As temperatures climb, your pond and aquarium fish enter a more active phase—but higher water temps can bring unique challenges. With ®Hikari’s decades of aquatic nutrition expertise, here’s our thoughts on how to keep your fish thriving all summer long.

1. Monitor Water Temperature & Adjust Feeding: Between 68–78 °F (20–26 °C), fish are most active—feed 2–4 times daily using high-protein, color-enhancing diets like Hikari® Staple, Hikari Gold®, Hikari Excel®, Hikari® Hi-Growth, Saki‑Hikari® Growth or Color. Make meals small and more frequent for optimal weight gain. When water exceeds 82 °F (28 °C), metabolism starts to slow. Switch to easily-digestible, wheat-germ–based feeds like ®Hikari Wheat‑Germ Formula, Hikari Excel® or Saki‑Hikari® Multi‑Season™. Feed in small amounts as often as possible but staying within your daily feed amount, and never leave uneaten food after the feeding as this can cause water quality issues.
2. Feed at the Right Times: Aim to feed between 10 AM and 4 PM, when temperatures are most stable. Avoid feeding within an hour of sunrise and an hour of sunset to prevent digestion issues during cooler periods.
3. Portion Control is Key: Offer only what fish can consume in 3–5 minutes. Uneaten pellets should be promptly removed to prevent water degradation.
4. Boost Oxygen & Circulation: Warmer water holds less oxygen, which can stress fish. Improve aeration through fountains, air pumps, or waterfalls. Add aquatic plants or shading to help cool the water and reduce algae growth.
5. Maintain Water Quality: Test your water weekly for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Do frequent 10–20% water changes with dechlorinated water. Removing debris and managing algae also helps maintain optimal conditions.
6. Choose the Right Hikari® Diets: Hikari® offers a range of summer-friendly feeds: Wheat‑Germ Formula and Saki‑Hikari® Multi‑Season™ are ideal easily digested diets for higher temperatures. Hikari Gold®, Saki‑Hikari Growth, Color, and Hikari® Staple provide higher-protein and/or color-enhancing options for active fish. Mixing and matching these products based on temperature and fish behavior, if you feel variety is important, can be an option.
7. Avoid Summer Feeding Mistakes: Don’t overfeed—even healthy fish don’t need as much food as it may seem. Remember, koi and goldfish are grazers and will be eating bugs, algae and other pond nutrition all day long. Match feeding to fish activity and metabolic temperature-based rates. Always remove excess feed promptly.

With the right summer feeding strategy, quality ®Hikari formulas, and careful tank or pond management, your fish will stay vibrant, healthy, and active—making summer one of the most rewarding times for your aquatic pets and your viewing pleasure. Feel free to reach out for tailored advice if you feel your situation requires it, we are here to help. Happy summer feeding!

If you have questions about summer feeding or want help selecting the right Hikari® diet for your fish, we’ve got your back. You can email us at fish@hikariusa.com or call us at 800‑621‑5619 to speak with a knowledgeable team member.