The Estate Koi | Feeding Times & Fun Facts

There are certain little rituals at The Private Villa Estate that I would love to recommend becoming part of your day while staying with us.

A quiet morning coffee or tea.
A barefoot walk through our tropical gardens.
A sunset by the sea.

And, of course, a little time with our Estate Koi Fishes.

You will find them gliding peacefully through our Estate Koi Pond, in front of Pak Ben’s Wine Bar and The Estate Lobby. Colourful, graceful and wonderfully calming to watch, they have become very much part of daily life at our Estate.
And yes… we started with exactly nine.

Those who know The Lombok Lodge Hospitality® well will probably already suspect that this is no coincidence.

Why 9 Koi?

I have always loved the idea that the smallest details of a place can carry a little meaning.
Our Private Villa Estate has been created with Feng Shui principles in mind, bringing together nature, architecture, water and open spaces in a way that feels harmonious and peaceful. In Feng Shui tradition, keeping nine fish is considered particularly auspicious, associated with prosperity, abundance, completeness and protection.
And Number 9 already has a rather special place in our world.
9 Luxury Lodge Suites.
9 Beach Gazebos at Bagno Di Gili.
9 Beach Villas at The Private Villa Estate.
And now… 9 Koi.

Cloud Nine

Number 9 is also our little reference to Cloud Nine – that wonderful feeling of complete happiness we hope our guests experience while staying with us. Discover our Cloud Nine story.

Nine For Now | Ninety-Nine One Day?

But with our koi, there is another reason why the number 9 is particularly fun. Because 9 is only the beginning. From 9 Koi to 99? We started our Estate Koi Pond with 9 beautiful young koi. Our dream? 99 Koi. And we are hoping our original nine will eventually help us get there.

Koi generally become sexually mature at around 2 to 3 years old, although females often reproduce more successfully once they are around 3 to 4 years old and sufficiently large.
Males can sometimes become sexually mature from around 2 years old, while females usually mature a little later.
When conditions are right, things can move rather quickly.

Koi generally spawn when the water is warm, typically at around 18–25°C. And one mature female can produce an astonishing number of eggs – potentially tens or even hundreds of thousands, depending on her size. Of course, thousands of eggs do not mean thousands of baby koi. Nature has its own way of keeping things in balance. Not all eggs hatch or survive, and adult koi may even eat some of the eggs and newly hatched fry.

Here in Lombok, our warm tropical climate makes things particularly interesting. In cooler climates, koi spawning is strongly associated with spring, when water temperatures begin to rise. Our water remains warm for much more of the year, so that traditional seasonal pattern can be less distinct. Will our Estate Koi family eventually grow from 9 to 99? We certainly hope so. Our nine are still young, but once they reach maturity, perhaps Mother Nature will help us on our way. For now, we watch them grow, keep them happy and wait patiently.

Koi Feeding Time

Our koi have their own daily rhythm – and naturally, food is an important part of it.

MORNING FEEDING – 10:00 AM
AFTERNOON FEEDING – 5:30 PM

These have become two of my favourite little moments at the Estate.
As feeding time approaches, our usually serene koi suddenly become rather less serene. They gather, they follow, they wait – and I am quite convinced they know exactly what time it is.

And there is some truth to that: koi can learn routines and become accustomed to regular feeding times. Guests are very welcome to join us. For our youngest guests, feeding the koi can become one of those wonderfully simple holiday memories – just like feeding my cute white ducks, discovering our little bee farm or saying hello to our baby turtles.
Sometimes, it is these small encounters with nature that become the sweetest memories of a holiday.

For adults, I find it surprisingly meditative: standing beside the water for a few quiet minutes, watching flashes of colour move beneath the surface. No telephone. No rush. Just the koi.

Another Little Ecosystem at The Estate

Our koi are omnivores, which means they enjoy a surprisingly varied diet.
At the Estate, their main meals are specially selected koi food, providing the proteins, vitamins and nutrients they need to grow and maintain their beautiful colours.

Koi also naturally enjoy little delicacies such as insects and larvae, small aquatic creatures, algae and plant matter. And, occasionally, they can enjoy fresh treats such as peas, leafy greens or a little watermelon.

