Koi Care Basics Blog

In my opinion all Koi ponds should be at least three feet deep and not have any areas of the pond that are less than two feet deep!

All of the sides of the pond should go almost straight down rather than tapering. The pond just won’t be safe for your Koi otherwise. If you have any spots, particularly near the edge of the pond, that are less than two feet deep it is like sending out an open invitation to dinner to all the raccoons and blue heron in the area.

Even if you think you live in a relatively predator-free area you will find out differently if you don’t construct your pond defensively when it comes to depth. You might think your fish are safe if you have built a deep area with a cave for your Koi to hide in, but it will still be no match for the blue heron.

This Koi predator will simply wade out into your pond and wait patiently for the fish to come out of hiding.

It is much more aesthetically pleasing to build your pond properly than to find out later that it’s necessary to cover it with a net. A deep pond with steep sides is the best defense against Koi predators.

Another thing to know about depth is that Koi get the most exercise by swimming up and down in the pond as opposed to back and forth, thus to raise healthy, large Koi three feet deep is just the bare minimum. You might want to include an area up to six feet in depth to provide for plenty of exercise as well as safety.

There is a little room to play with when figuring depths for your Koi pond but make sure you take the forgoing tips seriously when planing your Koi pond design!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

What is healthy Koi water? This is an extremely important question because the water quality in your Koi pond is the most important factor affecting the health of your fish.

You can determine if the quality of your pond water is sufficient for your koi if the following criteria are met:

1) The water in your pond is free of chlorine and other chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, organophosphates, etc.

2) There are undetectable levels of ammonia and nitrite in your pond.

3) Water hardness, pH level, and temperature are correct.

4) There are low levels of particulate organic compounds (POC) and dissolved organic compounds (DOC) in your pond and…

5) Your Koi water stays consistent in it’s stability.

If you use tap water in your pond it has probably been treated with chlorine. Chlorine can be fatal to your Koi. One way to make it safe is by “aging” chlorinated water before placing your Koi in it. How long is long enough? Make sure you wait AT LEAST 24 hours before placing your Koi in tap water.

If you use subsequent additions of tap water in your pond make sure that the amount is a small percentage of the total volume of pond water. Also be sure to test for chlorine levels after each addition.

The next deadliest contaminant in your Koi water would be ammonia. You always have to be careful of ammonia because the main source of the ammonia in your pond is your Koi themselves! Fortunately ammonia can be broken down into it’s less harmful components through the process of biological filtration.

Since certain types of beneficial bacteria break down the ammonia, the highest risk for ammonia contamination is in newer ponds. This is due to the fact that they haven’t yet developed large enough colonies to neutralize the ammonia.

Since the danger from ammonia in new ponds is so serious I recommend that you check ammonia levels every day until they stabilize and make frequent Koi water changes, even daily if necessary. Once your ammonia readings stabilize you will be able to relax a bit!

An acceptable level of ammonia in your pond is actually ZERO!

Even very low ammonia levels (<.1mg./liter) are extremely irritating to Koi fish, especially to their gills, and higher levels can lead to skin and gill hyperplasia. In gill hyperplasia the secondary gill lamellae become swollen leading to breathing difficulties. Serious gill disease and death occur when high levels of ammonia contamination are reached.

As you can see, even in the case of just these two factors of  water quality it is essential that you monitor and maintain your pond so that your fish have healthy Koi water!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Today I’m posting a letter that I just sent out to my email
list. The content is important so I wanted to make sure that my blog
readers get it too!

“I thought I’d send along an article I came across the other day.

Hopefully you know that you don’t want to place your Koi pond at the
bottom of a slope. That way if there is any pesticide runoff from a
garden or from your lawn it won’t be directed towards your pond.

Koi are fairly hardy but contaminating their water with pesticides
can kill even the hardiest of Koi.

In fact the three most important components of Koi care are:
1. Water Quality
2. Water Quality and
3. Water Quality

It’s that important.

I hope you find the article interesting and that it drives home the
point. You probably won’t ever run into this extreme (hopefully) but
it won’t hurt to keep this in mind.

