Future Pets' Pond Manual
Feeding Your Pond Fish to Keep Them Healthy

Keeping healthy fish in your pond is relatively straightforward, if you pay attention to proper nutrition and water quality. In a natural setting, pond fish have a varied diet, based upon the season. The seasons are determined by temperature, and so is the type of food your fish should receive.

Pond fish are most active during the summer months when the temperature is over 70°. It is at this time that you should feed the largest volume and highest protein pond foods.

Spring and Autumn call for lighter feeding with a lower protein diet.

As the temperature begins to fall to 60°, their metabolism is slowing and their immune system is not as sharp. You might want to switch to an easier-to-digest formula with lower protein or a wheat germ formula. During the winter (below 45° F), it is not necessary - in fact not advisable - to feed the fish at all.

Young fish should be fed a high protein, growth formula that provides more building blocks for amino acids. The higher levels of proteins and teh extra enery afforded by these "hotter" ingredients are very important for rapidly growing or spawning fish.

If you wish to enhance the color of your fish, feeding a color enhancing diet is in order. Most color enhancing diets use karotin or krill to liven the reds and yellows in your fish. Most color foods should be fed for only a few weeks, and then you can go back to your regular maintenance diet.

To get the most enjoyment from your fish, feed small amounts when your are able to enjoy the scurrying for food.

Vacationing does not have to present a problem as pond feeder blocks can be dropped into the water to feed the fish in your absence, or automatic fish feeders can be installed.

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