Koi Fish Feed Formula and Feeding Methods Explained in Detail

Koi fish is a high-end ornamental fish popular around the world today, with a robust build, brilliant colors, varied patterns, and a majestic swimming posture, offering extremely high ornamental and keeping value. That is why many people choose to keep koi fish at home. So when keeping koi fish, what kind of feed should be chosen? Below let us take a look together at koi fish feed formulas and feeding methods!

What kinds of koi fish feed are there?

1. Animal feed: Animal feed is one of the feeds that koi love to eat most and that is richest in nutrition, with a very large number of varieties. Common ones include fish worms (bloodworms, water fleas), cyclops, paramecia (gray water), mosquito larvae (chironomid larvae), tubifex worms, and so on.

2. Plant feed: Animal-based feed is the most ideal for koi fish, but when animal-based feed is lacking for various reasons, plant feed can serve as an emergency or life-sustaining supplementary feed. Common ones include duckweed, aquatic plants, and so on.

3. Synthetic feed: Koi synthetic feed is artificially formulated according to the growth needs of koi, with complete nutritional components that meet the requirements of koi growth and development. Its main components include 5 major categories: protein, carbohydrates, fats, inorganic salts, and vitamins.

Homemade koi fish feed formulas

[Formula] 1 part shrimp meat, 1 part soybean powder, 2 parts flour, half a part coarse oatmeal, half a part nori, 1 part egg, two-thousandths of a part betaine, one-thousandth of a part fishy peptide, an appropriate amount of baking powder. If individual ingredients are hard to buy, they can be omitted.

[Preparation] Mix the ingredients thoroughly, add water and stir into a paste, ferment for 20 minutes, place in batches onto a saucer, then put into a microwave and heat for 10 minutes. After cooling, put into the refrigerator and freeze for about 4 hours, then make into pellets, dry in the sun, and set aside for use.

Feeding methods for koi fish feed

1. Body growth: When the water temperature is above 30°C, feed no more than 2 times per day. The water body should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent the water temperature from rising. When the water temperature is 20-30°C, feed 2-4 times per day. When the water temperature is below 20°C, it is recommended not to use body-growth feed.

2. Color enhancement: When the water temperature is above 30°C, feed no more than 2 times per day. The water body should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent the water temperature from rising. When the water temperature is 20-30°C, feed 2-4 times per day. When the water temperature is below 20°C, it is recommended not to use color-enhancing feed.

3. Growth: When the water temperature is above 30°C, juvenile fish should be fed no more than 4 times per day, and adult fish no more than 2 times per day. The water body should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent the water temperature from rising. When the water temperature is 20-30°C, feed 2-4 times per day. When the water temperature is 15-20°C, feed 1-2 times per day.

4. Germ: When the water temperature is above 30°C, juvenile fish should be fed no more than 4 times per day, and adult fish no more than 2 times per day. The water body should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent the water temperature from rising. When the water temperature is 20-30°C, feed 2-4 times per day. When the water temperature is 15-20°C, feed 1-2 times per day.

5. Staple food: When the water temperature is above 30°C, juvenile fish should be fed no more than 4 times per day, and adult fish no more than 2 times per day. The water body should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent the water temperature from rising. When the water temperature is 20-30°C, feed 2-4 times per day. When the water temperature is 15-20°C, feed 1-2 times per day.