How to Learn the Feeding Pattern of Koi

The rate of growth for a Koi depends upon their feeding patterns. This in turn is directly related to various aspects.

Their feeding pattern, in turn, is dependent on many factors, specifically: Water quality and temperature. The number of fish inhabiting the pond and the genetic background of each individual fish.

One of the most exciting and pleasurable element of keeping Koi is training them to eat from your hands. You can have them feeding from you hands in hardly any time at all by following these tips.

1. Feed them in the same area every time you feed them.

2. Stay while you watch them when you drop small handfuls of food.

3. Wait for the hungriest or bravest to begin feeding and the rest will follow its lead.

4. Let them see you when you feed them.

5. If they will not eat while you are watching, then simply skip one day of feeding them.

After about three to five days, your Koi will begin to associate food with you. Tease them to come closer with small droppings of food. Gently play in the water with your hands as they eat. Gradually your Koi will acknowledge that their food comes from your hand. Interestingly, Koi have the ability to recognize the footsteps of their owner and begin following them around the edges of the water.

With patience and effort your reward will be seeing your Koi, swimming, splashing and jumping towards you any time you walk by their pond.

Nutritional Requirements of Koi:

The type of food and the quantity that you offer them will also determine the size of your fish. You must select a food size that is small enough for the smallest Koi in your pond to eat, since if they cannot eat, they will eventually die from starvation. You should allow for an assortment of small and large size foodstuff when you have a mixture of both large and small Koi in your pond. However, you must make sure that your small fish feed well enough not to suffer from competing for food.

The total number of Koi you keep in a pond will also influence their rate to growth. Koi will become sexually mature even when small from about 20-30 cm/10-12 inches, when there are less numbers. Their growth slows down upon reaching maturity. In contrast, in a heavily populated pond, Koi will mature to larger sizes such as 50-60cm/20-24 inches. However, food competition will slow their rate of growth considerably. A shortage of food and having to compete for food causes the Koi stress. Stress will influence their overall good health conditions. When you are deciding how many fish you may want to keep in your Koi pond, you should consider these various aspects.