The 10 Best Koi Foods With the Nutrients You Need 2024
Munch munch munch, yum yum yum.
That’s your koi when you buy them some top-quality koi food.
In this guide, we’ve brought you the best koi food that you can get your hands on – and that your koi can get their mouth around.
We’ve included an excellent range packed with all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients which are essential for your koi, their health and their longevity. Good koi food can even make your koi look better, with ingredients which enhance and improve their natural colors!
It’s important to buy good stuff. If you buy cheap, low-quality koi food, you’ll be left with unhappy koi, and you won’t be giving them the nutrition they need.
We’ve included a variety of different koi food with a variety of different ingredients and nutrient profiles. We’ve also included koi food for a range of different budgets, so you can feed your koi quality stuff no matter how much money you want to spend.
Looking for good koi food? Stick with us. We’ve brought you a list of excellent food, but more importantly, we’ve brought you all the information you need to know about it. We’ve included information about what you should be looking for, and how you know when your koi food is good koi food.
We’ve included a short introduction to what you need to know and detailed buying guide for you koi lovers keen to learn the details.
Wander over to your pond and join us, as we dive into the stinky world of koi food.
- What to Consider When You’re Choosing Koi Food
- Top 10 Best Koi Foods 2024
- 1. Best Overall Koi Food: Hikari Staple Floating Pellets
- 2. Best Premium Summer Koi Food: Dainichi Koi Premium
- 3. Best Premium Year-Round Koi Food: Dainichi All-Season
- 4. Best Budget Koi Food: TetraPond Variety Blend
- 5. Best Budget Summer Koi Food: TetraPond High Protein Growth
- 6. Best Cold Weather Koi Food: Hikari Wheat Germ Formula
- 7. Hikari Saki Growth
- 8. Most Affordable Koi Food: Kaytee Koi’s Choice
- 9. Best Large-Pellet Koi Food: Blue Ridge Floating Large Pellets
- 10. Best Color-Enhancing Koi Food: Aqua Master Color Enhancer
- Everything You Need to Know Before You Choose Some of the Best Koi Food From This List
- Final Thoughts
What to Consider When You’re Choosing Koi Food
When deciding on the best koi food for you and your koi, here are the most important things to think about:
Nutrient Profile
For healthy koi, you need to buy koi food with lots of vitamins and minerals. Important ingredients are protein, carbohydrates, ash, fat and vitamins. One of the most important vitamins is Ascorbic Acid (or as you probably know it, Vitamin C), while A, B and K are pretty important too. We’ve included much more information on nutrition in our Koi Food Ingredients section later in this guide.
Season
Different foods are better for different seasons. In colder weather, your fish need more carbohydrates. In warmer months, protein is more important. You can either buy specific foods for specific seasons, or you can buy a multi-purpose year-round feed, which is usually the simplest option.
Color Enhancers
You want your fish to look good – or else you probably wouldn’t have them in the first place. Lots of koi food has added color enhancers, which help to bring out the colors of your koi. The most common color-enhancing additives are spirulina, krill, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin, but vitamins can help the color of your fish too.
Pellet Size and Style
Big fish need big pellets, and small fish need smaller pellets. Buy according to the size of your fish. Some pellets float, while some sink to the bottom. Generally, floating food allows you to see your koi, while sinking food can stop koi from getting hurt when eating from the surface. But this isn’t typically too much of a consideration.
Below, we’ve listed the world’s best koi food.
We’ve given you a detailed breakdown of all the stats you need to know, including nutrients, seasonal information, color enhancer details, pellet size and price. We’ve then included more detailed information for those who want to know the ins and out – and we’ve included a brief and useful list of pros and cons for each one.
Later in this guide, we’ve given you every last piece of information you need to know. If you’re totally new to buying good koi food, it’s a resource you’ll enjoy.
But before then, here are our top 10 best koi foods:
Top 10 Best Koi Foods 2024
1. Best Overall Koi Food: Hikari Staple Floating Pellets
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: Japanese brand Hikari are well-known for creating excellent, well-rounded, relatively affordable koi food. If you want a great all-rounder, Hikari’s Staple food is excellent, with a brilliant nutrient profile which you can feed your koi year-round.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Medium floating pellets
- Price: Low to medium
- Season: Year-round
- Protein: 35%
- Fat: 3%
- Ash: 13%
- Vitamins: A, D3, E, C, and phosphorous
- Immune Booster: No particular immune booster, but the vitamin profile (with stabilized vitamin C) is excellent for boosting the immune systems of your koi.
