Feeding Koi During a Florida Winter

As soon as the weather forecast mentions cold weather in Florida the phone starts to ring with people asking "When do I stop feeding my Koi?" or It's winter in Florida do the koi still eat?
Well, first can we really say we have winter in Florida? Yes the weather cools off and yes we need to follow a couple simple steps to ensure the health and safety of our beloved koi.






First, it is recommended to purchase a pond thermometer. Begin to monitor the temperature and when the water reaches upper 50° begin to reduce the feedings. When the water temperature has reached
50° stop feeding. Keeping in mind that the air temperature is much cooler than the water temperature so in Florida we really only have a hand full of days and nights that we do not feed the koi.

Lets explain why we reduce and stop feeding koi in cooler weather.

Koi start slowing down in preparation for a period of semi-dormancy as the temperature begin to decline. Their digestive and immune systems slow down, and they are not capable of digesting food the way that they can during the warmer months. Koi are particularly susceptible to problems at this time, as they have no stomach to aid in digestion; food passes directly into their small intestines, where it will sit and rot. The ensuing intestinal bacteria can pass into their bloodstream, causing sepsis which will debilitate or even kill the immune-suppressed fish.

When you resume feeding the koi DO NOT over feed them as this too can be dangerous for your finned friends.
If you are unsure whether to feed your koi or how much to feed them please err on the side of caution.  Always feed a high quality high protein food avoid foods with lots of fillers. We only feed our koi Blackwater Creek Koi food.
Don't worry, if the koi become hungry during this time they will dine on the algae in the pond.


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Pondtastic serves all Central Florida Counties Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk and Brevard.

What Do We Feed Our Koi at Pondtastic Water Gardens?

At Pondtastic Water Gardends we feed our Koi Blackwater Premium Food Only!


In Central Florida we feed the following 3 formulas of Blackwater Koi and Goldfish Food.
Many times people purchase a bag of color enhancing and a bag of max growth and mix them.We also have many people alternate their purchases from month to month.



Gold-N professional diet is amazing food! We have several customers that love the reduced waste in the pond and the amazing colors that are so vivid on their koi.

Read and decide which is the best formula for your koi.

Blackwater Max Growth Koi Food
Max Growth is formulated to grow and maintain your fish in top condition. A high protein fish floating meal-based diet with ingredients designed to be the primary diet for your fish. It is designed to grow your fish to the Max! The Max Growth diet is the staple diet used by one of the largest Koi suppliers in the USA. It contains absolutely no fillers. This diet is designed to grow Koi and Goldfish. Try it and you'll be hooked.
Max Growth Koi Diet is a floating Koi food.

2LBS $15.98      5LBS $31.98     40LBS $91.98        + Tax and Shipping





Blackwater Color Enhancing Koi Food

Color is formulated to bring out the maximum vibrancy of color. Special ingredients aid in bringing out the color needed to enter your fish in competitions or simply make them look their best. For optimum results. Use for up to two months prior to show or competition. This diet contains 4 different natural color enhancer's in sufficient quantities to brighten the colors RED and YELLOW. Some color enhancing diets on the market put only enough product in the diet to be listed on the label. We put enough ingredients to include over 30% of the diet. Quality product, great price.
Color Enhancing Koi Diet is a floating Koi food.

2LBS $15.98      5LBS $31.98     40LBS $91.98        + Tax and Shipping

Blackwater Gold-N Professional Diet
Gold-N combines ingredients with many micro nutrients and vitamins as well as other ingredients to help digestion and maximum uptake of nutrients. This floating Koi food is a favorite of those keeping champion and show-grade fish. It is used by professionals world wide. Blackwater Creek also uses it as a grind to feed small fish for fast growth and body shape. This diet if fortified with probiotics including Bacillus Subtillus and Aspirgillus Orezae in sufficient quantities to maximize digestion and minimize waste.
Fish-meal, Shrimp Meal, Kelp Meal make up over 60% of the diet. No fillers, better digestion. This is why so many hobbyists are discovering that you don’t have to pay a lot to provide your fish with the top diet available for Koi.
Many people who have not taken the time or have the time to dig deep into Koi nutrition may judge a Koi food on price alone. This perception that "if it costs more , then it must be better"  allows some people selling fish food as Koi food to charge  a high price for an inferior product. (Tilapia food , Catfish food etc) These are not the best for your fish. Blackwater Gold-N is.  Therefore if you would like to pay more for a diet to help you feel better about quality, we have listed Gold-N with various prices for you to choose from. Its the same diet, same packaging, and same size... just at a higher price to compare with  the other diets claiming to be professional. If it makes you feel better, you can pay more... we don’t mind (grin).
This is the same diet formerly called Blackwater “Gold”. Hikari Sales USA is the registered  trademark holder of the word "Gold" and thus we were forced to change the name... By the way… the “N“ in Gold-N stands for “Not Hikari”  Compare this diet to the Hikari Saki diet and you will see that it is a comparable diet at half the price. Champion fish deserve Gold-N

 Gold-N Professional Diet
  8lbs $69.98   40lbs $174.98   + Tax and Shipping









 Learn About Gold-N Professional Koi Diet

Thank You to Blackwater Creek for being a shared contributor.