Adding live food to your koi fish's regular dietary intake provides variety and additional nutrition. Though it can be a bit more costly than pellet feed, live food is more natural and provides enrichment for domestic koi.
Mealworms
Mealworms are suitable live food for koi, packed with essential nutrients and easy to obtain. Mealworms are easy to raise, even, so you can have a fresh supply available at all times. The negative aspects of mealworms as a feeder food is that their exoskeletons are somewhat harder to digest and that koi may not be interested in eating them. After some time, they may learn how to eat them and will enjoy this live food.
Crickets
Most pet supply stores have crickets readily available, making them a tempting option for feeding koi. Crickets are easy to keep and are available in a wide array of sizes. However, crickets can be expensive, and you must feed a great deal of them to provide any level of nutrition.
Earthworms
Earthworms are easy for koi to digest and can serve a side role helping recycle organic waste. Worms are highly nutritious and healthy for fish. There are no considerable downsides to feeding live earthworms year-round.
Other Live Food Options
While mealworms, crickets, and earthworms are some of the easiest live foods to feed your koi, your fish will also enjoy small crustaceans, insect larvae and a variety of other worms. Live shrimp, bloodworms, silkworm pupae and even tadpoles can be a healthy part of the captive koi's diet.
References
Photo Credits
-
Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Writer Bio
Olivia Kight is an experienced online and print writer and editor. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2012, and has worked on education, family life and counseling publications. She also gained valuable knowledge shadowing a zoo veterinarian and grooming and socialize show dogs, and now spends her time writing and training her spunky young labradoodle, Booker.