- Color Enhancer: No, but the vitamin profile will support healthy colors
In Depth
If you’re mainly concerned with getting a balanced vitamin profile to your koi, this is perfect. There’s nothing fancy or spectacular, but it offers all the vitamins your fish need, with an excellent amount of vitamin C, which is particularly important. There are no color-boosting properties here, but don’t underestimate how much a good vitamin balance can really make those colors ping.
The amount of protein is excellent for fast growth year-round. If you’re struggling to get your koi to grow, this will fix it, without a doubt. The pellets float, so you can watch your koi feed, while the food won’t cloud your water.
Your fish will probably love this stuff. I haven’t eaten it, so I can’t attest to the flavor, but it’s very popular with koi. If you’re struggling to get your koi to eat the food you provide them, this will solve that problem. For medium pellets, they’re a little on the small side, but that makes these pellets great for both full-size and growing fish. The main ingredient is wheat flour, which provides lots of the protein.
Pros
- Excellent food at an excellent price - for very good stuff at a decent price point, you won’t find better
- Great for year-round feeding
- Lots of essential vitamins and minerals, with a brilliantly-balanced profile
- Lots of the ever-essential vitamin C
- This stuff floats, so you can watch your fish feed
- Koi seem to love the flavor of this stuff
Cons
- Doesn’t have a specific color enhancer
- More of the proteins in some more expensive products are of higher quality
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: With a massive protein profile of 42% - and made up mainly of fish meal - this stuff will make your fish huge. It’s also packed with color-enhancing properties, and there’s a huge vitamin profile along with lots of yeast. If you want lots of high-quality ingredients, you won’t find better.
Quick Facts:
- Type: You can buy small, medium and large – but they all float
- Price: High
- Season: Summer
- Protein: 42% – and mainly from fish and krill
- Fat: 4%
- Ash: 9%
- Vitamins: A, B, C, D, E and minerals
- Immune Booster: Calcium montmorillonite clay and brewer’s yeast
- Color Enhancer: Spirulina and krill
In Depth
For premium food packed with protein and minerals, this is as good as it gets. This will make your fish grow fast and live long, and there’s excellent support for immune systems and digestive health. Short of giving your fish steroids, this is the most powerful stuff you can give them.
Most of the protein here comes from krill and fish, so the protein is of absolutely brilliant quality. It’s only suitable for warmer months though, as your koi will need more carbohydrates (and a little less protein) in the colder months.
The pellets are a little hard, so your fish might not be able to eat them at first, but they soon soften up. This hardness is because the outer coating of the pellets is made up of a vitamin mixture which surrounds the rest of the pellet. So it’s all good stuff. The calcium montmorillonite clay helps with digestion, as does the inclusion of garlic.
This is also an excellent feed for making your koi look great. The spirulina and krill are excellent at bringing out the colors of your koi – and the subtlety of those colors. If you’ve never before used food of this quality, you’ll spot tones and colors you’ll never before have spotted on your fish. The vitamins are great for luster and coat shine, which will make your koi look sleek and shiny.
Pros
- For high-quality food, this is as good as it gets
- Your fish will look better than they’ve ever looked, with shine, luster and beautiful colors
- The protein content is massive - and it’s mainly made up of krill and fish
- Excellent for digestion
- Your koi will grow very quickly with this food
Cons
- This stuff is very expensive - but it’s worth it if you have the money
- It’s a little hard, but it softens after a minute or so
- Only suitable for warmer months
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: Not quite as protein-packed as the Dainichi Premium, this stuff is brilliant if you’re looking for koi food which will make your koi look good and feel good year-round. If that’s your priority, you won’t find better.
Quick Facts:
- Type: You can buy small, medium and large – but they all float
- Price: High
- Season: Year-round
- Protein: 39%, with lots of fish meal and krill meal
- Fat: 6%
- Ash: 9%
- Vitamins: A, B, C, D, E and minerals
- Immune Booster: Calcium montmorillonite clay and brewer’s yeast
- Color Enhancer: Spirulina and krill
In Depth
This stuff will cram your koi’s mouth and belly with nutrition year-round.
Again, lots of the protein comes from fish and krill, so it’s all excellent stuff. But be careful – because of the high protein content, you should perhaps feed your koi a little less with this food than you usually would.
