Being a Koi owner is amazing. The fish are beautiful and full of life. To maintain the health of your Koi, feeding your Koi the right food is essential. It is critical that your fish is receiving the best Koi food for growth and color. What you feed your Koi can directly impact their health and appearance.
With so many food options on the market, which one is the best for your Koi? The food should have an adequate balance of vitamins, protein, minerals, and fiber. The combination of these ingredients can help the overall health, growth, and color of your Koi.
What factors contribute to koi growth?
The biggest factor that contributes to koi growth are proteins and, by extension, amino acids. Amino acids support the building of healthy tissues, reproduction and of course growth. Some of the other factors to consider are lipids (and carbohydrates) which act as an excellent energy source for koi. Vitamins and minerals are critical for virtually all metabolic reactions.
What factors contribute to koi color?
Spirulina, which you will notice as the ingredient in some of the formulas below, contribute to enhancement of reds and oranges due to the beta-Carotene. You may see some formulas include marigold extract which lends itself to enhanced yellow colors in koi. Lastly, Canthaxanthin are carotenoids that act to enhance reds and oranges.
A few things to consider when buying food is that it should be able to be easily digested by your Koi. Not only is this beneficial to your Koi, but it also helps the pond water from becoming cloudy.
In this article, I will review the best koi food. I will cover the features and benefits of each product. The purpose of this review is to help you find the best food options for your Koi so let’s dive in!
Need to Just Skip to the Goods? Here’s the Top Picks…
Image | Rank | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Top Performance | Blue Ridge Fish Food Pellets [25lb], Koi and Goldfish Color Rich Formula, Floating 3/16" Pellet, Balanced Diet | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
![]() | 2nd Runner Up | TetraPond Koi Vibrance 5.18 Pounds, Soft Sticks, Floating Pond Food, Model:16486 | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
![]() | 3rd Runner Up | Kaytee Koi's Choice Fish Food 25 lb | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Best Koi Food for Growth and Color
1. Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance
- KOI POND NUTRITION: An ideal maintenance diet for your koi, ornamental goldfish and other outdoor fish species.
- DAILY DIET: Provides nutrition for energy, longevity and overall health.
- SOFT STICKS: Floating sticks are easy for fish to eat and digest.
- CLEAR WATER: Feeding a high-quality, highly digestible food creates less waste for clearer water.
- USAGE: Feed daily when water temperatures are above 50 degrees.
- Age Range Description: All Life Stages
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
At the top of the list is the Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance. This food provides an ideal maintenance diet for your Koi. Your Koi will receive nutrition for energy, health, and longevity with this food. The food comes in the form of soft sticks. This is great because the sticks are easy for fish to digest.
Have you been experiencing cloudy water? This could in part be due to the fish food you are using. The Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance provides high-quality food that can help to create less waste, which is beneficial to the clarity of your pond. This food is excellent for all life stages of your Koi.
This food formula helps to bring out the vibrant colors in your koi. Essential vitamins are included in the mix for growth and metabolism. There are proteins for growth, fats for a great energy source, and fiber for efficient digestion.
What makes this food a top pick is its highly nutritious value, price, and quality.
2. Shinju White Pearl Enhancer Wheat Germ Premium Koi Fish FoodIf you are looking for a food that enhances the color of your Koi, this is a great option. This fish food adds a color enhancer to its food formula. The Spirulina in the mixture greatly enhances the color vibrancy of your Koi. A benefit of this food is that you will start to see darker reds in your fish.
With premium benefits, sometimes comes a higher price. You can expect to spend a little more on this food, due to the addition of the high-quality Spirulina. What sets this food apart from others is that it doesn’t dilute the Spirulina, but rather it uses concentrated (4,000 PPM) amounts.
You may pay more for this food, but the results are worth it. This food focuses specifically on the nutrition and color enhancement of your Koi.
3. Kaytee Koi’s Choice Premium Pond Fish Food
- Provides necessary animal and vegetable proteins
- With 35% protein, fish meal is the first ingredient and supports tissue and muscle development
- Great for Koi, Goldfish and other pond fish
- Floating pond fish food thats suitable for all seasons
- Fish oil, wheat germ meal and alfalfa meal to enhance eye, heart and cognitive functions
- Highly digestible food
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Kaytee Koi’s Choice Premium food provides the necessary animal and vegetable protein for your fish. Fish meal is the first and main ingredient in this food mixture. Why is this important?
Fish meal supports tissues and muscle development, it is excellent for Koi growth. The fish meal also contains 35% protein, which also aids in maintaining health and growth.
Other benefits include the suitability of this food for all seasons. You will not have to switch foods throughout the year, which is an awesome bonus. The fish oil and wheat germ meal are ingredients in this food mixture that help with heart health, cognitive and eye function in Koi.
Your Koi can easily digest this food. In addition to the many health benefits, this food is also affordable, making it an ideal option on this list.
4. Hikari Saki Growth Food
- Heightened growth rates due to the perfect nutritional balance
- No fat-deposit buildup with long term use
- A protein packed, carbohydrate complete nutritional package
- Contains a source of live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms. (Probiotic)
- Use in water temperatures above 68°F
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Hikari Saki Growth Food is another option if you want to enhance the growth of your Koi. The main feature of this food is that it heightens growth rates by providing your Koi with nutritional balance. With a faster growth rate, there are no fat-deposit buildups with long-term use. This protects the health of your Koi.
