Wintering Tosai Outside - Tips?

[carpe diem]

I have about 100 tosai left in my pond from a flock spawn in May. Almost all of the tobies were all picked off by kingfishers and herons in July and August, so the fingerlings I have now are all 1-6". I know the 1-inchers won't make it, but what can I do to help the bigger tosai out? If they continue growing the way they have the past few weeks, about a dozen of them will hopefully make it to 7" this month.

I'm in a 7a zone, and my big guys (12-24") usually start slowing down in October and begin hibernating in November. They don't come out from the deep areas of the pond again until March. I'm afraid my tosai don't have enough fat stored to keep them going for 4 or 5 months. Should I keep feeding them wheat germ until they stop surfacing?

Side note: my pond is 30,000 gal, but it obviously can't hold 100+ koi, so I'm not expecting all of the small ones to make it. But I do have some favorites in the 5-6" range that I'd hate to lose.

A couple photos of my koi: The first shows the general size of the fry compared to my larger fish, and the second is my poor 12" male being overwhelmed by little fish at the beginning of a feeding session.

 

[gouldianguy68]

I stop feeding when water temps hit 50° or lower, not air temps, I also am trying to pack weight on them for Winter shut down. Feeding 4 times a day, to try and prepare them for winter

 

[gouldianguy68]

I have about 100 tosai left in my pond from a flock spawn in May. Almost all of the tobies were all picked off by kingfishers and herons in July and August, so the fingerlings I have now are all 1-6". I know the 1-inchers won't make it, but what can I do to help the bigger tosai out? If they continue growing the way they have the past few weeks, about a dozen of them will hopefully make it to 7" this month.

I'm in a 7a zone, and my big guys (12-24") usually start slowing down in October and begin hibernating in November. They don't come out from the deep areas of the pond again until March. I'm afraid my tosai don't have enough fat stored to keep them going for 4 or 5 months. Should I keep feeding them wheat germ until they stop surfacing?

Side note: my pond is 30,000 gal, but it obviously can't hold 100+ koi, so I'm not expecting all of the small ones to make it. But I do have some favorites in the 5-6" range that I'd hate to lose.

A couple photos of my koi: The first shows the general size of the fry compared to my larger fish, and the second is my poor 12" male being overwhelmed by little fish at the beginning of a feeding session.

View attachment 165667
View attachment 165668

Absolutely Beautiful!!!

 

[GBBUDD]

Welcome. The reason we stop feeding isn't as much that the fish aren't hungry more so the bacteria that we all know help keep them alive, is barely funtioning. It can not do much to convert gases to lesser lethal amounts.

 

[Laaf]

Very small/young fish can survive the winter. Just do what you usually do for your pond.