As the seasons change, all garden pond owners with koi or goldfish face a key question: When is it time to start feeding pond fish – and how long should you do it? Especially in summer and winter, many pond owners are unsure whether their pond fish need food. They often stop feeding prematurely or stick to their usual year-round food. It’s easy to overlook the fact that the right pond fish food is seasonal and crucial for the health, well-being and longevity of your koi, goldfish and other pond fish. Depending on the time of year, the water temperature, their metabolism and their activity level, the demands your fish will have on their food will differ greatly.
In spring we often receive questions such as: When is it time to start feeding pond fish again? In autumn, the question tends to be: How long should you feed pond fish? And finally, in winter, the question arises: When should you stop feeding pond fish - and why?
In this part of our PROPOND pond guide, we show you how to feed your fish correctly throughout the year - from the first food in spring to summer food for koi and goldfish to the right autumn and winter food. You will find out when you can start feeding fish in the pond again, how long you should feed them for and how feeding can be optimised to suit the water temperature and their metabolism. This guide gives you all the answers in a practical summary. This way you can ensure that your pond inhabitants stay healthy through all four seasons - with the right seasonal food from JBL PROPOND .
Feeding pond fish in spring – How to get the season off to a good start
When the temperatures slowly start to rise, many pond owners ask themselves: When is the right time to feed pond fish again after the winter? For koi and goldfish in particular, it is important to start feeding carefully, in a way suited to the spring conditions.
After the winter break, your fish's metabolism is still sluggish. It’s therefore best to hold off feeding in spring until the pond water is constantly above 10 °C. Only at this point will the digestive organs be active enough to absorb and digest the food.
Liegen die Temperaturen noch unter 10 °C, solltest du weiterhin ein spezielles Winterfutter verwenden. Mehr dazu findest du im Abschnitt: Teichfische füttern im Winter – Ruhezeit mit Bedacht
A dedicated koi spring food is recommended for this sensitive transition. The following also applies to other carp species such as goldfish: Feeding carp in spring requires easily digestible food with an adapted protein/fat ratio. This means that the digestive system is not overloaded and your fish can start the season with renewed vigour.
A high-quality seasonal food such as the JBL PROPOND SPRING+GROWTH is specially formulated to meet the needs of koi and other pond fish in spring. With a protein content of 28 % and a low fat content of 8 %, this special spring food ensures easy digestibility and at the same time strengthens koi and goldfish for the following summer season. Like all JBL PROPOND foods, the JBL PROPOND SPRING+GROWTH also contains prebiotic ingredients, which additionally promotes healthy digestion. In addition, the dedicated spring food is ideal for young fish and newly purchased koi or goldfish due to its easily digestible proteins. This allows your new pond inhabitants to regain their strength after storage and transport and promotes the growth of all young fish.
Checklist for feeding pond fish in spring:
- Feed koi after the winter with spring food as soon as the water temperature stabilises at 10 °C
- Use specialist spring food such as JBL PROPOND SPRING+GROWTH
- Feed in small portions – it’s better to observe the behaviour of the fish several times a day and to adjust the food quantity
This will ensure that your pond inhabitants come out of hibernation healthy and vigorous and that you lay the foundations for a successful pond season.
Feeding pond fish in summer - Energy for growth and activity
Summer is the most active time in the pond - not only for plants and microorganisms, but above all for your fish. Feeding koi in summer means specifically covering their increased energy requirements. At water temperatures above 20 °C, their metabolism and appetite are particularly active. During this phase, koi and goldfish need a nutrient-rich, balanced and protein-based diet. A koi summer food specially adapted to the warm season is therefore recommended to promote vitality and growth.
Unlike an all season food, a high-quality koi food for the summer needs a higher protein content. With a protein content of 32 %, the JBL PROPOND SUMMER+COLOR has the highest protein content of the PROPOND seasonal foods and therefore ensures the necessary supply of protein for your koi and goldfish. The JBL PROPOND SUMMER+COLOR is therefore perfect for the active phase of your pond fish. The specially formulated summer food also offers added value in terms of colouring. The natural astaxanthin it contains ensures more intense colours for your koi and goldfish.
How often and how much should koi be fed in summer?
In the summer months, you can feed your pond fish two to four times a day in small portions - depending on the water temperature and the feeding behaviour of the fish. Always observe the feeding behaviour of your koi and goldfish and only feed them as much as they can eat within a few minutes. This not only protects from overfeeding, but also from excess nutrients in the water.
