Growth Food – what is it?

Strictly speaking, the function of growth food is to do one thing effectively and that is to convert the food into increased body mass – in the desired and beneficial way. An example of desired growth is when the fish increases in over-all size while at the same time retaining its desired body shape and conformation. An undesirable example of “growth” would be when the fish fed poor quality food gets fat and pudgy without increasing its length. While technically true, as it did expand sideways, the now obese fish is not considered as having grown. Instead, it is now considered as being fat an out of shape.

What Distinguishes the Growth Food from other food types?

Growth foods are formulated with a different set of ingredients than color enhancing or staple foods.

So, now that the basic definition of growth food is out of the way, lets look at which food to use as well as when and how to use it.

Our recommendation is the Dainichi GROWTH PLUS formula. This is our specialty formula specifically designed to maximize the conversion of food into koi body mass. This is its only intended purpose, not color enhancing or staple year-round diet or anything else. Growth Plus has to put on size and maintain the optimum body shape (conformation) of the fish. Koi with notable size and strong, muscular body conformation are highly desirable and thus very valuable. Large, obese koi, are more on a missed opportunity – could’ve been something impressive but things just didn’t work out for them.

The protein of the GROWTH PLUS food is quite high at 44%. This is already at the high end of what koi can use. Any higher levels of protein no matter how good they may be will just fertilize the algae in the pond, so please do not use any “poser” foods advertising 50% protein or some ridiculous value like that. that is just someone thinking that if a lot is good, then more is better…No.

Although there is wheatgerm and pea protein in this formula, it is there to balance and round out the nutritional needs of these high end pets. It is not recommended for use at the start or the end of the pond season when the water temperatures are somewhat lower than needed to metabolize this food.

What is the best usage of this food?

Growth Plus should be fed to younger koi or those just peaking on those in their prime. Old fish or those way past their prime, have nothing to offer back to their owners except for extra nitrogen in the pond. Better choice for these koi is a staple food such as All-Season.

Yes, good usage of this formula. A koi with a ‘battleship’ conformation and size is super impressive.

With the higher protein content, it is necessary to provide proper conditions to digest and metabolize the food. Therefore, growth food should be fed during the warmer months or if using a water heating system, when the temperature of the pond water is at 70-80 degrees F or higher. At this temperature range the koi if given adequate room and good water will grow quite rapidly.