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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

when to stop feeding...?

13 years ago

I have forgotten the temp of the pond water when to stop feeding the fish? I only do it for entertainment usually (mine & the fish !) as they (only four big goldies + many mosquito eating minnows in the 250 gal. pond) seem to get plenty on their own in the pond.

In the past I have waited til Spring to clean the pond ... should I do it in the Fall instead? Maybe I could just vac out the bottom sludge that has accumulated since the spring cleaning?

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Comments (4)

annedickinson
13 years ago
When the day time water temps go down to about 50 F I switch to a spring/fall food, then when they go down to about 40 F I stop feeding. If the temps I go by are wrong then, hopefully, someone will set me straight.

I make sure all leaves are scooped out of the pond in the fall. I have a small 160 gal pond. I don't usually have any sludge. I use MicrobLift; I don't know if that contributes to lack of sludge or not. I do believe that it is important to go into the winter with as clean a pond as possible.

Anne
ccoombs1
13 years ago
I start feeding wheatgerm food at 55Ã¯Â¿Â½ and stop feeding at 50Ã¯Â¿Â½. And get the pond as clean as possible in the fall. It is healthier for the fish to overwinter in a clean pond.
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jr2010
13 years ago
I normally start feeding a spring and fall diet when the water temp gets to 55 F and I stop feeding altogether at 46 F. At 40 F they hybernate.

I clean out all the fallen leaves, seasonal plants and as much algae as possible in the fall. Gases are given off by rotting debri and polute the water, but dont worry if its not perfect, Gases will escape as long as the pond doesnt completely freeze over.

Here is a link that might be useful: Feeding Koi Fish
ccoombs1
13 years ago
Koi do not hibernate. When an animal hibernates, they are unaware of their surroundings. It takes a lot to wake an animal from a hibernated state. Hibernating bears are often pulled from their dens to do studies on them, and they don't even wake up. They are dead asleep. That is true hibernation.

Koi are cold blooded creatures and in the winter, they slow way down to conserve their energy (a degree of stasis). They are sluggish, but very much aware of what's going on around them and can easily take off and swim normally if they feel threatened.

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