Koi whisperer hand feeding the kois
Like 0 Dislike 0 Published on 16 Apr 2016
http://giobelkoicenter.com/2016/04/25/hand-feeding-koi-tips-tricks/
I always hand feed our beautiful gorgeous kois.
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Many koi owners hope to hand feed their koi and yearn for this interaction with their pets. Training your pet koi fish to eat from your hand takes a lot of patience and perseverance. Hand feeding your koi may be easier said than done, but when it’s accomplished it is most rewarding. It’s always great fun to amaze visitors with the astonishing feat that you and you pets have mastered. And it’s a sure-fire way to get the non-believers to join the koi hobby as being glorious fun.
Usually, the koi collection will have a leader who is always willing to come close and investigate any movement or sound at ponds edge. That fish may be your best chance at successfully training the others to eat from your hand. Training koi to hand feed takes time and you must be patient. Remember that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, nor will your koi learn to accept food from the hand of a human.
How to Hand Feed Your Koi
Start with a flavorful and floating koi food that your fish like to eat. Don’t try to entice them to eat something that they are unfamiliar with. Your fish need to gain trust and not be frightened by your presence. Feed your koi normally for several days, but stay motionless by the pond. Stay there until all food is consumed. Go to the pond at the same time every day to feed. Choose a spot where the water has sufficient depth so your fish can approach from underneath rather than gliding on the surface; a.k.a. Shamu the Killer Whale scooting up on the deck to wave at the crowd! Ample water depth gives them a sense of security, less frightened of being beached and caught by an intruder. It is also best to feed in calm water, away from waterfalls and turbulence.
Next, sit very quietly by the pond with little or no movement. When the koi become accustomed to your presence you can slowly reach out to dispense some pellets by putting your hand on the pond water, and then slowly withdraw your hand. Sit VERY still. The bravest or hungriest koi will be the first to approach. When the pellets have all been consumed SLOWLY extend your hand with more pellets. Do this several times. Then slowly get up and leave. Do not offer food at any time other than when you are at the hand feeding location. Hunger is a good motivator. And it is best to stick to a routine. As the koi learn this routine they will be eager to participate in the feeding game. And as they get hungrier the more eager they will become. Soon you’ll have them eating out of your hand.
Another suggestion for training koi to hand feed is by using a floating style feeding ring to lure koi to the desired area. A feeding ring ensures that the food does not float away and trains the koi to feed at your chosen location. Toss floating koi food pellets into the ring. Once the fish expect to find feed here you can slowly put your hand under the water while they are eating. Keep your hand very still. After the fish are no longer afraid of your presence begin reaching into the ring with a fistful of yummy pellets. Don’t remove your hand until koi begin to eat.