written by Hugo J. Smal

Not Only for the Fish but for the Total Environment

best koi food
Good food for fish and water quality

I don’t know what’s more fun: buying or feeding Koi. I’ve already written about purchasing these beauties in the story Assessing Koi is more than adding up. Now, I want to focus on feeding. Choosing the best Koi food is vital because your daily quality time with your fish is crucial for monitoring their health. Good food significantly contributes to their well-being. In this article, I’ll explain what “good fish food” actually means.

The Theory of Feeding

What fish don’t eat immediately starts to spoil in the water, and what is consumed excessively isn’t properly digested, contributing to poor water quality. This leads to fish swimming in their own waste. Therefore, it’s crucial to use the best Koi food. Otherwise, ponds become polluted, pathogens thrive, and the fish’s resistance decreases. Large filter systems must convert this waste into nitrate and phosphate, often causing excessive algae growth. Feeding should never turn into overfeeding. Highly digestible food with the correct proportions of amino acids is essential.

Best Koi food
Koi waiting for food.

Koi are large, long-lived fish, and I would compare them more to pets than typical pond fish. Koi have character and can evoke strong emotional connections—sometimes people even separate or come together because of them. Koi enthusiasts recognize this deep bond. These magical creatures deserve the best food, and the Koi food manufacturers strive to meet that demand.

Recognizing the Best Koi Food

So how do you recognize good Koi food? What requirements should it meet? There are many types of Koi, each with different nutritional needs, according to current philosophy. However, Koi are simply colored carp—smart fish with specific needs. Years of selective breeding have made them more vulnerable than common carp, so nutrition and water quality play a vital role in their care.

In nature, carp eat a varied diet of small living organisms, seeds, and soft plants. For Koi, their diet should consist of 80% animal material and 20% plant material.

Factors Affecting Koi Digestion

best koi food
Wild carp swimming in food (green algae)

Like any living creature, Koi must eat to grow, reproduce, and swim. To achieve optimal growth, it’s essential to understand their metabolism. Digestion is the process of preparing food for absorption into the body, and in Koi, this process includes mechanical reduction, chemical breakdown, and nutrient absorption.

Koi are poor digesters since they lack stomachs, so much of their food remains unused. However, their pond companions, like sturgeons, can benefit from these leftovers. Thus, choosing the best Koi food is key to maintaining a healthy pond environment.

Preparing Koi food

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Feeding at the Goyang Koi farm is quite different from what I was used to at home. In my private garden, it was a moment of reflection and pleasure. On the farm, I have to pass about 20 ponds, full of hungry beauties rushing toward me. From large to small, they always have an appetite—big eaters!
For a hobbyist, food is already a significant expense. For a Koi breeder, food from well-known manufacturers is almost unaffordable. That’s why we make the food ourselves at Goyang Koi farm.

Nutrition and Growth

The digestion process directly influences growth. The more nutrients Koi can convert, the faster they grow. Their nutritional needs are highest when the water temperature rises above 15°C, especially during the summer months when young fish experience rapid growth.

Water Quality and Food

Poor water quality negatively impacts growth, as Koi may eat less or stop foraging altogether. Additionally, poor water quality can disrupt digestion, further limiting growth. A well-balanced pond with the right food ensures healthy growth.

Seasonal Energy Distribution

best koi food
In the fall, digestion will slow down.

Several factors affect Koi growth, including genetics, feeding regime, water quality, temperature, and the number of fish in the pond. It’s essential to align these factors to avoid problems. The best Koi food will help maintain water quality and prevent overloading the pond with waste.

Highly digestible protein is always recommended, but not all proteins are the same. Cheap feeds often contain indigestible proteins, causing water pollution and algae growth. Proper amino acid balance is critical for muscle growth and minimizing waste.

Conclusion best Koi food

The vitality of Koi is closely linked to both water quality and good food. High-quality proteins, particularly those from LT (low temperature) fish meal, are 90% digestible by the fish, making them ideal for Koi.

What Do You Expect from Your Koi?

Young Koi need easily digestible proteins, vitamins, and minerals for strong body and bone development. Adult Koi, while growing slower, invest more energy in their body and color development. At every stage of life, it’s essential to provide Koi with the best food and maintain excellent water quality for their health and development.

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