Do pond fish eat in winter?
It is commonly thought that pond fish, like Koi and Goldfish, stop feeding in the winter. While this may appear to be true, fish do in fact consume whatever they can get hold of in the lower reaches of the pond. The truth is, at lower temperatures metabolism of (cold-blooded) fish is so slow, that they hardly need any feed and will survive on whats available in the pond.
Do I have to feed my pond fish in winter?
In wintertime you should stop feeding pond fish daily when the water temperature drops below 10°C is. Below this temperature, pond fish will start to show less interest in food and will move to the lower reaches of the pond for the winter. Eventually, they will stop coming up for food, and feeding should stop until the warmer weather transpires in the spring. Start feeding fish daily again at a water temperature of 10 °C or higher.
What should I feed my pond fish in winter?
In the autumn when temperatures begin to drop it is recommended that you switch your fishes diet to wheat germ. You can do this gradually so your pond fish get used to the change in diet.
Due to the high protein and fibre content, wheatgerm food digests slowly and is ideal for ensuring your fish get the nutrients they need as they transition into winter. Specially formulated food for fish such as wheatgerm is designed to be beneficial in keeping your fish healthy.
What is winter wheatgerm?
Winter Wheatgerm fish food is a high fibre, high protein pellet, which is designed to be nutritionally dense so that it matches the slower digestion and metabolism of pond fish, and load your fish up with nutrients for the longer periods of not feeding.
Wheat-germ is a natural source of vitamin E, an important vitamin to promote healthy growth and great koi color. Many brands combine it with oils and additives, like garlic, to further increase the nutritional benefit.
Can goldfish eat wheatgerm pellets?
Wheatgerm is an easily assimilated, highly digestible daily diet for coldwater fish, and also some tropical fish. Pond fish such as koi, goldfish, koi fry and larger tropical fish (like cichlids) will happily eat wheatgerm pellets. If you are using winter wheatgerm as a staple, be aware that you do not need to feed quite so much, and it may produce more waste if overfed.
Can you feed wheatgerm all year round?
Yes, you can feed wheatgerm fish food through the spring and summer seasons too. Being protein dense, wheat germ pellets are formulated for maximum growth and health, and its digestibility will allow you to feed your pond fish all year round. Koi keepers frequently mix wheatgerm into general diets to ensure maximum growth.
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