And then there are our bio-balls – but despite the name, these are definitely not on the menu. Bio-balls live inside our pond’s filtration system, where millions of beneficial bacteria make their home. These tiny helpers naturally process waste and help us maintain clean, healthy water for our Estate Koi. So while our koi enjoy their food, the bio-balls quietly take care of their home.
Another little ecosystem at work, right here at The Private Villa Estate.

Frequent Asked Question: A Little Breakfast For the Koi?

Can our koi have a little taste of your breakfast? Of course – but just a little.
A small piece of bread now and then will not harm our koi, and we know how difficult it can be to resist when they gather around asking for a taste. But just like us, they need a balanced diet. Bread has very little nutritional value for koi, so think of it as a little indulgence rather than a proper meal – much like the treats we allow ourselves while on holiday.
Their proper menu consists of specially selected koi food, with all the proteins, vitamins and nutrients they need to grow healthy, strong and beautifully colourful.

A Few Fun Facts About Koi

KOI ARE CLEVER

Koi are much more fascinating – and cleverer – than their serene appearance might suggest. They know when dinner is coming.
Koi can learn routines and become accustomed to regular feeding times. So if you see ours gathering expectantly shortly before 10:00 AM or 5:30 PM, it may not be a coincidence.

KOI CAN LIVE FOR DECADES
With excellent care and the right environment, koi can have remarkably long lives. We rather like the idea that our Estate residents may be welcoming guests for many years to come.

NO TWO KOI ARE EXACTLY ALIKE

Look closely and you will begin to recognise them by their individual colours, markings and patterns.
They are sometimes called “swimming jewels.”
A name I particularly love. When the Lombok sunlight catches their colours beneath the water, it is easy to understand why.

KOI CAN BECOME GENTLE GIANTS
Depending on their genetics, environment and care, koi can grow to around 90 centimetres in length.
They are descendants of carp.
The ornamental koi we admire today were selectively bred over generations for their beautiful colours and distinctive patterns.
They are associated with perseverance.

KOI IN JAPANESE CULTURE
In Japanese culture and art, koi have long been associated with strength, determination and overcoming challenges

HOW DO KOI FALL IN LOVE?
Well, perhaps not quite in the romantic way we do. Koi do not form couples or pair up for life. When a mature female is ready to spawn, one – or sometimes several – enthusiastic males will chase her around the pond, gently nudging her sides and encouraging her to release her eggs. The males then fertilise the eggs externally in the water.

It can become a surprisingly energetic affair, with plenty of chasing and splashing – usually in the early morning.
So, if one day our normally peaceful Estate Koi Pond suddenly looks rather lively, you may be witnessing the beginning of our journey from 10 Koi to, hopefully, 99. Romantic? Perhaps not. Effective? I hope so.

KOI CAN HAVE A LOT OF BABIES
A mature female koi can produce tens or even hundreds of thousands of eggs. Fortunately for our Estate pond—and perhaps unfortunately for our ambition of reaching 99 – not all will become baby koi.

KOI CAN BECOME SURPRISINGLY VALUABLE
Exceptional koi are prized for their colour, pattern, body shape and bloodline. Some extraordinary specimens have sold for remarkable sums. Ours, however, are members of the Estate family. They are not for sale.

Come and Say Hello

When you stay with us at The Private Villa Estate, do stop at the Estate Koi Pond. Perhaps join us at 10:00 in the morning. Or wander over at 5:30 in the afternoon, just as another beautiful Lombok evening begins. Watch them for a while. Choose your favourite. You may even discover that our koi have very different personalities – although I will leave you to decide which one is the most mischievous. For me, they are another little piece of the Estate that makes it feel like home.

Nine villas – Nine Koi (for now) – One dream of 99
A little Feng Shui – A little good fortune
And a touch of Cloud Nine

With love from Lombok,

Ibu Antje

I’m Ibu Antje; Founder, Owner and 'Chief of Magic' at The Lombok Lodge Hospitality®. With over 15 years of experience in luxury hospitality, I am passionate about creating meaningful and bespoke travel experiences across the breathtaking island of Lombok and the Gili Islands in Indonesia. My love for Lombok comes from the island’s breathtaking beauty, its rich traditions, and the warmth of its people. It inspires me every day to share this special place with others by creating meaningful and memorable experiences that allow guests to truly feel the spirit of Lombok and the Gili Islands. Follow my daily life in Lombok & Gili - and more things I adore - on Instagram @ibu.antje

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