Pondfeed

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Winter feeding for pond fish :-
The feeding habits of many animals change with the seasons. Farm animals such as sheep and cattle graze on lush green pasture in spring and summer but are offered concentrates and other man-made feed in the winter.
The appetites of pets such as cats and dogs will noticeably increase in autumn through to winter as their energy requirement increases, burning extra food to keep warm and maintain a stable body temperature.
Seasonal changes :-
Fish are also renowned for changes in their feeding habits, particularly pond fish, which undergo dramatic dietary changes in autumn and winter.
Being cold-blooded, the activity of pond fish is regulated by the temperature of the water and their energy requirement will change accordingly.
Fish consume more food in the warmer summer waters than any other time in the year and as autumn approaches, their appetite and energy requirements decrease. Consequently, they respond well to a change in their diet that is tailored to such a drop in activity.
Temperature sensitive :-
A pond fish’s ability to digest food — as with all animals — is a function of the efficiency and condition of their digestive system. Not surprisingly, as temperatures drop, a pond fish’s digestive capabilities will also tail off making them unable to completely breakdown and absorb their typical summer high protein diet. This is why there is a need to change to a low protein, vegetable-based diet.
Why wheatgerm? :-
Winter diets are typically based around wheatgerm, which is the high quality protein-packed ‘heart’ of a wheat grain. Such a diet can offer many benefits to pond fish.
The low protein content of the diet means that fish are offered sufficient energy, but not too much which would be surplus to requirements at these temperatures, leading to the excretion of excess ammonia, which could cause water quality problems.
Highly digestible :-
At low temperatures, the digestion efficiency of pond fish is reduced. The high quality source of protein in a wheatgerm diet, although reduced compared to a summer food, means that it is more likely to be digested and absorbed efficiently at these lower temperatures.
Changing diets :-
When should you start feeding wheatgerm diets?
Most pond fish will feed down to 8 deg.C and wheatgerm food should be recommended as water temperatures fall from about 12 deg.C down to 8 deg.C.
The same advice also applies when winter turns into spring.
If you have some summer or higher protein growth food left at the end of the summer this can still be used to wean fish onto the wheatgerm diet so that your fish can adapt and respond positively to the change in diet.
Perilous times :-
Autumn and spring can be perilous periods while pond fish hover in a ‘no-man’s-land’ between active and dormant temperatures.
During these periods, fish may exhibit unusual behaviour such as huddling together on the pond bottom or lying on their sides; all symptoms of their body winding down for the winter.
Unfortunately, a fish’s immune system is also suppressed at these times, which makes them more susceptible to disease.
Added vitamins :-
Feeding a well-balanced winter food can aid fish through this barren period and by including additives in the diet such as vitamin C will ensure that fish are also obtaining health-boosting nutrition, reducing the risk of disease.
Spring food :-
Wheatgerm diets should also be the first food to be offered to fish as they venture out in early spring. This primes their immune system ready for the inevitable bacterial attack.