Koi in Winter
Koi carps are very demanding. The animals react extremely sensitively to bad environmental conditions and incorrect feeding. Pale colours and an increased susceptibility to diseases and parasites are therefore not uncommon.
Especially the quality of the Koi food and its dosage plays an important role in this context. This is especially true in view of the winter, when the fish have to get along largely without food.
High-quality koi food as a basis for the winter
Koi carps are so-called cold-blooded fish whose body temperature depends on the temperatures of their environment. The colder it gets, the slower the animals become and the more their metabolism slows down.
In winter koi carps therefore often do not need food for a longer period of time. As soon as the water temperatures fall below eight degrees Celsius permanently, feeding should be stopped. Otherwise the food that is not consumed will settle in the pond, contaminate the water and thus promote the reproduction of pathogens and parasites.
However, this also means that, especially in summer and autumn, with the right Koi food in sufficient quantities, you must lay the foundations for your fish to build up enough reserves to survive the winter well.
What makes a good koi food
When feeding your Koi, only use special Koi food that provides the fish with all the necessary nutrients and is easily digestible. In this way, you will not only promote the growth and well-being of the animals, but also avoid excessive stress on the water.
Because the better the koi food can be digested, the lower the amount of excrement that gets into the water and the less likely it is that your Koi carp will be attacked by parasites or become ill.
Feeding at mild temperatures in winter
It may well be that the temperatures in winter are not always so low that Koi carp cannot take up any food. In mild weather it is therefore sometimes possible to supply the fish with smaller amounts of Koi food even in winter.
It is therefore worth keeping an eye on the activity of the Koi as well as the water temperature and, if necessary, provide them with an easily digestible food, such as KI-JA-KO Wheatgerm, to provide them with some nutrients.
This will make it easier for your Koi carp to survive the winter and can help to reduce the risk of health problems in spring and avoid excessive weakening of the animals.
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