These colourful fishes which you often see in a great pond in Japanese shopping centres and restaurants are becoming increasingly popular as a garden pond in the backyard. These brilliantly coloured fish are called Koi fish and it's the result of German and Asian carp selection breading. If you plan to install a Koi fish pond, you must first learn how to care Koi fish. Koi fish, like any other fish, have certain needs. If these needs are not met, your Koi will suffer. The first thing that can kill a Koi is ignorance. Use this article to help your Koi stay happy, healthy and active.
Building a Koi pond
You can buy a Koi pond made of several different materials in pet stores or Koi Specialty retailers. A safe rule is that Koi pond measurements must be at least 3 feet (0.914 m) Deep and contain 1136 litres (300 gallons) Per fish. You should make a larger pond than you need right now, so you can add fish later.
A Koi pond is more than a pond. This is the house for your Koi. Koi pond must remain clean and provide a comfortable environment in all types of conditions. The filtration components keep the pond clean and clear.
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Cycling Koi pond
Buy Koi
You can purchase Koi in online stores, on specialized Koi farms or in some cases in pet stores. Healthy Koi are not overly energetic or too lethargic and swim vertically in the water. If possible, inspect your fish before buying it. A healthy fish is more important than a cute figure.
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Feeding your Koi.
Koi are omnivores. They eat various fish products and can eat cereals, vegetables, worms and fruits. You can also purchase special Koi food. Experts recommend changing food, even if it's just a Koi food pellet, because some Koi will not eat new foods if they are used to a certain type of food.
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- In warmer weather, you can feed some small amounts of food a few times a day. Co have a very small digestive tract, so you need to control the amount of food that you give them.
- In cooler conditions, you need to feed Koi once a day.
- Koi enters hibernation mode when the water temperature drops below about 46 F (7.7 C). There is no need to feed Koi when the water temperature is low.
Koi care in Different weather
Keep water fresh.
Although some Koi ponds are large enough for natural carbonation, pumps and filters can ensure that the water in which your Coy lives remains fresh. You can use water supplements from the Koi pond. Two examples of additives are products designed to maintain healthy water and pests. (Do not forget to be careful what you add to your aqueous solution, I. Pesticides, remedies, etc.)
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Remember about potential health problems
To develop their impressive colours, Koi are very inbred and he was over 200 years old. Because of this inbreeding, domesticated Koi have a weak immune system. Common problems can be noted by watching Koi during feeding. Lethargy, lack of nutrition or loneliness from other fish can indicate a problem. Koi fish is too vulnerable to parasites or bacterial infections if they are injured. The master key to healthy Koi is clean water. If possible, quarantine a sick fish in a separate pond. If the fish does not seem healthy, contact the veterinarian who is treating the fish.
Quarantine koi fish
If anything happens with your fish, it feels ill then you have to seperet it from other fish and set up a
Quarantine tank. For more details
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Natural Sunlight
Most animals that live on Earth need sunlight in some way, indirectly or directly. Koi needs sunlight in both directions. Whether it's on plants that they eat, or on their colored pigments that they produce.
Natural sunlight illuminates the colors of Koi. This is most obvious with Jagobuki Ogon. If Yamabuki Ogon is stored in a covered tank with only regular lighting, its yellow color will disappear. But, if Yamabuki Ogon is placed in an open pond, its color will return in a couple of months. The same applies to Kohakus, Sankes, Showas ect.
Koi actually look better in natural sunlight. There is something about the wide spectrum of light that the sun produces, which brings the natural beauty of Koi. A good way to see this example is to make two photos. Take one from Koi when he is indoors under ordinary light and one of Koi is outside on a pleasant sunny day. Compare the two photos, and it's easy to say which one looks better.
Natural sunlight also makes Koi more healthy. The sun will heat up the water, and also boost the Koi's immune system. People get vitamin D from the sun, but there is no fish. They should get it from the plants or small organisms that they eat. Vitamin D is essential for good growth and strong bones.
Natural sunlight is also useful for aquatic plants. Aquatic plants require sunlight for photosynthesis, which is a process that uses the plant to produce food and oxygen.
The sun creates danger for Koi. A pond under direct sunlight can easily overheat in the summertime. When the pond temperature rises, oxygen levels decrease. Do not forget about ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The pond should always have a shaded area. This will provide a place for Koi to go to the hottest and brightest parts of the day. Shadow also helps to keep the temperature of the pond.
Natural sunlight has a beneficial effect on Koi. This gives them food, makes them healthier, and this makes them more beautiful.