Here’s the link to the article:
Pesticides Article
More about water quality next time!

Take Care,
Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Water Koi, otherwise known as Koi or Nishikigoi, require proper care. Sometimes these vibrant fish become more lethargic and less playful than they usually are. This is when they need extra care.

Water Koi are known as one of the oldest species of fish and they can live to over a hundred years old but they are also considered among most delicate species of fish. These brightly colored creatures need special care. But if you do not know how to care for Koi don’t worry! It is not very difficult. To take proper care of them, you must pay attention to their maintenance.

Also known as Cyprinus Carpio, these ornamental varieties of Common Carp are known as symbols of love and friendship. These native Japanese fish are available in multiple colors including white, black, red, yellow, blue, cream and silver. Koi are slightly bigger than Goldfish and to take care of them, you need to be just as cautious as you are when taking care of Goldfish.

The preliminary steps of caring for your Water Koi include proper cleaning of your pond. In order to know how to properly care for your fish you need to be knowledgeable about Koi pond maintenance.

Your pond should be filled with water at all times and it should be both aerated and filtered.

Any sudden changes in temperature can cause problems for your Koi, thus you should monit\or your water temperature closely. These temperature changes stress your fish and cause suppression of their immune systems.

Debris in your pond must also be removed on a regular basis. You should keep the water as clear as possible. To maintain this clarity the filter should be cleaned daily.

You need to get special pellets to feed your Koi fish. These pellets contain all the essential ingredients that are important to keep the fish healthy, happy and active. They should usually be fed twice a day. (although this depends on temperature/season).

Other measures of  Water Koi care include gentle handling of your fish. These fish are very delicate so you need to be quite attentive and handle them very carefully.

Koi are covered with a protective slime. This slime should not be stripped. It helps protect them from fungus and bacterial diseases.

You must keep your other pets away from the pond, as the bright colors of Koi fish attract dogs and cats. These pets can easily make a meal of your prized Koi. Racoons and herons are also common pond predators that will enjoy making a tasty snack out of your fish!

Nets, motion detectors and even decoys can help to protect your Koi and having pond plants helps by giving them a place to hide.

You must remember that as your Koi grow they need more oxygen. They can get to be quite large so don’t be tempted to fill your pond with too many fish if you purchase them when they are smaller. Overcrowding creates a variety of problems in your pond.

Even though there is much more to learn these are some of the most effective measures of Water Koi care.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Mainly used for decorative purposes in water gardens and outdoor ponds, Koi, or Japanese carp are ornamental domestic varieties of the common carp. Although they are quite beautiful and hardy these fish are prone to Koi bacterial infection.

This occurs most often when they come in contact with Aeromonas or Pseudomonas bacteria. These naturally occurring bacteria are found mainly in the water of ponds and lakes. They do not exist in tap water because of the chlorine it contains.

However, if you fill your pond or water garden with tap water you will discover that the bacteria can eventually be found in this water too. Once the chlorine evaporates Aeromonas and Pseudomonas are quick to move in. Unfortunately they then have the ability to cause Koi bacterial infection.

The good thing about these bacteria is that they don’t cause much harm when found in low quantities in a clean and healthy pond.

Also, the outer coating or epidermis of the fish protects them from infection. However, harmful bacteria can infect your Koi when its epidermal layer is broken because then the bacteria can penetrate it’s outer cover.

Not only does it harm the fish already present in water, but can spread very rapidly too.

Commonly, when the Koi’s dermis layer is exposed to bacteria, infection can start to spread rather rapidly. This process takes place when flukes use their haptens, resembling small fishhooks, to attach themselves, thus attracting harmful bacteria onto the surface of the fish.

Another thing that can break the Koi’s slime coat is a puncture or scratch from a sharp object, such as a rock, that exposes it to bacteria.

The Koi can also be exposed to bacteria due to poor water quality or stress caused through overcrowding or moving the fish from one pond to another.

So how can these infections be treated? If you are interested in trying some home remedies you can follow the procedures below.

