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Wheatgerm
is the highly nutritious ‘heart’ of a wheat grain. It
provides a high quality protein source that is easily digested and
has been the favourite foundation ingredient for low protein diets
for many years. Koi
and other pondfish are poikilothermic (cold-blooded) where their
body temperature and metabolic rate is governed by the temperature
of the surrounding water. As the water temperature rises from 8°C
to 20°C, the metabolic rate increases as does a fish’s
ability to digest and assimilate increasing levels of protein from
the diet. However,
when water temperatures are hovering around the 8°C to 12°C
mark, metabolic rates and digestion efficiencies are low, as is
a fish’s protein requirements. For this reason, it is wise
to offer a low protein vegetable-based diet.
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A wheatgerm
diet allows fish to feed on a diet to meet their lower protein requirements
which leads to better water quality. When fed at low water temperatures, Nishikoi® Wheatgerm provides koi and other pondfish with sufficient highly digestible vegetable-based protein, reducing excretion of toxic ammonia and thereby improving water quality. |
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If
a higher protein diet was offered to koi and other pond fish, a
significant quantity of protein would not used for growth or energy
but simply wasted and excreted, largely as toxic ammonia.