what to feed goldfish and koi

by Prof. Daniella White II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Bloodworms You’ve probably heard of bloodworms before, but you may not have known they could be used to feed koi and goldfish together. ...
Daphnia is another type of worm that can be used in a shared pond. ...
Grindal worms are another food that can be eaten by both fish types. They look similar to earthworms and they’re sometimes used in a tank with amphibians. ...
Brine shrimp are a popular choice when it comes to pond fish foods, but most pet store varieties will only feed one type of fish. ...
Mosquito larva is another food that can be shared between koi and goldfish. ...

You can feed koi almost anything people can eat. This includes shrimp, fruit, vegetables, and anything that isn't high in carbohydrates. Bread and foods like that are hard on your fish's stomachs. You can also feed them fish food pellets.

Full Answer

What is the best food for a koi fish?

Hikari Gold 17.6oz Medium
Hikari Gold is a daily diet, developed through years of koi breeding and showing, to meet the nutritional needs of koi
Provides excellent color enhancement.
Age range description: All Life Stages

What is the best Koi food?

For colder climes, this is the best food you can get
Some of the carbohydrates come from wheat germ, which is a high-quality ingredient
Lots of vitamin C, which is essential for koi
Some of the protein comes from krill
Decent color-enhancing from the krill

What do koi and goldfish eat?

Goldfish and Koi are both Omnivores, which means that their healthy diet includes both insect and plant matter. The fish have teeth within their throats and can crush hard materials such as the pellets that form the primary ingredient in their meals (smaller goldfish typically eat only small flakes).

Where to buy Koi?

Zulkifli, who is also known as Usop Cerek, from Kampung Gong Pauh here in Terengganu, told Harian Metro that he is a hardcore fan of koi and has been involved in its breeding since 2015. "I sold my land just to buy the first-rate quality Sakai Kohaku koi.

Can you feed koi and goldfish the same food?

Can Koi and other types of pond goldfish eat the same food? The nutritional requirements of both fish are very close. The answer is yes. In fact just about every brand of goldfish food says it is OK for Koi and pond fish (other types of carp).

How often should I feed my koi and goldfish?

once per dayAs a general rule of thumb, you should feed your koi and goldfish once per day, no more than they can eat in 5 minutes. If there is still uneaten food left after 5 minutes, try feeding less next time. The amount of food required by koi and goldfish will vary widely depending on the season and temperature of the water.

Can you have goldfish and koi together?

Can Goldfish And Koi Live Together In A Tank? You should not keep goldfish and koi in a tank together permanently; however, it can be done temporarily, and only when the koi aren't fully grown. Koi can grow up to 3 feet in length, so the vast majority of tanks aren't going to be suitable for them.

What is koi fish favorite food?

Fish Food Small and baby koi prefer flake fish food, the smallest form. Pellets are good for the average-size koi while larger koi prefer bars of fish food. Most have plenty of proteins, a small number of fats, and essential vitamins & nutrients. Some other favorites include worms, larvae, tadpoles, shrimp, and clams.

How do you know if a koi fish is happy?

A happy Koi fish has adequate room (not overcrowded with other fish), well oxygenated water, a diverse environment with places to hide (bubbles, waterfall, plants, etc.), clean water (correct filter), and is fed with quality food.

Will koi and goldfish fight?

Studies have shown koi to be aggressive to certain other fish, in particular, fancy goldfish. While koi typically get along well with each other, they may not also be suited for living with some other pond fish species.

Do koi fish get lonely?

In other words, koi have dynamically adopted social and gregarious traits, and this allows them to live alone in most situations.

Can goldfish and koi have babies?

Since koi and goldfish are both specially bred varieties of carp, they actually can breed with each other, creating hybrid babies.

How many times a day do you feed koi fish?

How Often to Feed your Koi Fish. We recommend that you feed your fish once a day. This will provide enough nutrients for healthy fish and a healthy pond. Feeding them too often can put an excess amount of nutrients into your pond which can cause algae issues.

How much should I feed my koi a day?

Feed your fish up to four times per day. Only feed them as much as they can eat in about a five minute period. Koi fish eat just about anything, from small bugs and insects, to plants and algae at the bottom of the fish pond, to store-bought koi fish food. Koi will even eat people food.

Is it OK to feed goldfish once a day?

Until they are one year old, you should feed goldfish 2 or 3 times per day. Once they are older than one year, you should feed goldfish just once per day. There are, however, a number of factors that could lead you to adjust this schedule. Also, the type and amount of goldfish food you feed your goldfish is important.

How often should I feed my goldfish in a pond?

Fish should be fed no more than three times per day. In cooler water (65-70 degrees F) they should only be fed once per day if that. In much warmer water (76-82 degrees F), three times per day is not crazy.

