I just purchased 3 beautiful Koi. They are very young, only about 2.5 inches long. I brought them home and introduced them to their new environment. But there is a problem. It's been 4 days now, and they just won’t come to the surface to eat their food. I'm feeding them Hikari Staple mini pellets. These pellets float, and I couldn't find any pellets that sink. The Koi only stay on the bottom. I'm worried they'll just starve to death. What should I do?
2007-03-21 13:39:09 · 10 answers · asked by Jordan M 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Sunday P is basically correct here, but I would add that it would be a good idea to find som sinking pellets for them. They will come to the top to eat, but prefer to eat from the bottom.
I would also caution you that Koi are not aquarium fish. They get far too larger to remain comfortable in anything less than a pond.
MM
2007-03-21 14:27:13 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Some of my new ones don't like to eat right away either.
Remember a few things here, koi are pond fish and need lots of dissolved oxygen. Since you have them in an aquarium, to add this dissolved oxygen, you need to lower the tank water by about 1/2 inch. This added oxygen will help to keep them from being lethargic. Also, temperatures at or below 50 they will be in hybernation and won't really eat much or if at all.
What is the temperature in the tank? 55-65 is great.
Also, floating food is fine especially if it contains a color enhancer. They will eat when they are hungry. Koi also enjoy plants. Most will eat plants and algae along with their pellets. Try a few green veggies if you have no plants in the tank. Cukes, peas, lettuce. Even oranges for the vit. C.
Lowering the tank water is going to be your best bet for them to begin moving around. Remember dissolved oxygen only enters the tank thru water movement agaist air. Filters, waterfalls, fountains powerheads. Try this and you should see an improvement with a few hours. They will surface for the food when they are hungry.
Like I said, mine do the same thing
2007-03-22 11:42:03 · answer #2 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They won't starve to death. They don't know where the food is, or the feeding routine yet. Feed just a little same time daily until they come up. Koi have amazing sence of smell, and they will soon catch on. Its likely that they find the food after you have gone away. They are a little scared in their new home but they will soon get used to you and how they're fed. Sometimes it takes a while. Be patient.
2007-03-21 21:18:32 · answer #3 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like most animals... Koi take a few weeks to get used to their new environment. Most experts don't recommend not to feed them until the water temp is consistently 55 degrees F. They will be fine, don't worry about it. Do you have other fish? If you do and they see others coming up to eat, they will be eating soon at the surface.
Have a nice day.
2007-03-21 20:49:37 · answer #4 · answered by Karen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is this a new pond? I could be the Biological cycle is affecting their appetite? if you dont know about the cycle you can search this online, under the above mentioned or "nitrogen cycle" .This takes a mnth for the pond to have normal chemistry which is hard on the new fish. Do you have live plants? they might be munching down on those being as koi are opertunistic as most fish are, but prefer fresh plants and veggies. Test your water, add extra water conditioner w/ slime coat additives and make sure you dont overdo the pellets until you have determined the problem so you dont add high ammo and nitrates to the problem. As per starving to death fish can acctually go quite awhile with out food, most food instructions for feeding fish on the labels of products sujest to many feedings per day to begin with. one time a day. good luck
2007-03-21 21:08:56 · answer #5 · answered by talisy77 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not sure where you live but koi do not eat during the winter and early spring when its cold. Their metabolism is slower and they don't eat as much.
Other thought is they are still new to the pond and stressed out. Once they get used to the new environment they will come around and be less shy.
Good luck!
2007-03-21 20:46:28 · answer #6 · answered by jamye 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have nothing to worry about. You'll learn later on as you become more experienced that fish take quite a while to get used to their new home. It's only shy about it. Just give them time and they'll be swimming around happily in no time. :0) Hope this helps.
2007-03-21 21:04:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the temp. of the water. if it is on the cool side, they won't eat. In cool weather they go into a type of hibrenation. they stay at bottom because it is actually warmer. they will come up to feed once the temp. goes up.
2007-03-21 20:46:34 · answer #8 · answered by charlie_corral 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the place you bought them from and ask what temp their water was that they were kept in and see if your pond is the same temp. They maybe in shock from the transfer
2007-03-21 20:47:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would not worry too much about them not eating, yet. i woudl try omega one goldfish flakes though, because baby koi do better inside on flake food
if they dont eat in a week, then worry
2007-03-21 21:29:25 · answer #10 · answered by drezdogge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