11/08/2025
❗️This is a friendly reminder to please not feed the Koi at the Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden until it warms back up in the spring. Don’t worry staff will feed them if necessary. ❗️
Koi fish actually go into a certain type of hibernation, called torpor, that allows them to regulate their body temperature to acclimate to the air or water temperature. This is what allows them to survive when it gets below freezing. While in this state, even though it may seem like they are napping, they are really just slowed down. Torpor allows them to save energy by lowering their body temperature, decreasing their metabolism (they don't have to eat when in this state!), reducing their immune systems, reducing their breathing rate and reducing primary body functions.
