koi pond winter ready

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aquaculture

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 5, 2009
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What should i be doing to get my koi and golfish and catfish ready for the winter?
Iaam so far going to be feeding more bloodworms and diced shrimp to get them fattened up.

Then stop feeding them once frost hits.
 
NO food below 60 degrees water temp, frost or not! How deep is your pond?
 
No protein below 60 degrees. Use wheat germ based foods when water temps. are 50 - 60 deg. Stop feeding below 50 degrees.
 
the water won't freeze in my pond, willl never get cold enough, ill go more to wheat germ foods then.

right now the pond can reach 80f in the day and gets in the low sixties to high fifties at night.
 
Try feeding when water temps. are warmer and the fish are more active. If the water temp. dips into the 50's at night, avoid late afternoon/evening feedings.

Start feeding everyother day or so gradually going towards 2-3 times per week. Eventually once a week and then none at all if temps. dip below 50 for the winter. You don't want the Koi and goldfish swimming around w/full bellies. That undigested food in the intestines is what leads to health problems, as well as water quality issues if they stop feeding all together and the food goes uneaten. I am sure there is enough "stuff" for the fish to graze on during off days.

The cat may need to be direct fed a little more until the temps. get really, consitantly cold. Again, error on less than more food for him as his metabolism is also going to slow down a lot too.
 
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