This food is packed with vitamins C and E which help your koi to shine in all conditions. Again, the inclusion of calcium montmorillonite clay is fantastic for improving and aiding the digestion of your koi – you’ll notice that your koi’s poop becomes healthier soon after eating this stuff.
The spirulina and krill will make your koi look colorful and healthy, and koi typically love munching on this stuff, so they obviously find it pretty delicious. You koi will go mad when you throw this stuff into their pond. Just don’t blame us if they get addicted. Or if they grow to titanic proportions.
Again, the food is a little tough, but it’s coated in a vitamin mixture, which softens pretty quickly, allowing your koi to feed almost immediately.
Pros
- For high-quality year-round food, this is as good as it gets, with a brilliant nutrition profile
- This will make your koi look incredible
- The protein is mainly made up of krill and fish
- Excellent for digestion, with calcium montmorillonite clay
- With this food, your koi will inflate to hulk-sized proportions
Cons
- It’s pretty pricey
- It’s a little hard at first, but it softens pretty quickly
- Be careful with how much of this stuff you’re feeding your koi
4. Best Budget Koi Food: TetraPond Variety Blend
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: If you want something very basic but very good, this is it. Suitable for koi, goldfish and other pond fish, it isn’t blended specifically for koi and their appearance, but it’ll keep your koi healthy, happy and full.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Small sticks
- Price: Low
- Season: All but winter, though it might be winter-suitable depending on the winter temperatures wherever you are
- Protein: 31%
- Fat:5%
- Ash: 7%
- Vitamins: Some variants of A, B, C, D, E, K and minerals, but some of these vitamins are provided only in small amounts. You may need to supplement with a vitamin booster
- Immune Booster: There’s no specific booster, but the vitamin profile helps
- Color Enhancer: Canthaxanthin
In Depth
This isn’t as high-quality as the other koi feed we’ve featured on this list so far, but you’ll still be surprised by its quality.
It’s an excellent all-rounder, made up of three different types of feed. That means you get good carbohydrates, good protein and decent color-enhancing properties. These color-boosting properties come from the addition of canthaxanthin, an artificial color booster, which is non-natural but does the job well.
The pellets dissolve very quickly, and hang about on the surface of the water, so you can watch your fish feast as soon as you throw this stuff into their pond.
This food is suitable for several different types of fish, which is great if you have more than just koi in your pond.
Pros
- For budget koi food, this is as good as it gets
- The added canthaxanthin is pretty good for vibrant colors
- Excellent price point
- Good if you have several different types of fish in your pond
- Good vitamin profile for a koi food this affordable
Cons
- Isn’t as high-quality as lots of the other products we’ve featured so far
- Doesn’t have an immune booster
- The protein comes from non-meat sources
- You might need to supplement with a vitamin booster
5. Best Budget Summer Koi Food: TetraPond High Protein Growth
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: Looking for an excellent but affordable protein-packed summer feed which’ll help your koi to grow in the summer? This is it, with a hefty 43% protein.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Small sticks
- Price: Low
- Season: Warmer temperatures
- Protein: 43%
- Fat:5%
- Ash: 8%
- Vitamins: Some variants of A, B, C, D, E, K and minerals, but some are provided only negligibly by some of the ingredients. You might have to supplement with a vitamin booster
- Immune Booster: No, but the vitamin profile is great
- Color Enhancer: Canthaxanthin
In Depth
Very similar to the TetraPond Variety which pipped this stuff to number 4, but with a few differences. The main difference is this – this is a summer feed, packed with protein which can help your koi to grow to intimidating proportions during summer months. There’s canthaxanthin for great color-boosting.
Want koi that’ll intimidate all the other koi? And on a budget? You’ll love this stuff. It’s especially good for getting younger fish to grow, as the sticks are small, and they dissolve easily.
Considering the brilliant price point, the nutrition here is excellent. It’s not as quality as some of the more expensive products, but it doesn’t get better at this price range.
The fat profile is pretty high, so be careful about how much of this stuff you feed your koi, unless they’re very young.
