pond fish..do you feed them in the winter?

Question

we have a pond with goldfish, koi etc., and they dont seem interested in food in the winter. somebody told me that they arent supposed to be fed at this time of the year..is this true?

Answer 1

anywhere the temp in the water is 40 or below you do not feed them
mine are just fine

Answer 2

Yes, this is true - to an extent. It depends on the water temperature. If your water is less than 50 degrees, they shouldn't be fed. Goldfish and koi go into a state of hibernation, just like bears and can get away without eating all winter long. If the water is above 50 degrees, you can feed your fish, but, again, how much depends on the temperature of the water. At 55 degrees, I might only try once a week. Just do a little trial and error to see when or if they show any interest in eating. If they don't eat the food, however, take it out so that it doesn't foul up the water and make the water poisonous to the fish. The most important thing about pond fish is making sure they have plenty of oxygen. If you have a fountain/waterfall/or other circulating water, this is enough. If not, and you have ice, you need to keep a hole in the top of the ice at all times so they can get oxygen in the water.

Answer 3

When the water temperatures hit 50 degrees on a daily basis, you should stop feeding your pond fish. They are begining hybernation. Continuing to Feed your fish will kill them. The food does not get digested nor pass thru their body allowing it to ROT inside. This builds up toxins and eventually kills the fish. There is actually a special food you can give them to help clean out their systems prior to hybernation.
Don't be tempted to feed them on nice days. As long as the temperature is 50 or colder, DON"T FEED THEM.
Also As you may or may not know, when your pond freezes over in the winter time, DO NOT CHIP at the ice for any reason. This too can lead to loss of fish. This sends shock waves and in small ponds can cut into the fish like a knife.

Answer 4

True. If the temp falls below about 45 degrees, the fish's metabolism slows way down, almost to a stop, and the fish become very lethergic. You don't feed them during the winter because their body just is not working well enough to eat. That's how fish in the wild can go all winter with a sheet of ice over the lake.

Answer 5

yup, it's true.

when the temerature drops, the fish go into sort of a dormant stage, they dont move much, and their breathing slows. thier bodies sort of shut down a bit, and thier digestion slows tremendously. any food in thier system can actually rot inside of them in this stage, so it's best not to feed them in the winter (unless your tank or pond is heated, and they're active, then they need food.) If for some reason, the fish need food in this stage, then they will eat the algea around them, and sometimes small rocks.

so, no, dont feed them. feed them when the water comes above 50 or so degrees.

good luck, hope that helps!!

Answer 6

Stop feeding when the surface temperature goes below 50F. It will not harm the fish, their metabolisms slow to almost nothing. Do not resume feeding in the Spring until the surface temperature is above 50F. P.S. Bazza knows not about fish!

Answer 7

Yes that true. They don't eat during the winter. They will hibernate under the ice in the pond

Answer 8

Depends how cold it gets in your area. Goldfish can functional normally until about 63F. Between 55 and 63F, they should still be eating, but a lot less than before. Between 45 and 55F, they may eat, but a very small amount, and a high carb diet. Cheerios is a good winter food because it digests easily into energy without leaving too much waste to be processed.
Below 45F, they won't eat, because they'll be almost dormant. Be sure to keep their water surface broken if it ices over for oxygen.

Answer 9

offcourse we should feed them during winter also but not same amount as u feed to during summer. in winter they will be less energetic due to the cold water so they need less food than in summer.