What Is Safe to Feed Pond Fish?

Owning a fish pond provides decoration, satisfaction and potentially generations of family fishing. Proper feeding is essential to growth and survival of fish in ponds. And while virtually any organic material is technically "safe" to feed fish, natural live food and commercially available fish feeds are the only way to give fish the complete nutrition they need. The right food, of course, depends on what kind of fish you have in your pond.

  1. Trout

    • Trout naturally thrive on aquatic and terrestrial insects that live in ponds during larval stages. Many other insects fall into the water from any nearby trees. Most ponds provide enough natural food for trout to survive, but supplemental feeding of floating trout pellets can increase growth and provide a wider range of nutrition. A number of manufactured brands are available; check labels and choose the brand that provides the highest nutritional content. Feed trout about 1 qt. of food per 100 fish once daily. If you feed them at the same place and same time every day, you will soon find your trout waiting to be fed when you arrive.

    Catfish

    • Catfish will eat almost everything, which makes it all the more important to feed them properly. They will eat corn, cheese, dog and cat food or even hot dogs, but none of these provide proper nutrition. A variety of commercially available fish pellets are suitable for catfish. Look for feeds with the word "complete" on the label; this indicates that the feed contains all the nutrients essential for good growth. The best feeds have 26 to 36 percent protein, and they are labeled specifically for catfish. Stocking your pond with fathead minnows can provide additional natural food, and catfish in minnow-stocked ponds require less supplemental feed.

    Bass

    • Largemouth bass are popular in ponds because of their qualities as sportfish. While supplemental feeding of fish pellets can help bass grow faster, these fish are natural hunters and there is no real substitute for live prey. The best way to feed bass is to keep your pond well-stocked with live food fish. Bluegill are the best pond-mates for largemouth bass. Bluegill naturally co-exist with bass, providing food while maintaining a healthy reproducing population. Fathead minnows can provide additional food but may need to be re-stocked occasionally.

    Bluegill

    • Bluegill make good food for bass, but they are also fine pond fish in their own right. Bluegill eat aquatic insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates, and they will find more than enough food to survive in most ponds. Supplemental feeding of floating fish pellets will help bluegill grow to good catching size and ensure that the smaller bluegill make more nutritious bass chow. Bluegill will eat the same feed that catfish eat and respond best to floating feed.

    Koi

    • Koi usually live in decorative garden ponds.

      Koi are often stocked in decorative ponds; they need food pellets to stay active and healthy. There are many brands of koi feed commercially available, so look for those that have the highest nutritional content. Floating pellets are the best, because food that sinks to the bottom can decompose before koi find it, causing an excess of organic waste in your pond. In addition to pellets, koi can eat a number of supplemental foods such as frozen shrimp and krill, as well as fruits and vegetables.