Pros
- For budget growth koi food, this stuff is great
- The added canthaxanthin helps to improve the colors of your koi
- Fantastic price point
- Excellent for young koi who need some help bulking up
- Great vitamin profile for such affordable feed
- With this stuff, your koi will be massive in no time
Cons
- Isn’t as high-quality as lots of the other products we’ve featured so far
- No immune booster
- The protein comes from non-meat sources
- Only suitable for warmer months
- You may have to supplement this with a vitamin booster
6. Best Cold Weather Koi Food: Hikari Wheat Germ Formula
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: Again, Hikari creates excellent koi food. This stuff is the best product on the market for winter feeding. Yes, year-round feed is often enough for winter feeding sessions, but if you want koi food specifically built for winter, this is as good as it gets.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Medium floating pellets
- Price: High
- Season: Winter and fall
- Protein: 32%
- Fat: 4%
- Ash: 12%
- Vitamins: A, D3, E, C and phosphorous
- Immune Booster: There’s no particular immune booster, but the heavy vitamin profile, with lots of stabilized vitamin C, is great for immune systems
- Color Enhancer: Krill
In Depth
For colder temperatures, this is perfect. The protein content is relatively low, while the carb content is high, which is exactly what koi need in colder climes. Some of the carbohydrates come from wheat germ, which is a fantastic source. Other carbohydrates come from wheat and rice flours.
The krill is a fantastic source of protein, and also helps to boost the color of your fish, even through the winter.
The vitamin profile, along with the huge amounts of vitamin C, will keep your koi looking sleek and shiny. Like all Hikari products, koi seem to love this, so they’ll keep munching happily as long as you’re feeding them this stuff.
Pros
- For colder climes, this is the best food you can get
- Some of the carbohydrates come from wheat germ, which is a high-quality ingredient
- Lots of vitamin C, which is essential for koi
- Some of the protein comes from krill
- Decent color-enhancing from the krill
Cons
- Only suitable for colder months
- Pretty pricey
- No particular immune booster
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: This stuff is great for growth AND it’s great for all seasons. If you want to to keep your koi growing year-round from an excellent vitamin profile, this is a fantastic choice. The only downside is the high price.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Medium floating pellets
- Price: High
- Season: All-season
- Protein: 37%
- Fat: 5%
- Ash: 15%
- Vitamins: A, C, D3, E, K and minerals
- Immune Booster: There’s no particular immune booster, but there’s lots of vitamin C
- Color Enhancer: Spirulina and krill
In Depth
Want your koi to grow to gargantuan proportions in all weathers? This stuff will do the job excellently. With a hefty protein content, lots of vitamin C, animal proteins, krill and spirulina, you’re left with shiny, colorful fish which will keep growing. The primary carb source is wheat germ, so both the carbohydrates and the proteins are made up of good stuff.
This stuff does have some downsides though. It’s expensive, and the ash content sits at 15%, which is unusual for a product which is so pricey and so respected. This ash content is over the recommended maximum content of 12%, so you might find that it clouds your pond over time.
Pros
- For all-year koi bulking food, this is brilliant
- Some of the carbohydrates come from wheat germ
- Some of the proteins come from fish and krill
- Packed with vitamin C
- Good color-enhancing from the krill and the spirulina
Cons
- There’s too much ash in this
- It’s pricey
- No particular immune booster
8. Most Affordable Koi Food: Kaytee Koi’s Choice
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: This is the absolute cheapest option on this list. There are slightly better options in the budget price range, but if saving money (while getting decent koi food) is your absolute priority, this is a good pick. It’s nothing special, but it’s affordable.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Medium floating pellets
- Price: Very low
- Season: All-season
- Protein: 35%
- Fat: 5%
- Ash: 1%
- Vitamins: A, C, B12, K and D3
- Immune Booster: No
- Color Enhancer: No
In Depth
This stuff is affordable, but the quality is way better than the price tag implies. You get some good vitamins, and you get a surprisingly-high level of protein – the biggest ingredient in this is fish meal, which is great at this budget.
It’s marketed as a year-round feed, but because of the high protein content, you may want to be careful with how much of it you’re giving your koi in colder months.
The main negative here is the lack of color enhancer. Most koi owners want their koi to look good, with vibrant, vivid colors. This food won’t help with that. The carbohydrates come from wheat flour, soybean meal, corn gluten and wheat germ meal (which aren’t the best sources).
Though these are billed as floating pellets, quite a lot of them sink – and some koi don’t seem to like them as much as they like pricier pellets.
