Helping Koi Grow Bigger

The growth rate of Koi depends on many factors such as water quality, water temperature, number of fish in the pond and genetic background. Although you cannot control their genetics, you can do several things to help your Koi grow to their maximum size.

Pond Water Quality

Poor water quality can have a very disastrous effect on your Koi by making them lose their appetites, and even stop them from eating all together. Water quality can also affect their metabolism by slowing down their digestion of food, and bringing on certain types of diseases that you are always fighting to not let into your pond.

Pond Water Temperature

Water temperature affects Koi growth more than any other single factor. Their body temperature goes up and down with the temperature of your pond. As the temperature of the pond drops, it becomes harder for Koi to digest and assimilate food.

Koi eat more food when the water temperature is above 60F degrees; therefore, small fish will grow fast during the warmer months of the year.

Whereas, temperatures below 60F degrees act in reverse. Koi start thinking about hibernation and dig in the bottom of the pond until the warmer temperatures return the following spring and summer.

Number of Fish in the Pond

The number of fish in your pond can have a negative effect on fish growth. Just like in an aquarium, there is a limit to the number of fish per gallon of water. In a slightly stocked pond, Koi will become sexually mature at smaller sizes but once they reach maturity, their growth rate is not retarded. Koi in a heavier stocked pond will become sexually mature at a larger size but the growth rate will slow as fish compete for the food they are given.

Koi Food

In the winter, it’s best to feed your Koi foods that are easy to digest in order for them to assimilate it and digest it faster. Do not feed them high protein foods during winter because it will linger longer in their stomachs and cause several different problems.

As the temperature of your pond starts to rise in the spring, this is the time when your Koi will need high protein foods to help them start the growing over the spring and summer. All Koi will benefit during the warmer months with a diet that includes 35% to 40% of fish meal protein.

Koi love veggies but only feed them this type of food during the warm months when their digestive tracts are working at full capacity.

Koi Breeding Season

The growth rate for mature fish tend to slow down as the food they eat is put toward breeding males producing sperm and females producing their eggs.

By keeping your pond water in good condition, not overcrowding your pond and adjusting food according to season, you will be able to raise robust Koi that will continue to grow and breed.