It's winter, and my fish look hungry! Can I feed them? |Long Valley, NJ | A Frog's Dream

It’s December in Northern NJ, your fish pond has been winterized, and the weather has been brutally cold for a few days.  You’ve caught glimpses of your pond aerator doing its job, because all you can see is a frozen pond with bubbles in the opening created by your aerator.  Then boom, Mother Nature plays a sick joke on us Jersey pond hobbyists and decides to throw a warm front into the December weather mix of cold and snowy weather.  

​The temperatures creep up 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, maybe even some 60’s!  It feels like spring and winter are having a “play” date.  The fish pond begins to thaw and everyday the ice lessens and once again our pond fish can be seen, snuggled up for their winter slumber.  Not for long though!
 
As the temperature warm so does the pond water… we know what that means!  Our fish may become active again, swimming around and enjoying that awesome space you have created for them.

Can you guess what your pond fish are going to do next? 

​Your aquatic family members, your beautiful koi and pond fish, are going to start begging for food!  Swimming towards you like torpedos with mouths wide open ready to vacuum up that gourmet fish food you spoil them with during the summer months.  They are so cute, so excited to see you tails and fins wagging waiting for your hand to throw that food to them.  

Has this ever happened to you? 

Come on, you know it has and you want to give them food, I know I do when my fish do this to me, we love them and want to make sure they healthy and ,let’s face it, feel loved. 
Here comes the not so fun part of this awesome scenario:
DON’T DO IT!  DO NOT FEED YOUR FISH!

I know, I know it’s tempting.  As it turns out, your fish could become really sick should you end up throwing them some food. 
 
Don’t do it, Don’t do it, Don’t do it! 
Don’t feed your fish friends again until the spring when our water temperatures regulate back to being above 50 F on a consistent basis.  This time of year water temperatures fluctuate too much and feeding our fish friends can be detrimental to their health! 

What could possibly happen if I feed my pond fish? 

Maybe nothing... however the risk is not worth it.  During the cold months and when water temperatures reach about 50 F the pond fish digestive system won't digest protein.  If the fish eat a high protein fish food, like we feed them, there is a chance the food could get stuck in the gut causing bacterial infections and eventually liver disease and all that not so good stuff.  

​Have fun during these warm spells enjoying your fish and watching them swimming around, and don’t let them sucker you into feeding them. 
​
Once you stop feeding your fish, just stop and don’t do it again until the spring!  Your pond fish will thank you! 

Related Links:

• When is the right time to stop feeding my pond fish or koi in New Jersey?
• What do my pond fish do in the winter? 
• What do I do if my fish pond freezes over?
• Can I run my waterfall and pond all winter in New Jersey?

A Frog’s Dream Aquatic Services is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Morris County New Jersey (NJ) Hunterdon County New Jersey (NJ) Somerset County (NJ) and Warren County (NJ). Fish and Koi Pond Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and  Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily inspiration.  Receive #TheWeeklyRibbit for weekly water feature tips and a fun video.  ​