|
| I also posted this on American Ponders so I apologize if you've seen it twice!
I finally got my pond going and have introduced 3 koi and 2 shubunkins about 3 weeks ago. Everyone appears happy and healthy and eating fairly well. I would eventually like to get my koi to learn to eat out of my hand. But, right now, they won't eat when I'm anywhere near the pond. I think shadows are spooking them. I have to throw their food and step back. It will usually take them anywhere from one minute to 5 minutes to start feeding after the food is thrown to them. Then, they will eat very slowly, take a bit of food - swim to the bottom, swim around in circles nearing the surface like they are ready for more and then dart away at the last second. They are very skittish about coming to the surface to eat! I tried flakes hoping that as they sank, they'd feel more comfortable eating them but they want NOTHING to do with the flakes. How long will they behave like this? Is there anything I can do to help encourage them to eat in front of me. If I try to stand closer to the pond, nope they won't eat so I end up walking away so they will at least eat! I'm never going to get them used to my presence if I have to stand away from the pond or walk away entirely to get them to eat. I have seen nothing that even begins to resemble a feeding frenzy in my pond much less ever having hope that they will eat from my hand - or even near me for that matter. The weird thing is that I know they are very curious. The first week and a half they were in the pond I was in there with them a lot rearranging rocks, etc. I would turn around and there they would be 4 inches from my legs just watching. When ever I move a rock or do something along the water edge, as soon as I leave, there they all are checking out what I just did. Sorry for the long winded post. I would just like to make friends with my fish being the bleeding heart animal lover that I am! :-) Thanks for your input! |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by sleeplessinftwayne z4-5 IND (My Page) on Thu, Jun 10, 10 at 14:54
| Are there animals or birds coming up to the edge when you are not there. That could keep them skittish. I supplement the Koi sticks with Tetramin Pro. It is much more dense than the flakes and they seem to like it a lot better than the flakes that result in a gooey mess on everything. It is more expensive but doesn't go to waste. |
|
| Some koi never eat from your hands. But some prefer to be hand fed. I have both kinds. To tempt them, get something really tasty. Like boiled shrimp. Sit by the pond, get yourself really comfortable and just sit there, with your hand (and shrimp) very still in the water. It may take a while, but keep doing this and don't feed them unless they eat from your hand. They won't starve. If they have plenty to eat, there is no incentive for them to come to your hand. Once they realize there is nothing to fear, they will come more quickly and to koi food. |
|
- Posted by cweathersby NE TX 7b/8a (My Page) on Thu, Jun 10, 10 at 17:14
| I'm no pro, but my koi get skittish like that every time there is a predator around. They stay that way for about 2 weeks then ease back up. Yours may just still be adjusting to life in the new home! Ccoombs, that's an awesome idea. I can't wait to buy some shrimp. When my niece was a baby I let her sit on the edge of the top pond and the little koi would nibble her toes, but I have never gotten them to where they would eat out of my hand. |
|
- Posted by jennyb5149 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 10, 10 at 17:15
| Thanks for the suggestions! Keep them coming! Sleepless....my cat will drink from the pond. I've watched him do it while the koi are feeding. They don't even take notice of him nor he of them. I wasn't expecting that from either of them! I was completely prepared to have to jump in and rescue one of my cats from the pond after they tried to catch a fish! ccombs...you mean just go to the store, buy some fresh shrimp, boil them up and there you go? Do I need to cut them up into koi bite sized pieces? Love this forum! Thanks everyone! |
|
- Posted by nancym1956 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 10, 10 at 22:19
| How big are your koi? Small koi, say under 8 inches or so, are more skittish than larger koi. It's survival instinct, and if your koi are small, the behavior will probably last until they're larger. Mine behaved the same way. Now, as soon as I walk outside, my entire herd come to meet me and follow me along the edge to the feeding spot. If I'm working on the flowers around the edge, they're right there watching me. You might try holding a handful of pellets right at the surface of the water and let them slowly drift out of your hand. Let the fish see that the food is coming from your hand, not just falling out of the sky. Koi are wonderful pets, and trust me, yours will warm to you if you're patient. |
|
| You can use larger shrimp. Once they are cooked, the koi can nibble bits off of them as you hold the shrimp. Soon they will be chowing down like piranhas!! |
|
- Posted by cliff_and_joann z7 L.I.,NY (My Page) on Fri, Jun 11, 10 at 11:14
| Dig up earth worms, thy are crazy for them. What you have to do is sit on a chair by the pond. Eventually they will get used to seeing your face :) When you sit by the pond throw in some food occasionally. It will take time, however once they get use to you and come running as soon as they see you, then you can begin hand feeding. They will learn to hand feed with earth worms in no time flat. |
|
- Posted by jennyb5149 3 (My Page) on Fri, Jun 11, 10 at 13:33
| ccombs..thanks for the shrimp follow up. I know we have some frozen ones in the freezer somewhere. May as well make use of them! Nancy...I think you might be on to something there. My little guys are only in the 4-6" range. They probably just need time to grow and to adjust to their new surroundings, me, my fiance and my Tonks. I'm sure as the summer progresses and they get bigger, I'll see a big difference in their behavior. Cliff and Joann...I have a very avid walleye angler in the family who is ALWAYS outside after a good rain collecting nightcrawlers. I'll be sure to ask him to get a few extra for the koi! Thanks for all the ideas everyone! I'm so excited to see my little fish family grow and bond with me! |
|
- Posted by jennyb5149 3b (My Page) on Wed, Jun 16, 10 at 14:44
| Thanks again for the ideas everyone! Just an update...I've been spending hours sitting by the pond letting the fish see me. Every so often I'll throw out a food pellet or two or a little treat like cut up worms or shrimp. Though they still won't get too close when they are eating, they are definitely warming up to me. Now when they see me they all come up to the surface and start swimming around in excited circles. It is SO FUN to see the gang come up to meet me! :-) |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Ponds & Aquatic Plants Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.