Koi bacterial infection can be present in wounds either smaller or larger in size. Therefore separate procedures are followed to treat them.

When treating small sores use a paper towel to dry off the wound. Next, soak the sore in a solution of hydrogen peroxide on a cotton swab for 30 seconds before you place the Koi back in the water. You need to repeat this procedure for 3 consecutive days.

The treatment for larger sores is similar. The only difference being, after following the same procedure and drying off the wound again, you need to apply a Debride Medicated Treatment on the sores. This procedure also needs to be followed for 3 consecutive days.

However, if this treatment doesn’t work effectively, you may need to seek the advice of your veterinarian. You can also feed medicated food to help heal your fish faster. This method may not always work, especially in fish very small in size.

This advice is for informational purposes and is not intended to replace proper medical treatment by a licensed veterinarian when treating stubborn or severe cases of Koi bacterial infection.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Particularly if you are leaving the vegetation out of your pond you will want to feed your Koi some fresh foods.
Many fresh foods supply vitamins and minerals. Bear in mind that these Koi fish foods are meant to be offered as occasional treats and not included as dietary staples.

The following are some fresh foods you can offer your Koi:

* Lettuce:
Lettuce is an excellent treat for Koi fish. You can begin serving lettuce by shredding the leaves and letting them float in the pond. After a few weeks you can put in a whole head of lettuce and watch your Koi enjoy tearing off the pieces on their own. I recommend Romaine or Leaf lettuce as these contain more in the way of nutrition than ordinary iceberg lettuce. Once all the leaves have been eaten remove all the remaining pieces from the pond water.

* Oranges:
Oranges are another favorite Koi fish food. They are high in Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant and also helps lower stress levels. These can be served by cutting them into segments and putting them into your pond with the rind intact. The Koi will rip away the flesh, leaving the rind behind. As soon as your fish are done eating make sure you remove any leftover remnants.

* Prawns:
Koi consider prawns a delicacy and they are also a good source of protein. Since they are high in protein they should only be fed in the summer months when your fish require a higher protein Koi fish food for extra energy and can digest the protein more efficiently.

* Garlic:
Koi adore garlic and will consume almost anything that is covered with it. You can use a coating of garlic to entice your Koi to eat out of your hand.

Finally, you should consider adding insects and larvae to your Koi fish food repertoire. If you do decide to offer your Koi insects then mealworms, soft-shelled crickets, bloodworms, blackworms, waxworms and tubifex worms are all suitable.

Feed them sparingly, and don’t feed them at all unless you can guarantee they are from a pesticide-free environment. As with prawns it is best to feed these higher protein treats only during the summer months.

The following is a VERY cute video of a Baby Duck feeding Koi, I wanted to share it because I enjoyed it so much!

Enjoy!
Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Secrets To Successfully Raising Koi Fry

Successfully raising Koi fry begins with Koi eggs. You should make sure your fry raising pond is equipped with air stones or their equivalent as Koi eggs need well aerated water to develop.

During breeding some Koi keepers will use mechanical filters in their ponds, but this is not the best idea since when they can get sucked into the filter. This can be prevented by placing a fine net around the filter’s water intake. Microscopic food particles can become trapped on the foam around the filter. This attracts the Koi fry to the area and they become drawn into the filter.

You can forget using a filter altogether if you are willing to do frequent water changes. You need to replace approximately 20 percent of the water during the water exchange.

Koi eggs will usually hatch in 3 to 7 days depending on the water temperature. If water temperature is around 20 degrees Celcius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) Koi fry will hatch in about 3 to 4 days. You will know when the eggs are close to hatching because they will take on a special, shiny look.

Next you will be able to see the Koi fry wiggling and moving inside the egg, and a few hours later they will make their escape! Now you are ready to begin raising them.

As soon as the babies have emerged from their eggs they will attach themselves to the sides of the pond. Koi fry are equipped with a sticky pad that makes it possible for them to remain attached this way for 2 to 3 days. Providing plenty of oxygen is as important for raising the fry as it is for keeping the eggs healthy.

