koi feeding

14 years ago

I also posted this on American Ponders so I apologize if you've seen it twice!

I finally got my pond going and have introduced 3 koi and 2 shubunkins about 3 weeks ago. Everyone appears happy and healthy and eating fairly well.

I would eventually like to get my koi to learn to eat out of my hand. But, right now, they won't eat when I'm anywhere near the pond. I think shadows are spooking them. I have to throw their food and step back. It will usually take them anywhere from one minute to 5 minutes to start feeding after the food is thrown to them. Then, they will eat very slowly, take a bit of food - swim to the bottom, swim around in circles nearing the surface like they are ready for more and then dart away at the last second. They are very skittish about coming to the surface to eat! I tried flakes hoping that as they sank, they'd feel more comfortable eating them but they want NOTHING to do with the flakes.

How long will they behave like this? Is there anything I can do to help encourage them to eat in front of me. If I try to stand closer to the pond, nope they won't eat so I end up walking away so they will at least eat! I'm never going to get them used to my presence if I have to stand away from the pond or walk away entirely to get them to eat. I have seen nothing that even begins to resemble a feeding frenzy in my pond much less ever having hope that they will eat from my hand - or even near me for that matter.

The weird thing is that I know they are very curious. The first week and a half they were in the pond I was in there with them a lot rearranging rocks, etc. I would turn around and there they would be 4 inches from my legs just watching. When ever I move a rock or do something along the water edge, as soon as I leave, there they all are checking out what I just did.

Sorry for the long winded post. I would just like to make friends with my fish being the bleeding heart animal lover that I am! :-)

Thanks for your input!

Featured Answer

ccoombs1

14 years ago

Some koi never eat from your hands. But some prefer to be hand fed. I have both kinds. To tempt them, get something really tasty. Like boiled shrimp. Sit by the pond, get yourself really comfortable and just sit there, with your hand (and shrimp) very still in the water. It may take a while, but keep doing this and don't feed them unless they eat from your hand. They won't starve. If they have plenty to eat, there is no incentive for them to come to your hand. Once they realize there is nothing to fear, they will come more quickly and to koi food.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

sleeplessinftwayne
14 years ago
Are there animals or birds coming up to the edge when you are not there. That could keep them skittish. I supplement the Koi sticks with Tetramin Pro. It is much more dense than the flakes and they seem to like it a lot better than the flakes that result in a gooey mess on everything. It is more expensive but doesn't go to waste.
0
Related Discussions
Flowers are blooming (Pictures attached)
Q
Comments (4)
Hi Due to the record setting warm winter my lilies never went out of flower Iris were over by the end of FebEven the tropical aquarium type plants flowered lol I had to repair my pond so all have been transplanted but "Blue Goddess pushed out a flower within a week . I can see I'm going to be doing a LOT of pruning this summer!! lol gary
...See More
Relaxing Video of Koi Feeding (Underwater)
Q
Comments (2)
Sorry, duplicate post. Not sure why the first one didnt go up until several minutes later. Sorry!
...See More
Not feeding koi
Q
Comments (9)
If you have a pond that has naturalized with plenty of plants, even without a filter you probably don't really need to feed the fish. Very big ponds tend to settle out and develop a dirt bottom from the leafy debris. Its full of grubs and the bottom of leaves have bugs. The koi also eat roots and some of the plants. The pond we had that was like that got damaged in remodeling so we are starting over with 3 ponds. One of the large ponds does not have a filter but it also has small enough fish so they do not destroy the plants. the pond with the major filter and the very large koi seems to have too much movement to grow large plants, so we have to feed koi for now. You can throw water hyacinth in but they practically gobble them in midair, and nibble on the roots. They disturb the water lilies and uproot them, even moving large rocks. They need to be fed. We throw them raw chicken liver pieces, to get them accustomed to eating something besides dried food.
...See More
Name My Koi Please
Q
Comments (26)
Linda whats a Benegoi? never heard of that one. koi do produce more waste than goldfish, but I dont think other fish make them "skittish" I put a few small koi (2.5") in with my goldfish to grow on a bit before putting in the koi pond, they even had the goldfish feeding from hand, there was a chagoi and ochiba in the bunch to tho, and those fish have a remerkable calming effect on all fish it seems. Steve, that was my point, your koi will happily feed from the bottom with you there but from the top, they are not used to you being near the pond so they wont come up and feed till you leave, you need to stay there a for a while each day until they are used to seeing you there at feeding times, then eventually they will come up to greet you each time you go there, the only other way that doesnt take ages is to add a chagoi or ochiba etc, so if you dont have time to spend by your pond then it may take a long time before they feed on the top with you watching.
...See More
Related Professionals
East Patchogue Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Buford Landscape Contractors · Waterbury Landscape Contractors · Apollo Beach Landscape Contractors · Canton Landscape Contractors · Cedar Hill Landscape Contractors · El Mirage Landscape Contractors · Lake Zurich Landscape Contractors · Longview Landscape Contractors · Los Banos Landscape Contractors · New Baltimore Landscape Contractors · Pahrump Landscape Contractors · Saint John Landscape Contractors · Goldenrod Landscape Contractors · Selma Landscape Contractors
cweathersby
14 years ago
I'm no pro, but my koi get skittish like that every time there is a predator around. They stay that way for about 2 weeks then ease back up. Yours may just still be adjusting to life in the new home!

