Here we have outlined some tips on fish feeding which you may find useful.
Fish might be the central part of your garden design; known for their beautiful colour and temperaments, they can add a unique identity to your garden. Whether you have Koi, Goldfish, Sturgeon or others, they all help to create a lively atmosphere for you to enjoy.
Here, we have identified a few tips on how to feed your fish. This is because, if done incorrectly, overfeeding or underfeeding can result in your fish suffering or an imbalance in your pond chemicals. Giving your fish the right amount of food can help to prevent a lot of future problems! You can even use the image on the right to help work out how much food you should be given your fish!
How much food should you give your fish?
• Feeding your fish three times a day in summer and a small feed once a day in winter is the average rule.
• In warmer waters (when water temperatures are 15 degrees C or higher), fish have a higher metabolism and you should feed them with protein-rich foods. In cooler waters (15 degrees C or lower), a diet consisting of lower proteins and higher carbohydrates is better due to the fish having a lower metabolism rate. An easy way to measure this is by using a floating pond thermometer.
• Try throwing a small amount of food into the pond first to see if your fish come up. If they do, they’re hungry and you can give them a little bit more. If they don’t, they’re not hungry and you should avoid putting anymore into the pond.
• If you have Koi in your pond, try to give them smaller, more regular feeds as this may dissuade them from eating the plants in your pond.
• The average growth of fish tends to be half an inch a month, but the maximum can be up to one inch a month. This normally signifies that you are feeding them correctly.
• Signs of being underfed include heads that are wider than their bodies, slightly sunken eyes, poor colour, stunted growth and a lack of activity.
• Try using a feeding ring, like the PondXpert Feeding Ring or the Nishikoi Feeding Ring. This keeps the food in one location, and you can quickly identify how hungry your fish are!
• Provide smaller, pellet food for your smaller fish. Food like PondXpert Staple Pellets or Nishikoi Staple Pellets are suitable for smaller fish.
• Don’t reuse any food that has been stored and unused for a long period of time. This means restocking in spring when your fish start to become active.
• As is the case with all food, do not give your fish food that smells funny, has mould or shows signs of rot. This can cause serious problems.
Things to avoid:
• Avoid feeding your fish in the colder winter period when they are hibernating at the bottom of your pond. When hibernating, they won’t eat the food and it can cause your water to become imbalanced and possibly toxic.
• Avoid giving them a heavy feed to start off with; this may leave a lot of food to rot on the surface of the pond which will cause a lot of problems.
• Try to avoid putting food near skimmers or pumps; these will draw the food away from your fish and may be left to rot in your filtration system.
You may also find the below blogs useful:
• Fish Food: When to Feed your Fish and What Food to Use
• Why Temperature plays a big role in Pond Development
• 8 Common Pond Mistakes
• 5 Tips Which Can Make A Big Difference To Your Pond
If you have any queries, please email us on info@pondkeeper.co.uk.