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Thread: winter feeding

  1. #1

    winter feeding

    My heat pumps been turned off for weeks now, so my ponds cooler than its ever been at 11 c, Mike Snaden told me that under 12 c they dont need feeding and there will be no negative side effects, but I cant help but feel that a little bit of food once a day will just keep all the bodily functions ticking over, and surely thats good isn't it, surely a fish is stronger and more able to resist problems if its getting some food...yes / no?
    Currently ive been throwing in a handful of wheatgerm once a day and they soon hoover it all up.
    What do you think?



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  3. #2
    Member Rank = Nisai Jasec's Avatar
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    My pond is 8c and my koi are still looking for food. Heads are down tails up picking at the algae. The only thing is if feeding at lower temp watch the water parameters. As the bio will not be as good with the lower temps

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  5. #3
    My thoughts on winter feeding and why we shouldn't deprive koi of food whenever they are actively looking for it are on this link:
    Winter feeding

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    There is logic to starving the 'fatties' for a while, but most of our ponds have a range of fish with differing needs.

    I reckon in a pond with a certain amount of biofilm and algae on the sides they can actually scavenge quite a reasonable amount of nutrition for themselves in lower temps without much added. The younger fish with smaller stores of body fat etc. would certainly benefit from pellets. But I don't know about your pond- if I chuck in pellets aimed at the littlest guys hoping they will get it the chags and karashigoi (and fat shiro) will storm over and pinch the lot

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    I've been feeding mine once per day at 10C

    Down to 8C I'm feeding pellets (Saki-Hikari multi-season) a couple of times a Week, and earthworms or mussels 2-3 times a Week.

    Below 8C I'll drop in an earthworm and see what interest there is.... If they all fight for it then I'll drop in a few more. A couple of Koi wont touch worms so they miss out. I've been doing this once to twice per Week.

    I think if you feed to replicate the natural environment and the fish eat then I don't see how there can be any harm.

    Finding earthworms probably isn't easy for everyone, only that I'm currently digging to extend the pond so will dig out 3 or 4 sacks of soil at a time and find 20+ worms.

    I've always fed worms to condition fancy goldfish for breeding or showing and have a belief they are the best possible food a fish can have. Don't know if that is factually correct but its always worked for me.

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Agree with you RS,worms are very high in protein and a good natural feed for fish so i believe.
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Sansai gt350's Avatar
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    my fish are in a fish house and water about 8 or 9 and they are always looking for food,after reading this i am going to feed them a s,all amount every other day,gave them some small pieces of prawn today and they loved them.merry christmas to every one

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Grand Champion lee63's Avatar
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    I feed sparingly if they are looking for it. They key is to just try a small amount (few pellets) and if they show interest give a bit more. No interest then leave it. I only feed saki multi season once below 12°c though. On the odd occasion maybe some chopped up mussels but not alot. Fresh Washed cockles are a good treat too winter feeding
    Agree that worms are a very good natural treat for carp winter feeding i usually take a handful out of our compost bins, give them a quick wash and then in they go. Fish go nuts for them but at this time if year the bins aren’t wriggling away like they are in the warmer months so i don’t bother.
    I do believe that a little food does no harm to the fish its more the water.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Its always a work in progress

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    Senior Member Rank = Sansai gt350's Avatar
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    cheers guys happy new to every one for tonight,

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  19. #10
    mine are having 3 small feeds a day of wheatgerm, and hoovering it up quickly.

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by familyman View Post
    mine are having 3 small feeds a day of wheatgerm, and hoovering it up quickly.
    But your pond holds summer temps all year round! winter feeding

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

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  23. #12
    it is 14 c , only because I put the heater on, so I could put a treatment in the water, it had gone right down to 10.5 c

    David

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    Mines been hovering around 8C for ages.... Dropped in Saki Multi-Season pellets yesterday and they got gobbled up quickly, so I fed again a few hours later and they also went immediately.

    Wanted to try and give them a boost as a couple of the smaller koi looking a bit skinny and I think temps will drop over the next couple of weeks.

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  27. #14
    yes freezing here for the next 2 nights

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  29. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    I have been feeding them a little twice a day as they are hungry.
    The bigger koi are not eating as much just the smaller ones.
    Fed them once today and will drop this off if it's getting cold.

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  31. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    Where are you familyman, the temp here (Berkshire) is meant to be ok until Friday getting colder through the week.
    Haven't covered my pond over properly.

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  33. #17
    near Nottingham, it didnt freeze last night, was about 4-5 c I think , supposed to drop to 0 tonight, but minus 3 tomorrow night then 0 again Friday night.

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  35. #18
    Member Rank = Nisai Jasec's Avatar
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    South Wiltshire here, no frost this morning 3c but pond holding around 8-9c with just plastic corrugated plastic.
    Feeding 1-3 times a day. Not using the auto feeder so as and when time allows.
    As soon as I lift the covers for a peak they are there saying "feed us"

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