Azolla- Water Fern

[NVR ENUF]

Will koi eat these floating plants?

 

[guppy]

Azolla water ferns are eaten by ducks, turtles, some weevils, and some loaches, but I found a couple complaints that koi won't eat it. If you grow it in small ponds be prepared to skim net regularly or it will overwhelm you. On the other hand it helps prevent green water by providing shade and out competing the algae for nutrients. The harvested azolla can be dried in the sun then hoed into your flower bed or garden and in many places is themajor source of nitrogen rich fertilizer for rice culture, China uses over 100,000 tons a year. It is estimated that paddies that use it produce a harvest 158% greater than those that do not, all else being equal. It is a great way of actually reducing nitrates in the water as long as it is harvested often.
Here is a link
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plnov98.htm

 

[NVR ENUF]

Well, a little over a week now with my new koi and they have pretty much wiped out all my azolla. No biggie since I really dig the new fish.

 

[Chad55]

Try some other plants. Trial and error is the only way to find out what they like and what they don't like.

Chad

 

[guppy]

So your koi do like it? I guess different koi like different meals, heheh.

 

[Hakon]

Koi will not eat plants if they get other food.