Southern koi fall care strategy: from the "autumn tiger" to the winter of the intimate guide

       The fall breeze is refreshing, but for koi enthusiasts in Guangdong, this season is full of challenges. The aftermath of the "Autumn Tiger", the incessant rains, and the temperature difference between hot and cold are all testing our wisdom in Koi keeping. As a Koi enthusiast who has been with Koi for many years, I would like to share some practical experience to help Koi through this eventful fall.

Responding to the "fall tiger": fine management after high temperatures

       The "Autumn Tiger" is no joke. In September and October in Guangdong, the sun is still hot. At this time of the year, the water temperature in the surface layer of the pond can be nearly 10℃ higher than that in the bottom layer, so the koi dare not come up to eat at all. My experience is to switch to sinking feeds so that the fish can eat in the cooler middle and lower layers. However, it should be noted that the sinking feed is not easy to clean up after eating, so the feeding amount should be more precise and controlled at 2-3% of the fish's body weight, and it is better to finish it within 5 minutes.

       Feeding time must also be adjusted, I usually feed the first meal at six in the morning to finish before the sun; in the evening, I wait until after seven, when the water temperature drops before feeding. I remember one year when the "autumn tiger" was particularly fierce, I fed at noon as usual, and as a result, several carp suffered from indigestion, and later realized that their digestive enzyme activity would be greatly reduced under high temperature.

       Water quality should be monitored extra diligently, especially pH and dissolved oxygen. Red and white koi like alkaline water with pH 7-7.5, while white koi need a slightly higher pH 7.5-8. Green algae on the surface of the water is a natural oxygen indicator - if the state of the algae doesn't change in the afternoon as it did in the morning, it means that the water is lacking in oxygen, so you have to increase the oxygen immediately. I used to run the oxygen pump 24 hours a day during the "autumn tigers", after all, dissolved oxygen below 4mg / L koi will be difficult.

Autumn rains: guarding that pool of clear water

       Fall typhoon storms in Guangdong come and go as they please, and the rain brings three major problems: lower dissolved oxygen, plummeting pH, and cloudy water. My coping strategy is in three steps:

•  Pre-rain preparations are most critical. When I hear a typhoon warning, I will change 20-30% of pool water in advance to reduce the concentration of the original pollutants. Leaves and debris around the pool must be cleaned up, otherwise the rain will be washed into the pool. Once lazy did not clean up, the result of heavy rainfall pool water black, it took a week to adjust back.
•  Manage in the rain with restraint. Don't feed the koi during a rainstorm, as they are already starved of oxygen and have no appetite, so feeding them will only add to their woes. Oxygenation equipment must be kept running, and I keep a generator on hand in case of power outages. When the water level rises, drain the water slowly to prevent the koi from escaping with the overflow water - I really experienced this and lost a beloved Showa Tricolor.
•  Recover from rain and look at the indicators. Take the pH first when the water stops, if it's below 6.5 be careful. I usually use baking soda to slowly bring it back up while changing out 1/3 of the water. Watch out for algae outbreaks when the sun is strong after rain, proper shade can be effective in controlling them.

Fall Nutrition: Reserve Energy for Overwintering

Autumn is the golden period for koi to "put on autumn fat", but there is a lot to be said for the choice of feed. In September, I use a breeding feed with about 38% of protein and 5% of fish oil; in October, after it cools down, I gradually add germ feed to help digestion. Homemade fish food is also a good choice, my formula is: Shenyang feed powder + EM bacteria + chlorella powder + vitamins, wrapped in rice to form a ball, nutritious and not easy to disperse.

Strengthening the immune system is especially important. I would add 0.51 TP3T of vitamin C powder to the feed and feed allicin (2-3 cloves of garlic juice per kilogram of feed) once a week, which is very effective in preventing enteritis. I remember not doing these one fall and ended up with several fish in a row with rotten gills, lesson learned.

Disease prevention and control: coping with high morbidity in fall

With the humid fall in the south, koi are susceptible to gill rot and water mold. My prevention method is to use 0.5% salt water bath for 10 minutes every month and add EM bacteria in the pool regularly. As soon as you find white membrane or swollen gill filaments on the fish, isolate and treat them immediately:

• Gill rot: 10ppm potassium permanganate bath for 10 minutes for 3 days.
• Water mold: 1% brine + methylene blue combined treatment
• Fingerlings: Fingerling net used as directed, water change after dosing 30%

Guangdong should be particularly alert to Koi Herpesvirus, the symptoms of which are white spots on the fish and rapid breathing. Suspected cases must be isolated immediately and the whole pool sterilized with iodine preparation. Last year, a pool of fish in my neighbor's house was wiped out because of this, which is a pity.

Preparing for winter: step-by-step is the safest way to go

Guangdong is warm, but cold air raids should not be underestimated. My preparation for winter begins in November:

• Water temperature above 20℃: normal feeding, 2 times a day
• 15-20℃: reduce to 1 time per day, switch to germ food
• 10-15℃: feed every other day, the amount is 1/3 of the amount of summer
• Below 10°C: complete cessation of food

I will add windbreaks on the north side of the pool and deepen the water level to 1.2 meters or more. The filtration system is kept running but cleaned less frequently to protect the nitrifying bacteria. One year the cold snap came early and I didn't block the wind in time, so the filter froze and cracked as a result of the ice on the side of the pool, which made the tuition fee hurt.

put at the end

       After ten years of keeping carp, I have learned that "prevention is better than cure". Autumn is a time of change, so we need to be more diligent in our observation and early response. Inspecting the pond once a day in the morning and once in the evening, checking the condition of the fish and measuring the water quality are small things that can prevent big problems. Remember, koi can't talk, their health depends on your attention.

We are now in the mid-autumn season, and we hope that all of you will be able to have a safe autumn and enjoy the warmth of spring next year. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to share them with us and let's keep the joy of carp keeping going.