Koi Food: What Do Koi Fish Eat?

Koi fish are omnivores with a pretty strong digestive system. So, Koi will eat just about any natural food that you give them as long as they’re small enough to swallow. In the wild, Koi fish eat algae, insects that land on the water’s surface, leaves and other plant debris, and even animal feces. In captivity, you can feed them premium Koi food.

They will eat fruits and vegetables, as well as carbohydrate-rich foods like cereal, bits of bread, and rice. They will even eat some types of small protein, such as shrimp or cut-up pieces of chicken.

Ultimately, just like people, Koi need a balanced diet of carbohydrates and proteins with a little fat.

If you’re feeding your Koi multiple times per day, you can mix up which meals are rich in carbohydrates and which are rich in protein. Or, if you get a standardized food, it will have enough of both for your fish.

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How To Choose The Right Koi Food?

There are two common additives in Koi food you need to be aware of. Spirulina is a type of algae that can greatly improve the red color of your Koi thanks to the high level of carotenoid vitamins it contains. Spirulina is rich in protein and is also good for your Koi’s immune system, which is why many Koi owners prefer food with this additive in it. However, feeding your Koi too much Spirulina can actually cause the color of your fish to become too red and white spots to turn pink. Wheat germ oil is another common additive, which is rich in fats and oils that give your Koi a shining appearance. Because wheat germ oil is high in fat, it is often used for growing Koi so that they have plenty of energy to reach their maximum sizes.