Feeding Goldfish Koi is fun for the entire family

Feeding goldfish Koi is a little more complicated than sprinkling flakes on the water surface once or twice a day. We should be feeding our fish close to the same way and the same foods they would eat in their natural environment. In the wild, goldfish spend most of their time nibbling and grazing; eating food as they come across it.

Feeding goldfish

The goldfish swim bladder organ is connected to the intestinal tract where carbon dioxide is exchanged. Co2 is a gas created from waste. This gas exchange allows fish to rise or sink at will. Improper feeding leads to an impacted or slow tract, which can trap the gas in the bladder, leading to floating issues

Foods can be eaten by both Koi and Goldfish

1. Bloodworms You’ve probably heard of bloodworms before, but you may not have known they could be used to feed koi and goldfish together. While it’s not the most common food for either species, it is a favorite of both fish types. The bloodworm is a long, slimy worm that resembles the blood sausage.

Can you feed your Koi cheerios?

Yes, cheerios make a good snack for Koi. It comes as a surprise to many Koi owners that cheerios could be good for Koi. The cereal is non-toxic and does not make the Koi sick at all.

Can Koi fish eat chicken?

Yes, koi fish can eat chicken. In fact, they need to find a way to obtain protein in their diet because it is most important for them.

What are fish's natural foods?

One should offer different forms of foods (pellets, flakes, cakes, greens, insects and fruits), different enhancements (vitamin fortified, special amino acids for color enrichment, added vegetable matter) and foods that both sink and float.

What is the best food for a shabunkin?

So if you are feeding Shubunkins, Comets or Fantails, pond food or Koi food is fine to feed. You want a protein level around 30%, carbs about 65% and fiber about 5%. These percentages will vary depending on season (water temperature). As water temperature drops so does fish activity. You should decrease protein and fiber levels.

Do goldfish have stomachs?

As with any goldfish species, it is important to remember they do not have stomachs, only very long intestines. Foods that normally would get digested in the stomach (as in other fish) are not good, for this reason we want to feed a food that will be absorbed by the fish as it passes through the intestine.

Can a pond goldfish eat a koi?

How many gallons of water do goldfish need?

And because goldfish are a lot smaller, if your pond is big enough for your koi, then it’s going to be big enough for your goldfish as well! (Each goldfish will need about 50 gallons each.)

What is the temperament of a koi fish?

Temperament. One of the most important things when putting any two fish together is the temperament of both fish. While koi and goldfish are generally peaceful fish, there are some problems you may run into, when housing them in the same pond. The biggest worry is that if one is bigger than the other, the smaller one may end up being eaten.

How deep should a koi pond be?

Koi need ponds that are at least 1000 gallons in size, with some areas of the pond being 3-4 foot deep. You need this depth to help them overwinter, as the water in the deeper parts will be warmer.

What is the pH of a koi fish?

If it’s too high or too low it could begin to burn your fish’ skin and cause internal damage too. The ideal pH for koi and goldfish is around 7.2-7.5. However they can easily survive in a pH range between 6.5-8.

How big of a tank should I keep koi?

If you’re going to keep koi in a tank then you should only do it until they’re about 6″ in size. At that point they’ll need to be moved to a pond. Goldfish on the other hand, as you know already can live happily in tanks that are 30 gallons in size (with an extra 10 gallons for each additional goldfish.) And lastly, if you do plan on keeping small ...

What to put in a pond when adding plants?

If you want plants in the middle then try adding sturdy plants such as water hyacinth, water smartweed, and water lettuce!

Is a goldfish omnivore?

Koi and goldfish are both omnivores, so feeding them isn’t that difficult. You just need to make sure that you’re putting enough food in the pond for them both. When you’re thinking about food, the first thing you want is a high-quality flake for both fish.

What can I feed my koi?

This includes shrimp, fruit, vegetables, and anything that isn’t high in carbohydrates. Bread and foods like that are hard on your fish’s stomachs. You can also feed them fish food pellets. Make sure they’re the right size.

What do koi fish eat?

What Koi Fish Eat Naturally. In the wild, koi fish eat algae, plants, insects, worms, seeds, and anything they can stir up from the pond’s bottom. They hunt along the pond floor and along the surface. If you have an ecosystem pond they can continue having their natural diet.

What to feed a koi when it's hatched?

Brine shrimp are especially good for feeding recently hatched koi fish. 4. Fish Food. Small and baby koi prefer flake fish food, the smallest form. Pellets are good for the average-size koi while larger koi prefer bars of fish food. Most have plenty of proteins, a small number of fats, and essential vitamins & nutrients.

How often should I feed koi fish?

