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Your Koi and Goldfish depend on you to keep them happy and healthy. Even though they can forage on natural foods, such as algae, worms, and insects, they still require a supplemental diet in the form of commercial foods.
When you realize that your fish are no longer living in the wild with access to an unlimited food supply, you’re either going to have to make it a habit to feed them or find solutions to keeping them fed consistently.
The best automatic pond fish feeders can solve both of your problems -- keeping your fish fed and doing it without you being there two or three times every day to do it.
If you want to keep your fish growing happy, healthy, and quickly with beautiful colorations, you’re going to need to give them a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, fats, and proteins.
What Are The Best Automatic Fish Feeders For Ponds?
Being the pond keeper you are, you want only the best of the best for your Koi, goldfish, and other pond fish species. That’s why we’ve done the hard work of pulling together a list of the best automatic fish feeders for ponds.
Each of the feeders below has been rated based on a handful of different factors, from our own experience and the experience of other customers just like you.
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1. Fish Mate P21 Automatic Pond Fish Feeder - Ideal for small ponds
Check Offer PricesHighlights
Fish Mate is a very well-known manufacturer of automatic feeders. They have played an active role in the industry for more than 30 years. Their P21 Automatic Feeder is just one more example of the quality and craftsmanship that comes out of their factories.
The P21 is designed explicitly with smaller ponds in mind. It can supply your fish with food over several hours and holds upwards of 21 days worth of food when filled.
The internal quartz timer is powered by a single AA battery with an indicator that lets you know how much life is left in it and when you need to change it out. This feeder is weatherproof and can be mounted on the shoreline or suspended over the surface of the water.
Read What Other Owners SayDid You Know?
Solar-powered feeders can completely automate the process of keeping your fish fed. They can supply their power and (with larger hoppers) provide a month’s worth of food without you being actively involved in the process.
2. Moultrie 6.5-Gallon FeedCaster Fish Feeder - Adjustable feed setting
Highlights
The Moultrie FeedCaster Automatic Fish Feeder is a professional-grade heavy-duty feeder that works excellent for medium-sized to larger ponds. This feeder is NOT designed to be used with smaller ponds or smaller numbers of fish.
The feeder is built around a 6.5-gallon drum, constructed of durable metal and designed to be suspended over the surface of the water. The drum holds upwards of 50 pounds of food and uses an internal motor to spread the feed outwards.
The fan spray pattern on the Moultrie feeder can send food pellets up to 25 feet in a circular pattern. The motor requires a 6-volt battery but can be used with an optional solar panel if you want. The feed cycle can be programmed for up to 6 separate feedings per day.Did You Know?
Avoid buying a feeder with a hopper that is too large for the number of fish that you keep. If you supply too much food, you could overfeed the fish, making them unhealthy, or the excessive amount of food could spoil because it’s not being eaten fast enough.
3. Fish Mate P7000 Pond Fish Feeder - Accurate and consistent
Highlights
The Fish Mate P7000 is another automatic feeder that features a standalone hopper. The unit is constructed from high-quality flexible plastic that helps it stand up in even the harshest weather conditions without rusting.
The see-through hopper holds up to 6.5 pounds of food pellets. You can feed around 30 cups to fill the hopper. The unit features an LCD that makes it easy to program your feeding schedule and quickly determine the status of the feeder.
The Fish Mate P7000 requires four “C”-sized batteries that last anywhere from 6 to 9 months before you will need to replace them. The feeder is designed to be suspended on the shore of your pond, dropping food down into the water via the chute.
Did You Know?
Before you buy, make sure you’re thinking about how you are going to mount the feeder. If you are planning on hanging the feeder from your dock or the shore, you will want a feeder that is designed to be suspended.
4. Koi Cafe Sweeney Automatic Koi Feeder - heavy-gage galvanized steel hopper
Highlights
Koi Cafe’s Sweeney Automatic Koi Feeder is another heavy-duty unit that is constructed using galvanized steel. The galvanized steel helps it withstand harsh weather conditions while protecting the internal motor and mechanisms, ensuring a long lifespan.
