement their diet with other foods.

However, remember that you need to buy fish pellets that have been specifically designed for koi. Pellets made for other species of fish will have a different nutritional profile which may harm the Koi in the long run.

In the blink of an eye, you can opt for pellets sold for feeding goldfish. After all, both koi fish and goldfish are carp and are very similar biologically. That said, goldfish pellets tend to be made up of more carbs and less protein, which isn't ideal for koi.

Freeze Dried

In nature, koi fish feed on a variety of animals and insects. The great thing is that you can freeze them and feed them to your pet koi! Many online retailers and regular pet stores have at least a few sublimated varieties suitable for koi, such as:

Bloody worms

Brine Shrimps

daphnia

Earthworms

Fly larvae

Krill

Mosquito larvae

Silkworm pupae

tadpoles

Freeze-dried food is made by freezing animals and then placing them in a vacuum chamber that quickly draws out moisture from the inside, turning ice crystals into water vapour.

It retains most of the nutrients in food and prevents it from being stale for years. Some freeze-dried products undergo additional processing, such as crushing and shaping into cubes. Large animals such as krill may arrive intact.

How to feed koi fish?

Feeding koi is easy, just prepare the food in small pieces so that your fish can eat it in one gulp. Some owners even hand-feed their fish by taking the food and putting their hands into the water.

Here are some additional tips for proper feeding of koi fish:

Remove uneaten food from the water because it starts to decompose, releasing ammonia.

Do not give high carbohydrate foods such as bread, corn and peas because koi cannot digest them properly.

Do not use wild animals that you have caught in the wild to feed your koi.

Do not feed koi if the water temperature is below 40˚F (5˚C).

Feed more protein to koi fish until they are 3 years old.

Final words

It is important to know what koi fish eat in order to provide them with a balanced diet. We hope this article has helped you understand the ins and outs of it, so we wish you all the best on your fish farming journey!