As the water warms, your koi become more and more active. Their increased activity levels means they will eat more and more food. When the water temperatures are highest during the spring and summer, your koi may attack the food you throw in very aggressively, to the point of a feeding frenzy!
Check out this video of 6-8″ Butterfly Koi from Hazorea Aquatics during feeding time…
The water temperature in this greenhouse is 72 degrees, so these fish are at their peak activity level right now. After a few weeks of being fed in the same spot, they know what’s coming and are eager to eat! If they hadn’t been momentarily spooked by placing the camera in the water and turning it on, they would have attacked the food even harder.
Feeding your fish in the same spot and acclimating them to your presence during feeding time is the first step to teaching you koi to hand feed. As they become accustomed to your presence and less fearful that you are a predator, they will come closer and closer during feeding. Over time you should even be able to put your hand in the water and let them take food out of your palm. But have patience, it takes time!