Asked By: Ruth, Altoona, PA
A: Talk about feeling hungry! If your fish are actively (or anxiously!) swimming around your water garden, nibbling and tasting your budding plants, and gazing at you forlornly as you eat your peanut butter sandwich pondside, it sounds like your finned pals are ready for some grub after their long winter fast.
Signs like these are telling, but to make sure your fish are ready to start eating regular food again, here are some guidelines to follow.
Take Your Pond's Temperature
Last fall when water temperatures fell below 40 degrees Fahrenheit on the
thermometer, your fishes' metabolisms slowed way down. For the next few months, they rested in a hibernation-type state when they fasted and lived off the fat stores in their body. They needed no food from you – in fact, feeding them when they're hibernating can make them very sick.
Once spring has finally arrived and the sun has warmed your pond's water to 40 to 50 degrees F, your fishes' metabolism has kicked back into gear. They're swimming around and searching for food to fuel their increased activity levels. Begin feeding your fish up to 3 times per week, and only what can be consumed in a 5 minute period. They will need a wheat germ food that's easy to digest, like
The Pond Guy Spring & Fall Fish Food. Packed with plant-based nutrients, the diet will satiate their hunger, and stimulate growth and fertility.
Pump Up the Protein
Late spring and summer bring even warmer 50 degree-plus water temperatures, and that's when you can switch your fishes' diet to one that will help them develop and build some serious bulk. If growing big koi and goldfish is your goal, feed your scaled friends a high-protein diet, like
The Pond Guy Growth & Vibrance Fish Food. It contains 38 percent protein for maximum growth and includes ingredients that will make their colors pop.
If you want to simply maintain their size while supporting a good diet, offer them
The Pond Guy Staple Fish Food. Perfect for all pond fish, the summer staple diet contains a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It's easily digestible and designed for everyday feeding. Plus, it floats – so it makes mealtime fun for you and your fish!
Check the Forecast
Mother Nature has fun with weather – particularly with temperature fluctuations in the spring – so be sure to check the long-term forecast before you start feeding your fish on a regular schedule. Ideally, the weather should be consistently keeping the water a warm 40 to 50 degrees F. At that point, feed slowly to make sure they're consuming the food at a steady pace and increase the amount as they're ready.
Happy feeding!