Definitive Guide to TetraPond Koi Food

Koi are one of the most magnificent and beautiful pedigree creatures. They were inbred for many years to produce the most splendid kinds that we see today.

The Koi that we have today are, without a doubt, the most beautiful. But they are also weaker and more prone to disease. The same is the case for any pedigree animals. They become genetically weaker. This means that their immune systems are also weaker than their ancestors. As a result, they require better care, which includes a better environment or habitat, and most importantly, better food.

Koi have rich, bright colors and patterns. However, over time, their color can become dull if they are not fed the right food. They need a certain amount of protein, vitamins, and other nutrients to grow healthy and beautiful.

The food is as important as providing them the right habitat and replacing the water from time to time. Finding the right food for koi is by no means an easy task, especially if you're a new pond owner.

The food must have all the essential ingredients, and most importantly, the ingredients must be at a proper proportion.

If you're looking for the best quality Koi food, consider these hand-picked Tetrapond Koi food products which not only contain perfectly balanced nutrients, but will also keep your tanks clean, and keep your lovelies healthy.

TetraPond - Pond Sticks

Pond sticks have been one of the most favored Koi foods for many years. It is an ideal diet which boosts energy increases longevity and provides better health.

Active ingredients in Pond Sticks and their Benefits

Vitamin C – Pond sticks have just the right amount of stabilized vitamin C, which is essential for health, metabolism, and growth.
Fat – Acts as a source of concentrated energy.
Fiber – Fiber is crucial for efficient and healthy digestion.
Protein – Contains essential amino acids which help promote growth.

How and when to use Pond Sticks

Pond sticks are a healthy maintenance diet for all kinds of pond fish, particularly goldfish and Koi. Its use is recommended in summer, spring, and fall. The water temperature should be 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Do not feed the fish if the temperature is below 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pond sticks soften very easily in water and can be easily consumed by a small or large fish. Since it can be easily digested, the waste is also minimized. As a result, it potentially keeps the water clear for a longer period of time.

Koi Vibrance

Koi Vibrance is another great product which is very similar to Pond sticks. It's highly soluble in water, which means it becomes soft almost instantly, and are also easily ingestible. Since the food is easily digested, the waste is reduced to a minimum. As a result, the water has less chance of becoming cloudy, and it also prevents algae growth.

The feeding instruction is just the same as pond sticks – summer, spring, fall, and a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Some of its active ingredients include wheat starch, vitamin C, vitamin D, fish meal, soybean oil, and corn flour. These essential ingredients are in a perfect proportion to boost the immune system, and boost health.

Koi Vibrance has clear water formula, and color enhancer, which means the food is digested easily to reduce the waste, and it does not cloud the water. Also, the food is formulated to enhance the bright colors of Koi.

Spring and Fall Diet

Pond fishes do not eat much in cooler weather. This is because their rate of metabolism is reduced in cold water. However, they still have to maintain a proper and balanced diet. This brings us to the next product, which is made for colder seasons.

Spring and fall diet contains those ingredients that can be digested easily, even in cold water. It can be used to feed large or small fishes. We do not recommend using this feed when the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

Koi Growth Food.

As its name suggests, the koi growth food is formulated to enhance rapid fish growth. It contains active ingredients needed for the growth and provides more energy. It also makes the fish very active and more resistant to disease.

This product is most ideal in late spring and early summer. It is recommended that you use Koi growth food only when the temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Koi Variety Blend

The Koi variety blend is one of the most loved items in the entire fish food industry. This product is a blend of pond sticks, Koi vibrancy, and spring & fall diet. Pond sticks have all the essential ingredients which help the fish to grow and stay healthy, and Koi vibrance has natural color enhancers which enable the fish to stay vibrant and colorful. In addition, spring & fall diet promotes vitality and health. Color enhancement is most noticeable in reddish and yellowish colored fishes.

Koi vibrance can be used in spring, summer, and fall. It works best on goldfish and koi, large or small.

Pond Flakes

Pond Flakes are one of those products that have been around for many years; in other words, they have stood the test of time. These are very reliable fish food trusted by many pond owners.

Pond flakes are great for small pond fishes. It contains highly nutritional ingredients which are formulated for reducing waste. The water will remain crystal clear for a longer period of time.

Pond Flakes must be used as primary feed in spring and summer. The most active ingredient of pond Flakes are coconut, vitamins, and fish meal.

Pond Color Flakes

This product is most suitable for smaller fishes as they are smaller in size. Pond color flakes contain proteins which enhances metabolism and helps the fish to grow faster. It also contains fats that provide energy and fibers, which makes the digestion easier.

This awesome Koi fish food from TetraPond keeps the water clean and does not promote algae growth. Pond color flakes is also a great color enhancer. It may not work well on larger fishes. This is why we recommend you to use TetraPond food color sticks for larger fish.

For optimum result, use this feed during spring and summer when the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pond Vacation Food

Pond vacation food allows you to keep your pond fishes nourished for up to 7 days while you enjoy your vacation.

It is a gel-based diet, which releases the food slowly; it can last for several days. If you're going on a vacation or out of town for a few days, simply use this feed. To use the pond vacation food, unwrap the foil seal and depending on how many fishes you have, drop the blocks into the pond. You also have to consider the number of days you plan to spend away from home.

Pond food vacation is clear water formulated, and it is a highly nutritional diet. It will keep your fishes nourished and healthy, and keep the water clean and clear. This product is something you can rely on if you're going on a vacation, you can enjoy your time peacefully without worrying about your fishy friends.

About Tetrapond

TetraPond is the most reputed and largest supplier of pond food products in the world. They have more than six decades of experience in the industry, and have representatives across the globe; in more than 90 countries. In fact, the first dried flake food was invented by its founder Dr. Ulrich Baensch.

Feeding Guide

It's very important to know the temperature of the water. Never make assumptions based on the weather forecast; the air temperature always differs from the water temperature.

At higher temperature, say over 77 degrees Fahrenheit you can feed 4 to 5 times a day. However, overfeeding can cause a number of problems. It will make the water quality low and affect the health of the fishes.

If your fishes take longer than 10 minutes to finish their food, you're overfeeding them. You also have to ensure that there are no leftovers. The leftovers will make the water dirty, and overtime loses nutritional properties. This is very true in the case of vitamins that are highly soluble in water.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Koi require only the best quality food? Why trust TetraPond products?

This question is best answered with an example. We cannot expect to be healthy and fit if we do not maintain a healthy diet. Fast foods may be easily accessible and cheaper, but they are not healthy. The same thing applies to Koi, there are dozens of brands that sell cheap foods, but it's very harmful to the fishes in the long run.

As stated earlier, Koi are weaker than their ancestors, and they are more prone to disease. For these reasons, they need highly nutritional food. Without a well-nourished food, they won't grow fully, and their color will slowly become dull.

TetraPond products are made with high-quality ingredients, and they contain the perfect amount of all the nutrients. In addition, TetraPond has been in business long enough to understand exactly what Koi fish need for their daily nutrition.

Which is better, floating food or sinking food?

The majority of Koi foods are floating type, but both of these types have merits as well as demerits. Let's discuss them in greater depth.

Merits of floating food.

It's a lot of fun to watch the fishes consume their food, and since the food does not go underwater, the fishes come to the surface to eat, this creates a stunning view.

Another benefit or merit of the floating type of food is that you can inspect the fishes for any type of infection or injury.

And lastly, you get to know if all of your Koi are eating their food.

Demerit.

If the fishes do not eat up their food fast, the food might get stuck in the skimmer. This will create a big problem if it's not checked on time.

Merits of sinking koi food.

It has been proved that sinking feed is more efficient, and it helps the fish grow faster. This is because Koi feed better at the bottom.

Demerit.

Feeding the Koi this type of food is not as fun to watch. Also, you cannot keep a check on their health, especially if the water is not clear.

What to look for when buying Koi food?

As you would check out the nutritional values and ingredients before buying packaged food for yourself, it's important that you look out for the ingredients when buying Koi food.

Here is a list of ingredients that makes a wholesome food for the Koi; protein, plant protein such as wheat or soy, vitamins, minerals, fat, and color enhancers. Note that vitamin C is extremely important for the fishes; it helps them fight off viral and bacterial infections.

Which is better; sticks, pellets or flakes?

You have to be careful when choosing the type of Koi food. Koi do not chew their food. They swallow their food. This can be a problem, particularly for the smaller fishes. See that you buy good quality food which is not so hard, and not as soft that it dissolves instantly. If the food breaks apart as soon as it touches water, it becomes a waste.

It's up to you to decide which one you choose. The shape of the food does not make much difference nutritionally. However, if your fishes are small, it's best to buy flakes, and go for pellets or sticks as they grow bigger.

Can Koi survive without feed, if so, then how long?

In the summer season, Koi can survive for at least two weeks even did they're not fed. They will eat whatever edibles they find in the water. Koi can last the whole winter season without food. But you don't want to keep them starving, do you?

You also need to remember that you don't feed them when the temperature is lower than 39 degree Fahrenheit.

Final Thoughts...

Taking care of Koi may seem to be pretty intimidating at first, but once you choose the right food, and know when and how to feed them, it becomes a fun activity.

The products reviewed above are highly nutritional and made of high-quality ingredients; any of those products will work for your Koi. Some are made for feeding in cold weather, while some are for warmer months; make sure you read the specifications carefully before buying.