After 2 or 3 days of being attached the Koi fry will make their way to the surface of the pond to get some air.
When this occurs air passes into their swim bladder. Afterwards they will be able to swim happily around the pond!

At this point you will need to begin feeding them. Very small Koi fry can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp. Hard boiled egg is also a good choice in the first few days of raising Koi fry.

If you can’t provide them with this you can use a commercially prepared Koi fry food. Make sure to use only special Koi food with a high protein content and make sure to grind it into a fine powder before feeding it to your Koi fry.

After about 7 days you can start feeding a special Koi fry food consisting of fine powder pellets. When they reach 1/2 inch they can graduate to small pellets and as they grow you can gradually increase the pellet size until they are consuming the same food as their parents. Feeding is one of the most important components of raising Koi fry to be happy and healthy.

It is easy to overfeed your Koi fry and cause the water to become polluted. Young fry are very sensitive to ammonia. You must limit your feedings and provide a water change daily. The easiest way is to use water from your adult pond as long as your adult Koi are healthy and the quality of your pond water is good. You need to keep a watchful eye on water quality to prevent fungus.

If you observe these basic precepts you should have no trouble successfully raising Koi fry!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Although it began in Japan, today Koi breeding takes place all over the world. Many people enjoy Koi ponds and some may even consider trying their hand at Koi breeding.

With that in mind let’s get down to the basics!

The first thing you need to do is to determine the sex of your Koi. This is impossible to do until the fish becomes sexually mature which usually hapens when it gets to 10 inches or longer. Even sexually mature fish can be tricky to sex but in general a male Koi will be less plump than a female Koi because a mature female has filled ovaries that expand her body.

The sexually mature male Koi typically looks more slim and streamlined and often has larger and somewhat more pointed pectoral fins than the female. There are some exceptions to these general rules and it is possible to have a scrawny female or fat male Koi fish.

When Koi breeding season begins the male Koi will develop two white spots on his head and on the first rays of his pectoral fins. The breeding tubercles will look like small white elevated spots and can be hard to recognize. The Koi breeder sometimes becomes alarmed and treats their fish for itch when they notice the small white spots, but with practice soon learns to recognize them.

If you keep your Koi in an outdoor pond they will start to spawn in late spring and early summer as the water temperature begins to rise. A water temperature around 20 degrees Celcius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal to stimulate Koi breeding.

If you keep a lot of Koi together a so-called flock spawning will occur. A flock spawning will give you an abundance of healthy offspring but breeders try to avoid them because these fish often display less desirable colorations.

Thus, during professional Koi breeding, the fish keeper will select desirable parent fish and place them in their own pond. You will need one female and two to three males for a successful Koi breeding.

If you don’t want to dig a new pond especially for Koi breeding you can use a children’s swimming pool. To increase the chances of spawning you can change the water frequently and lower the water temperature somewhat.

Adult Koi eat live foods such as worms and flies and parents won’t hesitate to eat eggs as well as free swimming offspring in their own pond! During professional Koi breeding when a large survival rate is important the eggs are best placed in their own ponds.

Collecting the eggs will be difficult if you let your fish deposit eggs all over the pond. Most breeders therefore use spawning mops. A spawning mop can be made from frayed nylon ropes or pieces of cotton string that are placed on the surface of the pond.

The breeding fish see the mops as floating plants and will most likely choose them as a breeding site.

During the Koi breeding you will eventually notice that the males are chasing the female. This behavior usually goes on for several days before any eggs are released.

When the females deposit their eggs at the spawning mop the males will immediately go over and fertilize them. The spawning mops can then be removed and placed in a fry raising pond.

As you can see, though it takes some preparation and attention it is not all that difficult to perform a successful Koi breeding.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

The Koi filter is an integral part of any Koi pond. The maintenance of your pond is among the first things you need to consider when planning your Koi garden. If you make sure to educate yourself about the key components of Koi pond maintenance while still in the planning stages you can eliminate becoming overwhelmed and deciding to bail out half way through your project. Or worse yet, acquiring your fish and finding you can’t keep them healthy. The proper maintenance equipment for your pond, mainly the Koi filter and water pump, can hopefully keep bigger troubles and mishaps away for good!

