Channel Cats feeding during winter?

[Picmac]

Hey everyone,

My mom has a pond housing your standard koi, goldfish and channel catfish. Pellet feeding stops around mid October and doesn't pick up again until the spring. I have noticed during random warm days during the winters here near Philly the koi and goldfish appear to occasionally nibble on algae, however the catfish basically starve until the weather warms back up in the spring. My question is, as these two catfish grow(both now 20+ inches) should my mom consider feeding these guys periodically during the winter months?

-Thanks
Mike

 

[Melbell]

I would definitely try.

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[houie925]

I wouldn't bother.


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[BigFinn]

Nah I wouldn't.


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[joe jaskot]

With the cold water temperatures, your biological filtration shuts down. I would not feed.

 

[Picmac]

Thanks everyone. It looks like I will hold off on the feeding during the winter.

 

[jandj88]

Being from ND I have never seen or heard of catfish being caught. Was always told their metabolism slows as the temp drops the find a calm area to just lay there. I have bull heads in my pond and the just stack up in a corner in my pond and veg out and don't move unless pushed by a koi that floated into them.

 

[bullyoscars]

From fishing experience channels do eat in the winter but not near as frequent.

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[NovaSS]

live feeder fish during the winter for the catfish or you can try frozen shrimp

 

[DDK]

Dont feed during winter. Their stomachs shut down during the cold and whatever food they eat will basically rot inside of them. Carp/koi die if there is excessive amounts so I guess cat fish would do the same. As you stated dont feed!