Bullying Koi

I am new in fish and pond business and I have a goldfish bigger than the one Koi I have in my pond. Every time after he eats, he keeps bumping into my Koi. I thought he was being a bully but maybe he's just in love. I have one small butterfly Koi, 1 large (bully), 1 med and 1 small goldfish in the pond. What do you think the survival rate would be for the babies and should I feed the big goldfish more so he doesn't eat them? -Kim If you have plenty of hiding places, the survival rate of the baby fish is decent. More often than not, hobbyists end up with a pond full of baby fish. I would keep on feeding him the same amount of food. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi In A Swimming Pool

Hello, I would like to have Koi in my swimming pool. Is the pool too deep? I will keep the water pH right. I am in southern Mississippi and the water gets warm. If I do get Koi for my pool can we still swim, can they live on the algae generated or do I have to feed them, this seems like a green idea. What are your thoughts? Regards, David First, before you put any fish in, make sure that any traces of Chlorine are out of the water. Chlorine will burn their gills. You will need a filter for the fish, regular pool filters are inadequate since they are filled with sand and will provide no chemical filtration whatsoever (ammonia will build up in the water and will hurt you fish). The Koi can feed off of algae somewhat, but you should give them Koi food on a regular basis so they get the protien, vitamins and minerals that they need. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

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

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

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

Raccoons and Koi

Which is a better way to protect your fish from raccoons, a Koi dome or a net over the pond? -Daniel I think a net would be harder for a raccoon to get through. I believe that a raccoon could easily carve a hole in the platic siding of a Koi dome with its claws, while a net would confuse them. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Moving Koi

How can I move my Koi from one pond to another without make them stressed? -Dan It is nearly impossible to handle a Koi without causing at least a little amount of stress. The best, low stress, way to move them would be to net them quickly, with as little chasing as possible, After you have caught your Koi, put him in a bag or a suitable container and float it in the destination pond for about 20 minutes or until the temperature has equalized. After that, scoop the Koi out with your hand and release it into the other pond. Things to remember: Make sure you dump the water in the container somewhere other than in the pond, it contains ammonia and is not healthy. Be gentle with your Koi, rough handling causes stress. Don't ever lift the net out of the water with the Koi in it, use your hands or a sock net (sock nets have a very fine mesh which will not damage a Koi). Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

I have a Yamabuki Ogon. How can I tell how old he is? -Beka

Unless you were told by the breeder or the dealer, it is almost impossible to guess the age of your Koi. All Koi grow at different rates, most 2-6 inches a year. Over a few year period, some Koi will be a lot bigger than others. Koi have growth rings in their scales, not unlike the rings in tree trunks. These rings can be counted with a microscope, although this method is sometimes inaccurate. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

PH Level Dropping

Since the weather has turned cold here in Perth Australia over the last month my PH level has dropped continually down from 7 to around 5.5 - 5. I have adjusted it with Bi-Carb soda to bring it back up at a rate of about 1.5 Tsp per 1000 litres but then a week later it will have dropped again. All my other water levels are spot on. Can you tell me why this is happening as during the summer months it was OK. Is Bi-Carb soda the correct way to raise the levels? What can you suggest to maintain a steady level of PH? Thank you, look forward to your suggestions. -William I would do a water change and I would do it regularly. All your Koi are doing right now when they are hibernating is breathing. They breath in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is acidic and will slowly eat away at carbonate levels in the water. As the carbonate levels go down, the water's ability to buffer acid also drops. That is why you pH keeps dropping. Doing a regular water change or adding Bi-Carb soda will keep the carbonate levels in your pond up. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

How can Koi be tamed to hand feeding? Is it just feeding at a particular time or are there attractant foods? -Arthut

Getting Koi to be hand tame takes time. First, get your Koi used to your presence. This can be achieved by first standing at the edge of your pond while you feed them. Then put your hand in the water and hold some food in it. Hold some food in you hand while it's in the water every day and eventually your Koi will get used to their food being in your hand. They will then eat from it. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi and Other Fish

Can a freshwater shark and fighter fish co-exist and breed with carp fish in a large pond? How about adding turtles to the collection? -Adam Carp and Koi are docile. That means they won't harm any fish. Those other types of fish, including the turtle, are aggressive. That means they will tear apart any other type of fish in the pond. They carp will be lucky if they last a day. I would not mix any of those fish together. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi In A Livestock Tank

