Spring Koi Keeping
Spring is just around the corner, when the ‘big thaw’ finally arrives, when the water temperature has reached 10deg C, here are some tips for easing you Koi back into their eating pattern…Using a wheat-germ food, soak the food in some boiled water, that has a spoonful of Honey dissolved in it.
The softened food is much more digestible, and the pro-biotic properties of honey are well known. Another good food to start them on is boiled Pearl Barley, this has High carbohydrate and low protein values which will not overload the filters, which are starting to mature again after the winter.
Now is the time to start filter maintenance on a weekly basis, along with approx 5% water changes, although all the bacteria would have not died back the filters would also benefit with a dose of filter start just to help colonise them.
When the koi have become a little more active, it would a good idea to bowl the koi, one at a time and inspect them thoroughly for any sores or abrasions that might of occurred whilst they were near the bottom of the pond, these should be treated with a good topical antiseptic.
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