Pros
- Incredible price point
- Decent vitamin makeup
- A surprisingly hefty amount of protein
- A good amount of fish meal
Cons
- Not the highest-quality ingredients
- No immune booster
- No color booster
- Some koi don’t seem to like this food
9. Best Large-Pellet Koi Food: Blue Ridge Floating Large Pellets
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: Perfect for large fish who need large pellets, this stuff is affordable, packed with protein, and seemingly popular with koi.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Large floating pellets
- Price: Low to medium
- Season: It’s full of protein, so it’s better for warmer months (though it’s not marketed as such)
- Protein: 41%
- Fat:5%
- Ash: 12%
- Vitamins: C, B12, K and D3
- Immune Booster: Primalac Probiotic
- Color Enhancer: Spirulina and canthaxanthin
In Depth
For big fish with big appetites, this stuff is great. And it floats well, so you can watch them gobble down their dinner.
If you want more colorful koi, the color enhancers in this are excellent. You get natural spirulina and synthetic canthaxanthin, for fish which’ll shine like flashlights. The probiotic is great for the immune system and digestion of your koi.
It’s a little low on vitamins compared to some other koi food on this list, and this stuff is of course only suitable for bigger koi. There’s maybe too much protein for year-round feeds here, so you might want to be careful about feeding it year-round, while the fat content is also pretty high.
Pros
- Great for big fish
- Lots of protein
- Great color-enhancers
- Great immune support and digestion support
Cons
- Lots of fat
- Maybe too much protein for year-round feeding
- Only suitable for bigger koi
- Doesn’t have the high vitamin content of some other entries on this list
10. Best Color-Enhancing Koi Food: Aqua Master Color Enhancer
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: This stuff is crafted to improve the color of koi. If that’s your priority, you should seriously consider buying this stuff.
Quick Facts:
- Type: Small floating pellets, but large floating pellets of the same brand available here
- Price: Medium
- Season: Summer
- Protein: 40%
- Fat: 4%
- Ash: 12%
- Vitamins: A, C, D, E and minerals
- Immune Booster: No
- Color Enhancer: Spirulina and astaxanthin
In Depth
Spirulina and astaxanthin are a bright combination of color-enhancing buddies. If you want more color for your koi, you’ll get it here. Within around 30 days, you’ll notice a massive change. You also get lots of vitamins and minerals, so while your koi will look good, they’ll also be staying healthy. That comes at the cost of immune-boosting properties, which this food doesn’t offer.
This is only for use in summer, but in summer, it provides a potent combination of high protein and color enhancement, so your koi will look big, healthy and bright. The pellets float, so you can watch your meaty boys come up to grab them.
Lots of the protein in these come from animal sources, so it’s all high-quality stuff. Sadly, this food is not as well-known as all of the other products on this list, which is the main downfall here.
Pros
- Your fish will look mega-bright with this stuff, perfect if you want to save money on garden lights
- Available in both large and small pellets, making these very versatile
- Excellent for protein-packed summer feeds, so your koi will grow
- Most protein comes from animal sources
Cons
- Not as well-known as lots of other products on this list
- No immune-boosting properties
- Not suitable for year-round feeding
Everything You Need to Know Before You Choose Some of the Best Koi Food From This List
There you have it – the best koi food in the world!
No matter whether you want protein-packed summer food or quality but affordable year-round stuff, there’s something perfect on this list.
But there are some things you need to think about before you buy some koi food. Although all of the food is great, they all have different nutrient profiles, different ingredients and different purposes. Though they’re all excellent for koi, it’s essential you know what you’re buying before you buy it.
Come and join us as we feed your fish and your brain…
Why Is It Important to Buy Good Quality Koi Food? Can’t I Just Buy Stuff From the Dollar Store?
No, you shouldn’t just buy stuff from the dollar store.
In the same way that you wouldn’t just eat dollar store food, you shouldn’t feed it to your koi. Good koi food is essential for koi. Over years, koi have been bred for their colors rather than for longevity, so it’s important to feed them stuff that will keep them healthy and aid their immune system.
Good food leads to better health, better growth and better colors. It’ll also make your koi live longer.
Koi Food Ingredients
This is obviously the most important consideration when it comes to buying good koi food. Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients of koi food:
Protein
Naturally, koi are omnivores, so they’ll eat both meat and non-meat proteins. Animal proteins are generally better for your koi, as they’re packed with amino acids – so you should consider going for a food which is mainly made up of animal proteins if your budget allows. A good choice is the Dainichi Premium.
It’s also important to note that, in the summer, your koi need lots of protein. In the winter, they need less protein and more carbohydrates. Here’s more information on that balance along with lots of other useful seasonal feeding information.
