The Basics of Koi Nutrition
Along with filtration, aeration and water quality, adequate koi nutrition is critical for the health of your fish. Just like people, koi fish need to be fed a balanced diet to ensure that they maintain a healthy immune system and good growth. Koi are natural scavengers so they will forage on a pond bottom for algae and debris. When fish are kept in an artificial pond they are solely dependant on you for their dietary requirements.
Koi are related to carp so they eat a similar diet to these fish. Carp are omnivores so they eat both plant and animal foods. Just like us! Koi fish eat a diet that is almost identical to goldfish, comets and Shubunkins. Koi nutrition can contain a variety of foods, just as long as it remains balanced in terms of protein and other requirements.
Koi nutrition should provide for protein levels of around 30%. Growth foods are typically a little higher in protein while a low temperature food contains a little less. Protein is important for the growth of your fish and to repair damaged cells and tissues. It is probably the most expensive component of your koi's diet. Good sources of protein are animal and plant components such as fishmeal, soya, wheat and egg. Koi fish should never be fed mammal meats!
Good koi nutrition will supply an adequate amount of carbohydrate. Complex sugars like starch and cellulose come from plant foods and are an inexpensive source of energy and fiber. Fiber is important for digestion in your fish.
Oils are another important component of proper koi nutrition. Fish or vegetable oils make up less than 10% of a typical koi diet. These substances are used to make new tissue in your koi's body. Be careful of foods containing excessive levels of oils as these are far to rich and may cause problems with water quality.
Vitamins and minerals are also important in good koi nutrition. Most branded foods make use of the natural vitamin and mineral content of the basic ingredients that make up their foods. However vitamin and mineral supplements are now being added to foods - for example vitamin C.
Providing that the above dietary demands are satisfied your koi should stay healthy. There is nothing stopping you from feeding your own diet to your fish rather than a brand name, so long as you make sure it follows the rules of good koi nutrition. Make sure any food you buy is good value for money, contains all the necessary nutritional requirements and contains a stable form of vitamin C.
