Koi care in different season

Spring

Spring is one of the worst times of the year for Koi, there are so many things to deal with. There are water temperatures that have more ups and downs than on a roller coaster. Then there are a large number of predators that are probably really hungry and are looking for pleasant fresh food after a long winter. Do not forget Aeromonas Alley, a danger zone of 40 ° F - 50 ° F, when your Koi immune system is closed, but harmful bacteria are still active. Your Koi also must deal with those people who deplete organisms, parasites.
But do not let everything that knocks you down. The best thing you can do for your Koi is to equip them with enough oxygen and make sure that they have as little stress as possible. If you are lucky enough to have a pond heating system, you must pass through this zone 40 ° F - 50 ° F as quickly as possible. You can also use it to check for these temperature fluctuations.
Watch out for your Koi. Look for any signs of a disaster, such as an ulcer, or if your Koi does not swim to the right. If you have emergency care, contact a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about Koi's health.
Begin to feed your Koi when the water temperature is constantly above 50 ° F. A good rule of thumb: if your Koi asks for money on the surface of the water, they are probably hungry and decide it's time to start eating. It is a good idea to use Koi food, which is high in wheat germs, it is easy to digest.

Summer

Summer is the warmest and sunny season. The temperature of warm water increases the metabolism of Koi and their immune system. Summer is a period of growth for Koi, they will be easy to eat 3-5 times a day. You just need to make sure that your filter can handle all of your Koi waste, otherwise they will suffer from the accumulation of ammonia and dissolved solids in the water. In addition, if you do not have a filter of sufficient size, your pond will probably look like a bowl of pea soup!
One thing you should look at in the summer is your DO (dissolved oxygen) level. The warmer your water is, the less oxygen it can hold. Store a sufficient amount of aeration in your pond at any time. It does not matter if it's an air pump and an air stone, or a big waterfall. The minimum level required by Koi is 4 ppm (parts per million). Keep in mind that 4 ppm is the minimum level, the DO level should always be much higher. Your Koi needs oxygen to live.
The ideal temperature for Koi in summer is around 70 ° F - 75 ° F. This is the most convenient temperature range for them. See these dog days. If you have a shallow pond, the water temperature can rise to dangerous levels, and your Koi can suffer. Provide some cover or some shade for your Koi so that they have a place to get out from under direct sunlight.

Koi likes to make mistakes. It's not uncommon to hear them splash on the surface at night, when they try to get insects that are near the surface of the water. The use of beetles, as well as the daily diet and the temperature of warm water will make them grow very quickly.

Autumn

Fall, a season when everything seems to fall: leaves, water temperature and do not forget the worst, immune system. Koi are Poikilothermic, which means cold-blooded. The temperature of their body corresponds to the temperature of the water. You will notice that when the water drops below 60 degrees, your Koi will slow down. This is a critical period of time. Watch your Koi for any signs of distress or any complications with parasites. If you have an indoor over the winter tank, now is the best time to take a Koi for the winter. You do not want to wait until the water temperature becomes too low, otherwise you will damage the Koi with a large temperature change. Make sure that your overly wintering tank is covered, Koi seems to like to jump when they get a new environment.
When the temperature begins to fall, switch to Koi food, which has a high percentage of wheat germ and a low percentage of protein. This mixture will be easy for your Koi to digest and help purify their digestive system. Stop feeding your Koi at all when the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They may look hungry, but if you feed them, the food in the stomach will rot and they will suffer.
Loosen your pond completely clean. I will write again, KEEP CLEAN CLEAN. This means that you immediately remove leaves and other debris from your pond. If you leave this material in your pond all winter, it will start to decompose, and it will release toxic gases. It will also contain anaerobic bacteria, they also produce toxic gas, hydrogen sulphide.

winter

Winter, the coldest season of the year. If you live in the lower regions, then you probably get snow and ice. Koi does not sleep in the winter, so they do not eat or produce any toxins. Do not feed your Koi if the water temperature is below 50 ° F. Food will sit in the koi's stomach and rot.
It's a good idea to save space in your pond for gas exchange. Carbon dioxide must come out of the water, and fresh oxygen must get into the water. This can be done with the electric drive of an aquarium and / or an air navigator. You can also use a heater for gutters, but they are expensive to run. It's also a good idea to put an airstone in your pond to put your Koi with new oxygen. Place the airway near the surface so that you do not mix water from the pond.
You will probably notice that your Koi sits at the bottom of your pond. This is normal, Koi are Poikilothermic (cold-blooded), so their activity level coincides with the water temperature. In winter, Koi will go to the warmest area. As the water is denser at 39.2 ° F, warmer water will be at the bottom of your pond.
Make sure that the water temperature does not drop below 34 ° F. If this happens, ice crystals will begin to form on the gills of Koi. Crystals of ice can kill Koi. Do not add salt to the pond in winter. Salt reduces the freezing point of water, so if you add something to your pond, it can kill your Koi, because the water temperature can drop below 30 ° F.
It's also a good idea to close the waterfall. The only thing that will make a waterfall in winter is to lower the temperature of the water. The waterfall can even freeze, because of what all the water is pumped out of your pond.

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