A Guide to Feeding Koi Fish in India

Koi fish are omnivorous and require a balanced diet that includes both plant-based and protein-based food. However, koi feeding habits in India may differ depending on the local climate and water conditions.

Here's a seasonal guide to feeding koi fish in India:

1. Summer (18°C -31°C Water Temperature): The water temperature is at its highest in the summer, and the koi are very active. Summer is the time of year when koi fish has a high metabolism and grow the most.

You can feed your fish a high protein diet up to three times per day with small portions if you want to maximize their growth. Fresh foods, freeze-dried foods, and prepared foods are all options for feeding your koi. Prepared pellets are the most convenient because they are designed to meet all of the nutritional needs of koi fish, but fresh and freeze-dried foods like spinach and shrimps can be added as supplements.

As a general rule, feed only enough for your koi to consume in 3 - 5 minutes at any given time. If there is still a significant amount of fish feed left after the 5-minute mark, you will need to reduce the amount of food provided.

Remove uneaten food after 10 minutes or before it sinks to the bottom, as this can affect the water quality in your pond.

Reduce feeding once the water temperature exceeds 31°C because the oxygen level in the pond can become low. Increase the aeration and water circulation of the pond and monitor your koi fish for any stress.

2. Monsoon: During the monsoon season, the water temperature and conditions can change, causing koi fish to become stressed. To avoid health issues, it is critical to maintain good water quality and stability during this time. Reduce the amount of food provided and focus on a high-protein diet to help support their immune system.

3. Winter (9°C -17°C Water Temperature): As the water temperature begins to fall, koi's metabolism slows and they begin to prepare for winter. During this time, it's critical to switch your koi to a high-carbohydrate diet to help them build fat stores for the winter. Feed them a combination of pellets, koi sticks, and peas. Feeding once a day should suffice.

If the water temperature falls below 9°C, we can stop feeding the koi. During the winter, koi fish enter a type of hibernation known as torpor, which is essentially hibernation and causes them to be nearly motionless as they conserve energy.

Note: It's critical to keep an eye on your koi's behaviour and adjust their diet as needed. Overfeeding can result in health problems and poor water quality, whereas underfeeding can result in stunted growth and a weakened immune system.

A well-balanced diet, combined with proper water quality and temperature control, will keep your koi healthy and happy all year.