Caring for Koi

Koi are fairly low maintenance, they are tolerant, hearty creatures, but they do require some basic maintenance. Follow the tips below to keep your Koi healthy and happy.

Feeding

Any good quality Koi food will suffice. Koi are not picky eaters, and you can treat them to a variety of snacks such as shrimp, fruits, vegetables, bread, crackers, even leftover bait like nightcrawlers and wax worms from fishing expeditions. Experiment with various leftovers to see what they like, remember Koi are carp, and carp are scavengers so they will eat pretty much anything.

Take care not to overfeed your Koi, and remove any uneaten food from the pond. Excess food will turn into ammonia and phosphates and can cause serious algae and other water quality problems.

Develop a feeding schedule and try to feed around the same time every day. The warmer the weather and water, the more often you should feed. During the summer feed 2-4 times daily, and feed less often as the temperature drops. At 55 to 60 degrees feed once per day, at 50-55 degrees feed 2-3 times per week, 45-50 degrees feed once a week, and below 45 degrees do not feed at all.

Water Quality

The bigger your pond, the better it will self regulate, but all ponds should be tested regularly. Test your pond water for a change in pH, Ammonia and chlorine. Test kits are easily obtainable at aquatic supply shops.

Regularly clean out the pond filter, at least every two weeks, even if the pond water looks clean.

If you use tap water to maintain water level, be sure to treat it for chlorine or other salts before the water is added to your pond.

Handling

Whenever possible, you should avoid handling Koi by hand. Improper handling can damage their outer protective slime which gives them protection against fungus and bacteria. If you do need to handle your Koi, be sure to wear gloves and minimize physical contact as much as possible.

Take care not to subject your Koi to sudden water temperature changes. Taking a Koi from a warm pond and dropping him in a bucket freshly filled with cold water from the hose can be a major shock.