General Information On Feeding Koi Fish. If you have an ecosystem pond you’ll only want to feed your fish a handful of food twice per week. Any more and they can start having health problems. If you don’t have plants you can feed koi fish as much as they can eat in 5 minutes once per day.

What is the best way to grow goldfish?

Bringing out better coloration due to carotene pigments found in the algae. 2. Wheat Germ. Don’t worry it’s not the bad kind of germ. This is the part of wheat that sprouts and grows into a new plant, the wheat seed if you will. Experiments have shown wheat germ can help goldfish and koi grow faster.

Can koi fish eat grains?

This includes fish, bugs, frogs, and everything else. They could have parasites or diseases. Grains aren’t the best food for koi. They tend to be very fattening, which is good if your fish start losing weight.

Does wheat germ help goldfish?

Experiments have shown wheat germ can help goldfish and koi grow faster. It’s also a natural source of vitamin E which improves blood circulation, increases oxygen and nutrient flow, helps promote balanced growth, and aids in fighting off disease. 3. Brine Shrimp.

What is the best food for koi?

As recommended by many professional koi breeders, the best koi food for color is Saki-Hikari Color . This feed is formulated to bring out the natural color and beauty of koi fish. It is designed to help the koi develop more rapid and deep coloration.

What is the importance of koi food?

It has a significance on the performance and overall health of your koi fish. Feeding Koi Food to Nishikigoi.

What are scuds in koi fish?

They are rather small, so they are especially suitable for smaller koi. They are a great source roughage, which will aid in digestion. Gammarus shrimp are also known to be high in carotenoids, which will help bring out the colors in the koi fish. Gammarus is a type of amphipod, which is an organism that serves as a natural food source for the common carp ( FAO ).

What temperature should koi fish be fed?

The combination of easily digested wheat germ and probiotic makes this the best fish food when the temperature is cooler below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on the temperature, feeding levels should be adjusted. The colder it gets, the koi will become less active and require less food.

What is the purpose of probiotics in fish feed?

The feed is also enhanced with probiotics, which helps the fish digest and utilize the nutrients in the feed more efficiently. The probiotic ingredient in the feed becomes active in the intestinal tract during digestion. This creates beneficial digestive enzymes and results in a reduction of fish waste.

Can mealworms be fed to koi?

Mealworms are often fed to reptiles, but they can be fed to koi fish as well. They are often available in both dry and live form. The dry form can be stored easily and they are convenient. It is also possible to maintain a live culture of mealworms. The benefit of maintaining a live culture is that you can gut-load them before feeding them to the koi.

Can koi fish eat beef?

Meat such as beef, pork, and chicken can be difficult to digest for koi fish. These land based animals are not a part of their natural diet. For the same reasons, dairy products should be avoided.

How long should I feed a koi?

As a rule of thumb, try to feed just enough for your koi to consume within 3 – 5 minutes at any given time.

When should I feed my koi fish?

Do try to feed them during the warmest part of the day, between 10 am to 2 pm, or when the temperature is most stable. If you find that your koi do not readily eat, avoid excessive feeding and remove unconsumed fish feed.

How to keep koi from losing appetite?

When temperatures are too high (i.e. above 30˚C/85˚F), koi can completely lose their appetite. If this occurs, reduce the feeding frequency and stick to easily digestible fish feeds. You may also try to lower water temperatures by providing shade or shelter in the form of aquatic plants.

Why do koi swim in ponds?

This occurs as digestive enzymes and bacteria become absent or grow dormant, preventing any available food from being properly digested. Although you may see your koi swimming along the pond bottom at this time, it would be best to withhold feeding completely.

What temperature do koi need to be?

The warmer the water, the more active koi become. Their metabolic functions are optimized at temperatures above 70˚F (21˚C). As they expend more energy, they will require more frequent feeding times and higher-quality protein-rich food.

How to increase koi feeding frequency?

You can gradually increase the feeding frequency to up to 2x a day while paying close attention to rising water temperatures. To boost your koi’s immune system, you can supplement their diets with vitamin-rich treats, such as orange halves, grapefruit slices, romaine lettuce, and squash.

How much food should koi eat a day?

At this time, they should be fed protein-rich food (growth diets) 2 – 4 times a day, depending on their activity level.

How often should I feed my koi fish?

Why do fish feed on algae?

One reason is so that they do feed on the algae growing in your pond, because it will help keep the algae growth in check. Also, large amounts of food that don’t get eaten would then flow into your filtration system, break down and then can cause algae growth from the excess nutrients that are broken down.

How do fish learn to eat?

By getting into a feeding pattern your fish will learn when it is time to eat, and they will begin to eat closer to the location where you feed them from. After some time they will get so familiar with the feeding time and place they will eat right out of your hands!