Wintering Koi

I have a small back yard pond, over the summer my friend gave me some pond lettuce and to my surprise there were 4 baby Koi entangled in the roots which I did not even notice until about 2 months later!!! The fish have survived wonderfully with no feeding or attention. Now, that winter is approaching I would like to keep my fish in the pond through the winter. What should I do? Last year my pond froze solid, is it even worth the try? -Lisa There are two requirements that need to be met in order for your Koi to survive the winter, how you achieve them is up to you: A hole in the ice, so that fresh Oxygen can get into the water and Carbon Dioxide can escape. Make sure that the bottom 2/3rds of your pond stays un-frozen so your Koi have some water to live in. Most people keep a hole in the ice with a 1,500-Watt Floating Pond De-Icer/Heater, this nifty little piece of technology will maintain a hole in the ice. When you compare this to a heater that heats the entire pond, its pretty cheap to run. Another way to keep a hole in the ice it to agitate the surface of the water, with a good amount of aeration or with a strong aquarium power head. If you live in a region that is farther north, then I would not use this method because water can freeze solid easily when its -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The two worst things that can happen in the winter are (hint, they both involve the pond freezing over): Mechanical Failure - ie. The heater or powerhead fails and the pond freezes over. Power Failure - Your power goes out so your heater or powerhead cannot run (consider yourself lucky if you have a backup generator.) If once of these things happens and your pond starts to freeze over, don't hack away the ice with a pick, the vibrations will greatly distress your Koi. Get some hot, de-chlorinated water, and melt the ice instead of chipping it away (make sure there is no chlorine in the hot water I cannot stress that enough). If the pond starts to freeze due to faulty equipement, replace it right away. Don't forget, you can always set up a tank indoors! Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Argulus Treatment

What is the best treatment for eradicating argulus? - Danny A tweezers. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi Eggs

Does anyone know how long Koi actually keep eggs inside their body before laying them to be fertilized? My sister has a Koi that is very rare and looks like it may have eggs in it, but has been that way for almost 3 months now. Is it sick or is it likely that its really eggs inside her? -Tanaya Koi will usually keep their eggs inside themselves for a few months until they are ready to be ejected. If they don't eject their eggs, they will re-absorb them into their bodies. This can be dangerous though, sometimes Koi will get impacted with eggs, then they turn into a tumor. The best way to prevent this from happening is stripping the eggs, either naturally or artificially. There is also the chance that your sister is over-feeding her Koi. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Compatable Fish With Koi

I have a 100 gallon tank in my tattoo studio. I have several Koi, several plecos and a few snails... My question is, what other fish will live well in a tank of Koi? -Ronald Any type of fish that is considered docile will do fine in a tank with Koi. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Finding Baby Koi

Hey its me again! Are Koi cold or warm water fish and do they sell baby Koi at stores? Where can I find them? -Rachel Hey Rachel, You can usually find baby Koi at a local pet shop. If you are lucky, you could possibly have a Koi dealer in your area. They are a great source for Koi of all sizes. Koi are a cold water fish, they will live in a large temperature range, although they do best when the water temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi in a small tank

I really want a Koi i think they are soo cute but the only problem is that i do not have access to a indoor or outdoor pond, but i do have a small gold fish tank could I put one in that? -Rachel A Koi could live in a small tank, just as long as it has some buddies in there with him and if he has plenty of filtration. He will outgrow the tank, so make sure you have a home for him when he gets too big. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit