Temperature is dropping fast in the "pond"...water temp. was 62 last week, now is is 55. I switched to weat germ about 3 weeks ago...when should I stop feeding all toghether?
Feeding koi at this time
Equilibrium
Oct 22, 2004
Some sources say to discontinue feeding when pond temps are consistently at around 45F. Others say 50F. I discontinue at 50F as this is when I have noticed that the activity level of the fish dramatically decreases to virtually a state of suspended animation down at the bottom of the pond. I suspect this is going to vary from ponder to ponder. Seemed to me there was a considerable amount of food going uneaten when I kept feeding to 45F but that could just be my fish. Their metabolisms slow down so dramatically at these temps.
I make sure I feed less than half what I put in the day before once the water temp hits 55oF. If they eat it all I give them a little bit more. I also feed a high quality food that doesn't break down too quickly in the water. Jessamine
Equilibrium, I would go with not feeding when temperatures are constantly under 55F, as the fish have difficulty digesting the food and it can rot in their digestive tracks.
45F seems a little on the cold side to me, to be feeding, I tend to think the fish would becoming a bit sluggish at that temperature and not be able to digest food properly.
If fish are hungry during the late Fall and even into Winter, they will suck at the algae on the pond walls and rocks. The algae is full of nutrients and does not harm them.
Oconus.