Ccoombs, that's an awesome idea. I can't wait to buy some shrimp. When my niece was a baby I let her sit on the edge of the top pond and the little koi would nibble her toes, but I have never gotten them to where they would eat out of my hand.
0
jennyb5149
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions! Keep them coming!

Sleepless....my cat will drink from the pond. I've watched him do it while the koi are feeding. They don't even take notice of him nor he of them. I wasn't expecting that from either of them! I was completely prepared to have to jump in and rescue one of my cats from the pond after they tried to catch a fish!

ccombs...you mean just go to the store, buy some fresh shrimp, boil them up and there you go? Do I need to cut them up into koi bite sized pieces?

Love this forum! Thanks everyone!
0
nkm56
14 years ago
How big are your koi? Small koi, say under 8 inches or so, are more skittish than larger koi. It's survival instinct, and if your koi are small, the behavior will probably last until they're larger. Mine behaved the same way.

Now, as soon as I walk outside, my entire herd come to meet me and follow me along the edge to the feeding spot. If I'm working on the flowers around the edge, they're right there watching me.

You might try holding a handful of pellets right at the surface of the water and let them slowly drift out of your hand. Let the fish see that the food is coming from your hand, not just falling out of the sky.

Koi are wonderful pets, and trust me, yours will warm to you if you're patient.
0
ccoombs1
14 years ago
You can use larger shrimp. Once they are cooked, the koi can nibble bits off of them as you hold the shrimp. Soon they will be chowing down like piranhas!!
0
cliff_and_joann
14 years ago
Dig up earth worms, thy are crazy for them.
What you have to do is sit on a chair by the pond.

Eventually they will get used to seeing your face :) When you sit by the pond throw in some food occasionally.

It will take time, however once they get use to you and come running as soon as they see you, then you can begin hand feeding. They will learn to hand feed with earth worms in no time flat.
0
jennyb5149
Original Author
14 years ago
ccombs..thanks for the shrimp follow up. I know we have some frozen ones in the freezer somewhere. May as well make use of them!

Nancy...I think you might be on to something there. My little guys are only in the 4-6" range. They probably just need time to grow and to adjust to their new surroundings, me, my fiance and my Tonks. I'm sure as the summer progresses and they get bigger, I'll see a big difference in their behavior.

Cliff and Joann...I have a very avid walleye angler in the family who is ALWAYS outside after a good rain collecting nightcrawlers. I'll be sure to ask him to get a few extra for the koi!

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! I'm so excited to see my little fish family grow and bond with me!
0
jennyb5149
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks again for the ideas everyone!

Just an update...I've been spending hours sitting by the pond letting the fish see me. Every so often I'll throw out a food pellet or two or a little treat like cut up worms or shrimp.

Though they still won't get too close when they are eating, they are definitely warming up to me. Now when they see me they all come up to the surface and start swimming around in excited circles. It is SO FUN to see the gang come up to meet me! :-)
Lucas Henry
7 years ago
If you want your koi fish to eat out of your hand the key is baby steps. From personal experience I can tell you Koi Fish even in a well maintained pond are very sensitive to their environment. When you approach the pond it is key to make sure your in a calm state of mind. I have a koi pond in my home and I love to sit beside the pond and just rest. The more calm you are the closer they will come to you.

Bring some worms with you and only use them as a treat for the one who is closes to you. One will likely be more curious than others if only slightly. He will likely be the first one to allow you to feed him from your palm. Once he does the others will more than likely follow. Its all about trust . Don't chase after a koi's attention. Any agitation in you and it will reflect on your koi's temperament. It will take time but the best friendships often do!

Best wishes,

nebuanhk
0
joe009
7 years ago
i use koi krunchies,they look like cheese doodlles.i lay down with my hand in the water,very still and with patience,they will slowly come over.try throwing some in the pond for a few days,so they get used the them.it takes them a while but they will feed out of your hand.my grand children love it
0
cliff_and_joann
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
As soon as they get use to seeing your face they will react

like hungry puppies and they'll follow you all around the pond.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak6GlOA19YY
0

koi feeding

ccoombs1

Comments (12)

sleeplessinftwayne

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

cweathersby

jennyb5149
Original Author

nkm56

ccoombs1

cliff_and_joann

jennyb5149
Original Author

jennyb5149
Original Author

Lucas Henry

joe009

cliff_and_joann

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

koi feeding

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

jennyb5149Original Author

jennyb5149Original Author

jennyb5149Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jennyb5149
Original Author

jennyb5149
Original Author

jennyb5149
Original Author