Checklist for feeding pond fish in summer:
- Use summer food such as JBL PROPOND SUMMER+COLOR when the water temperature is above 20 °C
- Feed two to four times a day in small portions
- Observe feeding behaviour and adjust the quantity individually
With the right koi food in summer, you can ensure that your pond fish are full of energy, healthy and colourful throughout the hot season.
Feeding pond fish in autumn - Preparing for hibernation
In autumn the transition period for your pond fish towards winter begins. The days get shorter, temperatures drop and your fish's metabolism slows down - they become calmer and consume less food. As soon as the water temperature permanently drops below 20 °C and remains constantly above 10 °C, you need to switch to an easily digestible, energy-rich autumn food for koi and goldfish.
The main purpose of feeding koi in autumn is to build up energy reserves for the cold season without overtaxing the metabolism. Specially adapted autumn food is also recommended for other pond fish such as goldfish.
The JBL PROPOND AUTUMN+PREPARE is suitable for koi and goldfish and is precisely tailored to their needs in autumn: With a protein content of 28 % and an increased fat content of 10 %, it optimally supports your fish in storing energy reserves. This prepares your fish in the garden pond for the coming cold months and boosts their vitality and resilience. It is also important that autumn food sinks, unlike spring and summer food. This is because koi and other pond fish stay in the deeper layers of water at low temperatures and reduce their activity. With a sinking koi food for the autumn your pond fish don’t have to swim to the surface to eat. This prevents them wasting their energy unnecessarily.
Checklist for feeding pond fish in autumn:
- Switch to sinking autumn food such as JBL PROPOND AUTUMN+PREPARE at water temperatures below 20 °C
- Feed smaller portions, depending on temperature and activity
- Switch to winter food below 10 °C
With the right autumn food for koi, you can help your pond dwellers to get through the transition period in good health - and you lay the foundation for successful hibernation.
Teichfische füttern im Winter – Ruhezeit mit Bedacht
Winter is a time of rest for pond fish such as koi and goldfish. As soon as the water temperature drops below 10 °C, their metabolism slows down considerably. Many pond owners then ask themselves: Should I feed my pond fish in winter?
The answer: Yes - but only under certain conditions. Whether you continue to feed your fish in winter depends primarily on the water temperature and the movement of the fish. If your koi or goldfish are still active and the water temperature is constantly between 5 and 10 °C, you can use a special, sinking winter food for pond fish. If the temperature drops below 5 °C, stop feeding completely.
A specially formulated, sinking winter food for koi and other pond fish is characterised by easily digestible ingredients with a high fat and low protein content - ideal for providing energy without overloading the metabolism. The JBL PROPOND WINTER+CARE has a protein content of 22 % and thus the lowest content of the entire JBL PROPOND food range. The fat content of 11 % is the highest in the entire range. Thanks to its sinking properties, it reaches the deeper pond zones where pond fish spend time during the cold winter months. The JBL PROPOND WINTER+CARE also strengthens the pond fish thanks to the wheat germs and fish oil it contains.
How often should koi be fed in winter?
Feed a maximum of once a day in very small quantities and only when the animals are active. If they do not accept the food or appear apathetic, stop feeding immediately.
Why shouldn’t fish be fed when the water temperature is below 5 °C in winter?
The digestive tract of koi, goldfish and other carp species only works to a very limited extent at low temperatures. If they are fed anyway, the food can remain undigested in the intestines - which can lead to health problems or even the death of the animals. In addition, food that is not ingested can also affect the water quality, especially if the filter performance is reduced in winter. Feeding at water temperatures below 5 °C must therefore be avoided at all costs.
Checklist for feeding pond fish in winter:
- Only feed when the water temperature is 5-10 °C and the fish are active
- Feed a maximum of once a day and in very small quantities
- Use sinking winter food such as JBL PROPOND WINTER+CARE
- Below 5 °C water temperature: stop feeding completely
With the right koi winter food, you can help your fish to get through the cold season safely and healthily - without putting unnecessary strain on their metabolism or on the water quality.
Conclusion: seasonal food for koi, goldfish and other pond fish as a recipe for success
By adapting the feeding to the season, water temperature and activity of your fish, you can ensure a species-appropriate and healthy diet all year round.
The JBL PROPOND seasonal foods have been adapted to the respective needs of koi, goldfish and other pond fish so that you can provide your fish with optimal nutrition throughout the year:
- In spring, you’re supporting the metabolism after the winter break with easily digestible food
- In summer, you are providing protein-rich energy for growth and colour development
- In autumn, you’re helping build up important energy reserves for the cold season
- And in winter only feed – if at all – with a special, sinking winter food when needed
© 23.04.2025