A single 6-volt rechargeable battery powers the feeding motor, but you can also use an optional solar panel to keep it charged. The feed settings can easily be adjusted with the flow lever. This lets you set the number of seconds that the feeder spends spreading food pellets.
The machine features a digital timer that lets you program in your feeding schedule, allowing you to feed up to five times per day. It also features a transparent side window that lets you quickly determine how much food is left inside the unit.
Did You Know?
For larger ponds with a higher number of fish, consider purchasing a feeder that can spread the food out in an evenly distributed pattern over larger areas. These feeders, while more expensive, will ensure that the food gets evenly spread out over the entire pond.
5. Wildgame Innovations Low Profile Fish Feeder - Compact, easy to carry
Highlights
The Wildgame Innovations Low Profile Fish Feeder is designed to be used in large ponds with large numbers of active fish. It can hold upwards of 75 pounds of food pellets and can be suspended over the surface of the water or placed on your dock or the shoreline.
The unit features heavy-duty legs that support it so it can operate in a standalone fashion. It does not need to be maintained once you put it in place. This feeder, as noted, is designed for very large ponds or small lakes.
With this feeder, you will need to follow instructions carefully while you are setting it up. The feeder requires light assembly and a bit of wiring. Once set up, though, it uses a 12-volt battery, built-in charger, and external solar panel for additional power.
Did You Know?
If you live a busy life and want to make sure your fish are adequately cared for, or you operate a breeding pond and need to feed more often than you have time available, buying an automated feeder is one of the best decisions you can make.
6. Wildgame Innovations Tri-Pod Feeder - Galvanized steel spinner plate
Highlights
Another great automatic feeder from Wildgame Innovations is the Tri-Pod 30-Gallon Feeder. It is built from the same heavy-duty construction that Wildgame Innovations is known for and works great in larger ponds and smaller stocked lakes.
The unit uses a 6-volt battery to supply consistent power with the battery being able to operate for months without needing to be recharged. The unit also features an internal programmable timer so you can set specific feeding times throughout the day.
The interface used to program the machine is easy to understand, so you do not need an in-depth manual to get it up and running as quickly as possible. The 30-gallon capacity and heavy-duty dispenser can spread food pellets up to 30 feet in a circular motion.
Did You Know?
Many customers opt for a feeder with a smaller food hopper so they can stay involved with feeding their fish. These feeders are used when they go on vacation or are away from their pond for extended periods.
7. Hozelock Automatic Pond Food Dispenser - Indispensable for holiday feeding
Highlights
The Hozelock Automatic Pond Food Dispenser is similar to the Moultrie feeder, in that you can mount it above your pond and evenly distribute the food pellets. However, that’s where the similarities end.
The Hozelock utilizes a mechanical timer to ensure it maintains a proper feeding schedule without electronics getting in the way. This makes it perfect for pond keepers that want a simple system they can set and forget.
The feeder is on the smaller size, making it perfect for smaller Koi ponds and backyard water gardens. It holds around 0.2 gallons of food and can be used with everything from pellets to flakes.
Did You Know?
Instead of looking at the higher price tag of some of the best pond feeding machines on this list, consider the investment you’re making into your pond’s livestock and ecosystem. Keeping them fed, happy, and healthy pays off when you get to enjoy watching them in their natural environment.
Benefits Of Automatic Fish Feeders
If you’re on the fence thinking about whether or not an automatic fish feeder is right for you, there are a few benefits that you’ll want to think about. Each of the benefits below is some of the biggest reasons people decide to start using an automatic feeder for their pond.
Makes keeping a feeding schedule easy to do.
One of the most significant benefits is that using an automatic feeder helps take you out of the equation and makes sticking to a consistent feeding schedule easier to do. With an automatic feeder, all you have to do is keep the hopper filled up when you notice it getting low on food pellets.
If you’re one of the pond keepers that doesn’t need to be actively involved in the process, an automatic feeder helps save you a ton of time and ensures your fish are fed on a consistent schedule.It’s easier to keep large numbers of fish adequately fed
You’re not wasting food
If you’re like so many others, saving money and ensuring your fish are getting just enough to eat without causing them to get fat and unhealthy are your primary goals. An automatic feeder makes both of these goals possible at the same time.
