Koi Diets

Feeding your koi a balanced, good quality, varied diet is a vital step towards maintaining their health and well being. Taking the time for hand feeding creates a bond of trust and is a relaxing way to enjoy pet fish and ensure that they don't overeat and excess food does not fall to the bottom of the pond or aquarium and pollute the water. Koi pellet foods contain many of the nutrients they need and adding live food will further provide all the necessary nutritional requirements.

  1. Live Food

    • Koi will benefit from eating a regular supply of live food such as earthworms, snails -- the shells of which they are able to crush with their teeth -- mosquitoes and other insect larvae, shrimp and other crustaceans and whatever small creatures naturally fall into the pond. You can buy worms, live shrimp and larvae specially bred as fish food and sold at pet stores or aquarium supply stores. Feed live foods often for best results.

    Plant Food

    • Koi will eat a variety of water plants, including water lilies, sedges, irises, rushes, reeds, roots and Elodea. Healthy water plants are also a good indicator of a balanced ecosystem in your pond or fish tank.

    Commercial Fish Food

    • Food specifically made for domestic koi can be purchased from pet stores or fish supply stores. It is formulated to provide the nutrients, vitamins and minerals the fish need and it normally comes in pellet or flake form. For this reason it is best to purchase a good quality food and not the cheapest food on the market. A good food will give your fish energy and maintain a healthy depth of color on the fish's body.

      In the summer months, high-protein food is necessary to get a koi's body ready for the winter temperatures.

    Wheat Germ Fish Foods

    • In winter, when the koi are sluggish and the water is very cold or frozen, it is best not to feed fish as the food will not be eaten and will fall to the bottom and cause pollution. Once the fish are moving about and appear to have more energy, such as in the fall or on milder days in winter, they can be fed with a wheat-germ fish food. In colder weather, a fish's metabolism slows down and the wheat-germ cereal food is easy to digest. This food usually floats on the water surface so it gives them plenty of time to find it.