There are a lot of fish "treats" on
the market. Here, fish veterinarian Dr. Erik Johnson, Aquascape
Designs' main source
for fish information, shares some alternative treats that his own
fish enjoy from time to time.
Grapefruit - Cut the grapefruit into quarters. They'll float and
the fish will be attracted at once. Watch out to make sure the
skins don't jam up the pump or clog your skimmer. Fed too much,
the vitamin C acid will scorch the lips of your fish to a pale
pink color, no harm - just back off with the grapefruit. Once per
week is plenty.
Watermelon - Fish like watermelon but not as much as grapefruit.
It doesn't supply much nutrition so other snacks might be a better
option.
Orange Slices - Big fish will earnestly take mandarin orange slices
right out of your hand. Very cool and loaded with vitamin C. Larger
seedless oranges can be cut as grapefruit.
Peas - These can sink fast, so if your
koi miss them on the pond bottom, there's a chance of wasting
the peas and polluting the
pond. So make sure you let the fish know you're there, and "here
come the peas." Some say skins are hard for the fish to digest.
Peeling them is out of the question, but when still partially frozen,
if you give the pea a little squeeze the inside pops out of the
skin and right into the pond. Koi seem to really like these, when
they know they're there.
Romaine Lettuce - Nutritionally invisible,
but perhaps the least messy of "greens" for the fish
to munch on. Don't bother with iceberg lettuce. Get the darkest
romaine you can and cut it
into six-inch long strips of whatever thinness is suitable for
your fish. They will chomp on the thick center spines of the leaf
later.
Worms - Koi eat earthworms, Georgia reds, night crawlers, pinks,
and others. Fresh, active earthworms are well accepted and safe
and when the first koi hits a worm, the rest quickly catch on.
Fish - Koi can be trained to like fish. Thawed and chopped, frozen
sardines are highly nutritious and, since they are from salt water,
they are less likely to carry parasites applicable to koi. In moderation,
these treats are okay for koi, and certainly well enjoyed.
Cheerios - Cheerios make a great treat almost any time of year,
especially when the water is too cold to feed regular fish food.
They especially seem to appreciate Honey Nut Cheerios as a treat.
It is low residue and low nitrogen, what's not to love? An A+ snack.
So the next time you go to grab for that fish food, think about
how good your fish have been this year. They never complain. They
don't ask for money. And they're always happy to see you. They
deserve a treat!