Automatic feeders that are programmed to dispense a specific amount of food at particular times during the day help reduce the amount of food being wasted. They also keep your fish from getting overweight by giving them too much food too often.The units are simple to install
One of the most significant benefits of automatic feeders is that they are simple to install and easy to maintain. They are designed to be relatively hands-free, so you can spend more time enjoying your pond and fish instead of continually doing maintenance on your equipment.
If you have a large pond, with large numbers of fish, keeping them all adequately fed can be a frustrating, time-intensive process. Since your fish require regular feeding schedules, instead of giving them massive amounts of food a couple of times a day, a feeder helps develop the consistent schedule they need.
Downsides Of Automatic Fish Feeders
Even with all the different benefits of using automatic fish feeders, they are not without a few common downsides, as well.
You’re not taking part in feeding your fish
Many pond keepers consider their feeding times to be a social aspect of owning and keeping a fish pond. When you use an automatic feeder, you are taking yourself out of that equation.
When you are hand-feeding your fish, you are taking time out of your day to get to know them and socialize with them in different ways. As time goes on, your fish are going to get accustomed to your presence and look forward to you showing up.
If you are keeping your fish garden, hand feeding as often as possible is a way for you to build this relationship with your fish. Even if you’re using an automatic feeder, you can still supplement the feeding schedule by feeding by hand.Automatic feeders can be a costly investment
Your feeder may require maintenance
The last thing to consider before purchasing an automatic feeder is that you may be required to do routine maintenance on the unit. To keep it functioning at peak efficiency, you could need to put in a few hours of work each month. Those same few hours could be spent feeding your fish by hand and enjoying the process.
For many pond keepers, purchasing an automatic feeder may be well outside of the budget for their pond. If your feeder is hardwired to your electrical grid, the cost of your monthly electricity bill can also begin to climb.
You’re going to need to ensure that your feeder is secured correctly to avoid having animals tear into it to get to the food inside. These are all potential problems that many people do not think about before purchasing a feeder.
What About Solar Powered Fish Feeders?
As technology advances, automatic fish feeders have advanced with it. If you are looking to save money on your monthly electric bill, using solar-powered fish feeders is the best way you can do it.
Solar is an incredibly attractive solution for people who live in areas that receive large amounts of direct sunlight. While most fish feeders will not rely entirely on solar power, you can (and many do) use them in areas where sunlight is limited.
The feeders that we have featured combine the best of both worlds. They utilize an internal battery but can also be attached to a solar panel to help keep the battery charged. This means you aren’t always watching your electric bill climb.
This means that your upfront investment in an automated feeding solution will begin to offset itself as time goes on, and you begin to rely more and more on solar power. The larger batteries provided with solar-powered units make them nearly wholly self-sustaining.
Mounted Fish Feeders vs. Hanging Fish Feeders
On top of considering whether or not a solar-powered feeder is right for you, you’re also going to want to think about how you’re going to install the unit once you receive it.
Some feeders are designed to be mounted on the shoreline or your dock, while others are designed to be suspended over the water’s surface.
The style you choose is entirely dependent on the size of your pond, how many fish you’re trying to feed, how often they need to be fed, and the level of involvement you want to have in the entire process.
Some feeders are designed to be used in both arrangements. If you aren’t sure of the style you want ahead of time, buying a feeder that can be suspended or fixed is a good option. It will help you find the perfect placement without wasting any money.
What Are The Best Automatic Pond Fish Feeders?
After extensive research, we have found that the best automatic pond fish feeder is the Fish Mate P21 Fish Feeder. It’s a heavy-duty unit that is designed by one of the most well-respected manufacturers in the industry.
The Fish Mate P21 utilizes an internal timer that is accurate and reliable with a completely waterproof design that is capable of withstanding some of the harshest climates imaginable. If you are looking for the best of the best, the Fish Mate P21 is precisely what you want.
Top Editor's Choice on Fish Feeders
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