What is the relationship between protein and energy in a koi diet?
Protein content of the artificial diet is set at a level so that it produces good growth but also so that it is not used as an expensive source of energy. Carbohydrates (sugars) and lipids (oils) are included in the diet as a cheaper source of energy to spare some protein. This is called protein sparing and it is used in all artificial diet formulations to produce a high performance diet at a reasonable price. The protein in the diet must also be in balance with the energy in the diet. Too much protein and insufficient energy in the diet leads to protein being used as an expensive and inefficient source of energy. Too little protein in relation to the energy content of the diet leads to excess energy being laid down as fat causing physiological strains and ultimately obesity. Why do Nishikoi® foods contain a range of different protein levels? Protein requirements decrease with the age of koi, but increase with the water temperature. Juvenile koi that are actively growing require high p
