A QUESTION ABOUT FOOD (AGAIN)

[kimr]

Hi All

I am wondering what is the best level of protien and fat content to feed. I bought Vita-Koi pellets with a crude protien of 45% and a crude fat of 12%, it was sold as a growth pellet and by far it has proved to be ok at growth rate this summer, I have also been buying a 3mm pellet for the smaller koi in my other pond and it is sold as a good all rounder called Sanikoi with a crude protien of 47% and a crude fat of 7%. What I am wondering is, what is the better pellet. The vita-koi leave's a trail of oil, so although it is higher in crude fat how much of that am I losing into the water, which I must add is not too good for the water. The growth could also be part to the higher temperature's we are having this year. The Sanikoi although higher in protien isn't showing the same growth rate's and the smaller koi is a few degree's warmer than the large pond.

Any thought's you guy's have on this will be great

[Geoff9]

Hi Kim
I have just about used up the first 5kg of this food http://www.orchardfisheries.co.uk/koipremiumfood.php I have been trying the koi seem to like it and it's cheap compared the the Kusuri multi season I have been using for the past 5years,not answering your question but thought it might help.

Regards Geoff

[kimr]

Hi Graham

Thanks for the link. How has your water quality been while using this food. Trying to find a reasonably priced food that actually does what it say's is no easy thing. I find the pellets will go soggy to quickly or the water becomes murky, waste from the Koi is more. But what I am trying to find out at the moment is, is there an amount of crude fat that is ok and anything after that wasted. I used the Saki-Hikari Growth a while back and that left an oil slick on the pond surface. I am trying to find the best pellet possible for my Koi that doesn't compromise the water quality. A friend has started her Koi pond and she bought Pettex Koi Pellet which is 30% protien and she is getting a good growth rate. It was seeing the growth rate of her Koi compared to my smaller Koi who are on a higher protien and fat, has made me question the values of the content's.

Looking at all the food's on the market I am also wondering if there is a point that only so much protien can be used by the koi before they digest the rest and again it is lost into the water, which we know protien in the water causes foaming. So I am trying to find a good balance which is beneficial for the Koi but also good for the water.

[Geoff9]

Hi Kim
My water is still fine and clear,well I can see the bottom 7ft deep but I'm not too hung up on the clarity as long as the koi are ok and the perameters are fine,I might add a picture in a bit to let you decide but it's raining at the moment....

Regrads GEOFF(not Graham lol)

[kimr]

Sorry GEOFF the son was going on at me time, that's my excuse!!!!!