The word “plankton” comes from ancient Greek and translates as “the wandering”. In marine biology, plankton is the definition of organisms that live in water and whose swimming direction is determined by the flow of the water.
Plankton can consist of both vegetable and animal components. All organisms that are counted as part of the plankton and do not carry out photosynthesis are called zooplankton. Zooplankton is an important food source for fish.
Plankton is an important source of food for Koi. Different foods should be used depending on the size of the Koi. Young animals, in particular, need special feed. The Koi feed on their yolk sac for the first few days after their birth. However, as soon as two-thirds of the yolk sac has been consumed, external food must be used.
The feed must be of a size that the young animals can easily take in. The commonly used food for Koi is inappropriate here. In many cases, the size of the feed already exceeds the size of the young animals to be fed. Here, especially in the first few days, feeding with plankton is ideal. The plankton food is the smallest food available for Koi.
Young koi need a high protein diet. A high intake of proteins enables the Koi to grow quickly. Plankton is characterized by protein content of over 60 per cent. It is therefore ideal for feeding young Koi.
Feeding plankton has other benefits. If the young animals were not raised by a breeder but in the wild, they would also feed on plankton after their yolk sac has been used up. Feeding with plankton comes very close to the life of the Koi in the wild. The plankton should be fed to the koi until they are two months old. Due to the nutrients, it contains, it sustainably supports the development of young animals.
