How to Properly Feed Your Koi: Understanding Feeding Rates by Body Weight
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Feeding koi properly requires more than simply throwing food into the pond and hoping for the best. Experienced koi keepers and breeders understand that feed rations should be calculated as a percentage of the fish's total body weight. This approach ensures efficient growth, better health, and more stable water quality.
Feeding by body weight allows you to tailor the amount of food to match the actual metabolic demands of the fish. Overfeeding results in wasted food, increased ammonia, and unnecessary strain on your filtration system. Underfeeding, on the other hand, can limit growth, reduce immunity, and negatively impact overall koi condition.
The feeding rate you choose depends on your goal and your system’s capacity to handle waste. The most commonly used feeding rates are:
3% of body weight per day – Ideal for maintenance and holding conditions
5% of body weight per day – Supports steady growth in well-managed systems
Up to 9% per day – Used for aggressive power feeding in high-density grow-out systems with robust filtration and high oxygen levels
These percentages refer to the total amount of feed given across the day. The daily ration can be split into two, four, or more feedings depending on your schedule and system design.
Koi Length vs. Average Weight (Scientific Estimates)
These ranges reflect standard-body-shape koi, based on the cubic length-weight formula and a moderate condition factor:
4" = ~10–20g
6" = ~40–65g
8" = ~100–150g
10" = ~200–300g
12" = ~350–520g
14" = ~550–820g
16" = ~820–1,230g
18" = ~1,170–1,750g
20" = ~1,600–2,400g
24" = ~2,760–4,150g
28"+ = ~4,390–6,590g
6" = ~40–65g
8" = ~100–150g
10" = ~200–300g
12" = ~350–520g
14" = ~550–820g
16" = ~820–1,230g
18" = ~1,170–1,750g
20" = ~1,600–2,400g
24" = ~2,760–4,150g
28"+ = ~4,390–6,590g
Example: Calculating Feed for 10 Koi
Using the guide above, consider a group of 10 koi with the following estimated weights:
6 inches – 50 grams
8 inches – 125 grams
10 inches – 250 grams
12 inches – 450 grams
14 inches – 700 grams
16 inches – 1,000 grams
18 inches – 1,400 grams
20 inches – 2,000 grams
22 inches – 2,500 grams
24 inches – 3,500 grams
Total estimated biomass: 11,975 grams (11.98 kg)
Using this total, feeding amounts can be calculated as follows:
At 3% (maintenance): 359 grams per day
At 5% (growth): 599 grams per day
At 9% (power feeding): 1,078 grams per day
If feeding four times daily at the 5% rate, each feeding would be about 150 grams.
Key Feeding Guidelines
Base feeding amounts on total pounds of fish per system, not on pond volume or guesswork.
Divide daily totals evenly across multiple feedings to maximize digestion and reduce waste.
Observe fish behavior, appetite, and water quality—adjust as needed.
High feed rates require excellent biofiltration, high dissolved oxygen, and regular maintenance.
Feeding koi by weight is not just for professionals. It is a best practice that any serious hobbyist can adopt to produce healthier, faster-growing fish while keeping the pond environment clean and balanced. Precision feeding is the difference between managing a koi pond—and mastering it.