What is growth without nutrition? Your Koi can experience a protein-packed and carbohydrate complete food option with Hakari Saki food. The benefits do not end there, the food contains a source of live microorganisms that function as a probiotic to help with digestion.
This brand is a top option on this list because of its benefits. It is highly preferred by many Koi breeders. The food was specifically designed for raising jumbo Koi.
5. Blue Ridge Fish Food Pellets for Koi
- BLUE RIDGE KOI AND GOLDFISH FISH FOOD premium all-season floating food pellet and the same high quality diet used for Americas leading Koi breeder at a fraction of the price
- EASILY DIGESTED Floating pellets soften quickly for easy digestion, encourage healthy growth, and wont pollute the water
- ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS Same as growth formula plus three proven color enhancers marigold extract, spirulina, and canthaxanthin. Feed this food for 30 days and watch the reds on your koi and goldfish intensify.
- A HEALTHY CHOICE Contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that promotes resistance to stress and immunity to disease.
- 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE Blue Ridge Koi and Goldfish products are made in the USA by strict guidelines. We are 100% confident and stand behind the quality. We believe the quality of this food will improve the quality of your fish or your money back!
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Blue Ridge is America’s largest and one of the most experienced Koi Farms. It is no surprise they made it on the list. This food is a premium floating food pellet.
You can use this food for your Koi in all seasons. Once the pellets go into the water, they are quickly softened which makes them easily digested by Koi.
The food pellets encourage healthy growth and they are friendly to the water causing minimum pollution. In addition to having a phenomenal growth formula, this food also contains three proven color enhancers.
Marigold extract, Spirulina, and Canthaxanthin are ingredients that support color vibrance. It is suggested that the results will become noticeable in 30 days. Your Koi will begin to grow and look their best.
6. Wardley Pond Fish Food Pellets
- Highly digestible formula specially designed for the energy needs of koi and goldfish
- Includes 5 pounds of floating pond pellets with a scientifically balanced protein-to-fat ratio which supports healthy growth and helps maintain clean water
- Fortified with a stabilized form of vitamin C that promotes a healthy immune system in fish
- Scientifically designed to fulfill the energy needs of koi and goldfish.
- Light in weight but heavy in nutrition
- Enjoyed by all pond fish
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Wardley Pond Fish Food is specifically designed for the energy needs of your Koi. The food comes in pellet form that is highly digestible by your Koi.
What makes this food stand out from others is the balanced protein-to-fat ratio. This scientifically proven balance aids in healthy growth and also assists with the upkeep of your pond water.
I like this food because it is fortified with a form of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to promote a healthy immune system for your Koi. Although this food is light in weight, it is powered with many nutrients.
7. Laguna Color Enhancing Koi Floating Food
- Laguna Color Enhancing Food
- Premium Diet to Enhance Color Growth
- Formula Contains Minimum 38% Protein to Promote Color Growth
- Softens Fast for Easy Digestion, Will Not Cloud Water
- Storage Conditions: Keep product in a dry place under 100 °F (38°C)
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Next on the list is the Laguna Color Enhancing Food. This is a wonderful option because of its premium formula and nutrition. It provides your Koi with a well-balanced diet to promote color growth. The formula has 38% protein to support skeletal and muscle health.
This food will not cloud your pond water, and it is easy for Koi to consume. Overall, the food contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality proteins for growth. The ingredients that focus on the colors of your Koi are stabilized Vitamin C and Spirulina. This food provides premium nutrition for an all-seasons diet.
8. Dainichi All Seasons Food For Koi
- Features the highest level of usable, quality marine proteins and minerals
- Formulated for maximum growth
- Appetizing coating to entice even the most timid koi
- Can be used alone or in conjunction with other Dainichi formulas
- Medium 5.5mm pellets
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Dainichi All Seasons Food offers excellent nutrition for your Koi no matter the time of year. It supports the growth and development of your fish. The pellets have a special coating and they contain essential minerals and vitamins.
Both proteins and vegetables are included in the food. Digestion is supported by the vegetable matter. It also helps to speed up the nutrition benefits throughout the fish body.
The growth of your Koi is supported by the protein in the food. Even during the cold months, this food helps your Koi to stay nourished. To get a better understanding of feeding your koi through the seasons/temperature changes, feel free to explore my infographic here.
9. API Pond Fish Food
- Contains one (1) API POND FISH FOOD Pond Fish Food 1.56-Pound Bag
- Superior pellet diet for all pond fish.
- High protein utilization helps fish produce less waste or ammonia, promoting clean and healthy water.
- Supports a healthy immune system, and help enhance color and growth.
- Feed 2 or 3 times a day, only as much as they will eat in 5-10 minutes.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Closing out the list is the API Pond Fish Food. This food provides a superior pellet diet for your Koi. If you are looking for high protein utilization for your fish, this food is a great choice. The high protein percentage results in your Koi to producing less ammonia/waste.
The food places a focus on the immune health of your Koi. It also works to enhance color and growth. It is the perfect food choice that is both affordable but delivers premium benefits.
Conclusion
To be sure, you want your koi to be in top health and of course you want your “living jewels” to look as vibrant as possible with the right diet. Hopefully, after going through this article you are more informed about which brand of koi food is right for your koi. When you finally decide to try one out, let me know later how it went in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by!
How often should koi be fed?
How can I enhance my koi color?
Do Koi change color as they grow?