Fats
Fats are also essential. Younger fish need more fat, and colder months require a little more fat. If lots of the fat content in koi food is coming from fish sources, you know you’re getting good food and good fats.
Vitamins and Minerals
The more vitamins you give your koi, the better (of course). The most important vitamin for koi is vitamin C (or ascorbic acid, as it’s sometimes known). It helps to boost koi’s immune systems, and it’s good for fighting bacterial and viral infections. If you’re looking for lots of vitamin C, the Hikari Staple is a good choice.
Other important vitamins for koi include A, B and K. They help with healthy eyesight, scales, metabolism and more. These can often be found in protein and fat sources but it’s even better if they’re also added to the food as part of a vitamin mix.
Immune Boosters
As mentioned, koi don’t have the best immune systems, so it’s good to make sure the food you’re giving them can help to boost their immune systems. Lots of vitamin C can get this job done, but it’s even better if the food you’re using has some added immune-boosting properties. Two of the best and most popular are calcium montmorillonite clay and brewer’s yeast. Dainichi Year-Round includes them both.
Ash
Ash is mainly used as a binder in fish food. Yes, there are a small amount of minerals in ash, which can be good for your fish, but ash is mainly a waste product. Generally, lower ash is better, but anything of around 12% or less is okay. Too much ash will also cloud your pond, which is one of the major reasons why cheaper fish food isn’t good for your fish or your pond.
Color Enhancers
If you want colorful fish, color enhancers are important. The most common natural color enhancers are spirulina and krill. Spirulina works best when used together with another color enhancer, whether natural or artificial.
The two most common artificial color enhancers are canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. But though they’re both artificial, they’re both safe for fish. Having a healthy pond is also an essential step in keeping your koi colorful.
Good nutrition is general is essential for keeping your fish healthy, happy, growing and colorful.
How Often Should I Feed My Koi?
Many people accidentally overfeed their koi. Overfeeding can lead to unhealthy koi and unhealthy pond conditions, and can be fatal and dangerous.
The key is watching your koi eat. Only feed them as much as they can eat in five minutes. Don’t just throw a random amount of food into your pond before walking away.
In winter, one 5-minute feed per day is enough. In warmer months, 3 feeds per day is usually about right.
Should I Use Pellets or Sticks? Should They Sink or Float?
Koi food can come in the form of pellets, flakes and sticks. The difference isn’t too important, as long as you’re providing food which your koi are able to eat and digest. Koi don’t chew their food and they don’t have a stomach in the normal sense, so they basically eat and digest their food whole.
Smaller fish need smaller pieces of food; bigger fish should be given bigger pieces of food. Smaller koi should be given small pellets or flakes, while bigger fish can eat anything, but pellets are often the most appropriate shape for all koi. You should consider the exact size of your koi in relation to the exact size of the food you give them.
Sticks typically break apart quicker than pellets, while some pellets can be very dense and take a while to break apart. If you want to watch your koi feeding, pellets are therefore usually the best option. Floating pellets are usually best, so you can watch your koi feed, check their health and monitor how much they’re eating. But koi are more than capable of bottom feeding, so you don’t need to worry if your pellets sink (assuming you’re not overfeeding your koi).
Be careful that your koi aren’t getting injured when they come up to feed. They can often get hurt or sick by crowding each other out in their feeding frenzy.
Weather, Koi, and Koi Food
As you probably noted in the above link, different protein levels are important at different times of year.
Generally speaking, fish spend less time eating – and therefore less time growing – in colder weather. During colder climes, carbohydrates are more important. During warmer months, they feed more often, they’re more active and they require more feeding and more protein. Here’s much more information.
Different feeds are therefore appropriate for different times of year, but it’s possible to get year-round feeds.
If you want a good year-round feed, the Hikari Staple is our top choice. For summer food, our favorite is the Dainichi Premium. Cold-weather food is rarer, but it’s available if you want it. Our favorite cold-weather food is the Hikari Wheat Germ.
Final Thoughts
That’s it – everything you need to know about the best koi food you can buy!
We’ve included budget food, pricier food and everything in between, along with many types of koi foods for different purposes and different times of year.
Before you buy some of the koi food we’ve featured, make sure you know what you’re looking for. Want to enhance the colors of your koi? Want to make them grow? Want to feed them differently in every season? Now, you can!
Happy feeding, happy koi and happy you. Enjoy!