Keep the chemical balance correct in the water by checking it on a weekly basis. Buying your own testing kit is the easiest way to make sure this gets done regularly. Kits can be purchased at almost any pet store. If you don’t feel confident about doing it properly yourself you can always take some of the water into the pet store and have them do the analysis for you.

Koi fish need a quality filtration system in their pond as they are more sensitive to water quality than many other fish. I recommend you buy the best pump and filter that you can find.

A pond filter will keep the environment in the water well balanced. In their natural environment waste produced by the Koi fish is removed in many ways. The volume of water plus the water’s current both make a contribution to the waste removal process in nature.

Your Koi pond filter needs to serve a dual role. You don’t want the ammonia, or Ph, to build up as it is very harmful to Koi fish. The biological function of the filtration system will break the ammonia down to less harmful substances such as nitrates.

You want to keep Ph and nitrates at a low level in your pond or they can become harmful to your fish. The mechanical function of the filter cleans all types of particles from the water. Whoever takes care of your pond will remove these particles as part of it’s regular maintenance.

A quality pond filter will only work with the water circulating through it. This can be attained by properly installing the water pump. Don’t skimp here as this is one of the few working parts in your Koi pond. With a good pump pushing the water and circulating it through the filter your Koi fish will be happy, healthy and content.

A waterfall or fountain not only adds serenity to your Koi garden, it will improve the health of your fish. A constant oxygen supply will be enhanced by these items. They will churn up the water and fold air into it. This process is called aeration.

To keep your Koi fish healthy and give them brilliant color they need a good, clean pond. This objective can be obtained by investing in a quality Koi filter.

To learn more about Koi filters and general Koi care visit KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon

There is a wide variety of Koi fish food available. How do you decide what to feed your precious Koi?

For starters Koi are voracious eaters, consuming almost anything that comes their way, so it’s up to you as their caretaker to provide your fish with a balanced and nutritious diet.

You have the option of feeding a commercially available food, live insects, or a combination of both these items. In addition you can (and sometimes should)  feed occasional treats, fresh foods and nutritional supplements.

Koi fish are omnivores, meaning that they will consume both plant and animal matter, and their prefence runs towards larvae and aquatic insects. Many Koi pond owners either minimize or do not include plant life in their ponds because of their desire to have the Koi themselves be the main focal point.

Another reason they leave plants out of the equation is the enthusiasm with which Koi fish devour any edible in sight, often tipping over and destroying aquatic vegetation in the process! So…if you are one of those who leave the plant life out of your pond you MUST provide your Koi with adequate nutrition.

The most common and convenient type of Koi fish food is manufactured dry foods made especially for Koi. They come in many different forms including pellets, granules, tablets, chunks and flakes. These products are easily stored, relatively inexpensive, easy to feed and contain sufficient nutrients.

When deciding which type and size to feed you need to take into consideration the age and size of your fish and even the time of year. The best Koi fish food for the summer months will contain more protein than the foods you feed in the cooler months when your Koi are less active. It should go without saying that you will want to choose smaller size pellets for smaller and younger fish and larger pellets or chunks for larger fish.

Many Koi owners like to use additional supplements to enhance the colors of their fish. In theory this works but take into consideration that the red color pattens in Koi are determined genetically. If the red fades then supplementation will not restore it even though the supplement may contain the raw ingredients necessary for color enhancement.

Supplements do improve the overall health of your Koi and do boost their immune systems. Commercial Koi fish food preparations incorporate some supplementation into their recipes. However new and more effective products have been developed in powder form and can be mixed with your current Koi fish food. Just make sure you do your research and aren’t overfeeding any particular supplement as too much of even a good thing can be toxic to your fish.

For further information about Koi fish food or Koi care in general you can visit the website at KoiCareBasics.com

If anyone’s fish have a special favorite I would love to hear about it!

Alan Deacon