Fish bring life to the garden pond. Pond fish can be observed particularly well when they are being fed. But when and how often can the pond fish be fed? The answer to this question is not science, but there are a few rules you should follow to ensure that koi and co. feel comfortable in the pond.
year-round feed
In principle, you can feed all-season food to the pond fish all year round, as long as the water temperature does not fall below 10 °C. Four different types of all-season feed can be distinguished:
- pellet feed
- pond sticks
- flake food
- food tablets
pellet feed
You can get pellets from pet shops for koi and goldfish. Since it usually contains a higher proportion of protein and fat, it provides the fish with a lot of energy and important nutrients. However, leftover feed also pollutes the water more. A powerful filter system is therefore important for this type of feed.
fish food
pond sticks
Pond sticks can all fish species be fed. However, with this type of food, the pond inhabitants need additional food sources, such as insect larvae or algae. Therefore, pond sticks are particularly suitable for natural ponds. Since they do not sink to the bottom immediately, fish species that live in the upper half of the pond are happy about this type of food.
flake food
Since flake food also fits into smaller fish mouths, it is ideal for small and/or juvenile fish. It sinks to the bottom quickly, making it ideal for shy or bottom-dwelling species.
food tablets
Food tablets sink to the ground quickly, but dissolve only slowly. They are ideal for:
- fry
- shy fish
- bottom-dwelling fish species
Food according to the seasons
Since pond fish have different food requirements depending on the season, pet shops have special food for every season. The season is not only based on the calendar, but above all. according to the water temperature. The following overview provides an orientation as to the water temperature at which the respective seasonal food is optimal for the pond inhabitants, with the transitions being fluid:
- Spring forage: 12°C to 14°C, maximum 16°C
- Summer lining: from 16 °C
- Autumn feed: 12°C to 16°C
- Winter lining: below 6 °C to 11 °C
Since the shelf life of summer food in particular is limited, leftovers should not be saved for the coming summer. Depending on the water temperature, there are various combinations available to ensure that leftover food does not end up in the garbage:
- 12 °C to 16 °C: light winter food mixed with the remainder of the summer food
- Below 20 °C to 16 °C: 70 percent summer feed and 30 percent winter feed
tip: You can extend the shelf life of winter food by freezing it.
spring
In spring, pond fish look forward to food that contains plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Ideal spring food contains:
- easily digestible carbohydrates
- maximum 32 percent protein
- Vitamins: A, D, E and C
If the feed bag has been open for several weeks, you should give your pond dwellers an additional dose of vitamins once a week in the form of a multivitamin preparation.
tip: If the temperatures slowly start to rise above 14 °C, the spring food can be mixed with the summer food.
summer
Summer food is characterized by a high proportion of protein. If it also contains micronutrients, the fish can use it better, which in turn reduces the amount of substances excreted and consequently reduces algae growth. The optimum level of protein content in summer feed depends on the age of the pond inhabitants.
- Young or still growing fish: 42 to 45 percent protein content
- older pond inhabitants (from the 3rd year): 38 to 42 percent protein
tip: Since summer food has a limited shelf life, the raw fat content should not exceed six to eight percent.
fall
Autumn food is used when the water temperature gradually decreases in autumn and remains constantly below 20 °C. If the temperature settles between 16 °C and 12 °C, you can slowly increase the amount of winter food.
winter
Winter feed contains less protein and fat. Since the fish grow less in winter, they also need less energy. In addition, winter food pollutes the water less. Winter feed can be fed to the pond inhabitants up to a water temperature of 6 °C. From this point on, the fish no longer get any food. If the filter system is switched off at a water temperature of over 6 °C, this means the end of feeding.
If the water temperature in the pond is between 6 °C and 11 °C, feeding the pond fish depends on the behavior of the inhabitants:
- do not feed dormant pond fish
- Feed active fish sparingly with winter food
Fish food pond sticks
dosage
The amount of feed also plays an important role so that the residents in the pond feel comfortable. The size of the ration depends on the water temperature and the weight of the pond fish, but the amount should not exceed one percent of the total fish weight. The rule of thumb is: less is more. The following applies to the water temperature:
- whole ration: 20 °C to 25 °C (divided into one to six portions per day)
- less than half a portion: above 25°C (one portion per day)
- less than a third of the ration: 11°C to 15°C (one serving every two days)
- no food: over 30 °C (cool water)
If the pond dwellers are active at a water temperature of 6 °C to 11 °C, they get one to three pellets per fish every two to three days if the filter system is not switched off.
tip: In order for the pond fish to find the food and eat it up quickly, you should always feed them at the same time and distribute the food well in the pond so that all residents get something.
You can tell the actual amount of food your fish need by how quickly they eat the food. If there is still food left after a few minutes, you should reduce the amount. Since the pond fish no longer eat the leftover food, it settles on the pond bottom and over time prevents sufficient oxygen from being formed in the water. Golden tench or gudgeons help clear stuck food as they clean the ground while foraging.
tip: Fish that are regularly given high-quality food can also survive a short vacation of a few days without food in the pond.