A friend of mine was telling me that I could put Koi in our livestock tank to help keep it clean. I don't think this is right? What do you think? -Melissa A Koi will keep it clean, until their waste builds up. They will eat any grass and bugs that get into the tank, but they will pollute it with their waste. You are better off just getting a filter for the tank. If you have Koi, they will need a filter, food, care, ect. It is much simpler to just put a filter on for the tank. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi in Dubai

I want to ask if koi fish can survive in middle east particularly in Dubai since the temperature here is rising and up to what degree of temperature does koi fish can tolerate? -Jasmin Koi can live in water temperatures from 34 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have plenty of shade and good pond depth, I don't think that having Koi in Dubai would be out of the question. You may even want to look into installing a chiller to keep your water cool. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Breeding Koi

I HAVE A LARGE WELL(cistern) AT HOME WITH DIMENSIONS 3*4*2METERS WITH FILLED ALMOST COMPLETELY WITH RAINFALL WATER RIGHT NOW I AM KEEPING ABOUT 60 FISH MOSTLY KOI OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND GOLDFISH. THE WELL IS VERY VENTILATED WITH AN OPENING OF ABOUT60*60 CM. I AM KEEPING THEM FOR TWO MONTHS. THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL. MY INTENTION IS TO MAKE THEM BREED, WILL THEY DO LIVE AND BREED IN SUCH ENVIRONMENT? DO YOU ENCOURAGE ME TO PUT TURTLES INTO WELL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH - DR KHALID When the Japanese breeders spawn Koi, they usually put a couple males in a pond with one female. They will allow the Koi to spawn and then they will move the parents out of the pond so that they won't eat the eggs. They should live in the well, make sure that you have good water quality. You might want to separate them if you want to breed, the other Koi will eat the eggs. I wouldn't put any turtles in with they Koi, they might hurt the Koi and they might eat the eggs. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Ogon Not Eating

HELLO HOW ARE YOU, I HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A FEMALE GIN RIN OGON,,SHE IS ABOUT 15 INCHES MAYBE LARGER,,,I GOT HER LIKE 3 WEEKS AGO AND SHE IS FINE BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW OGONS ACT, I HAVE ABOUT 8 OTHER KOI IN MY 7000 GALLON POND (THE WORKS)...ALL THE KOI ARE LIKE 10 INCHES AND UNDER ACTUALLY THERE ARE ONLY 2 10INCHERS...KOHAKU,,,,ANYWAY MY QUESTION IS SHE DOESN’T EAT LIKE THE OTHER LITTLE PIGS DUE AND WHEN SHE GETS READY TO COME UP FOR FOOD ITS ALL GONE,,SHE MIGHT BE GETTING ONE OR TWO PELLETS THAT’S IT,,,WHEN I GOT HER SHE WAS VERY HAND TAME BUT SINCE I BEEN TRYING TO GET OUT 3 LITTLE GOLDFISH IN MY POND SHE HASN’T. WELL WHAT SHE IS DOING IS NOT GETTING THE FOOD RIGHT, SHE TRIES TO SUCK IT IN, BUT SHE ISN'T DOING IT HARD ENOUGH, SHE TRIES MORE AROUND THE EDGE OF THE POND BECAUSE ITS EASIER FOR HER TO GRAB IT,,,SHE SWIMS FINE SHES NOT ANTI SOCIABLE,,,, AND SHE ISN'T GASPING,,,SHE DOES HAVE A LITTLE BACTERIA INFECTION THAT IS VERY SMALL THAT I TREATED AND I THINK IT IS UNDER CONTROL,,,,IT WAS A BIG RED SPOT BUT NOW ITS LITTLE SINCE I RAISED MY SALT IN MY POND AND TREATED ONE WITH BIO BANDAGE,,I DON’T THINK THIS IS THE PROBLEM SO I WAS WONDERING CAN TELL ME SOME INFO ON GIN RIN OGON,,,,IS IT BECAUSE SHE MIGHT BE PREGNANT, BUT SHE HAS NO STOMACH SIGN AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY ACTIVITY,,,IS IT BECAUSE SHE IS JUST LAZY OUR WHAT,,CAN YOU PLEASE HELP! Your Ogon that's shy is probably just got scared from the net that you've been using to try and capture the goldfish with. She also might feel sick from the small ulcer. When you feed your Koi, toss some food around the Ogon when it eventually goes to the surface. You can try to hand tame the Ogon again by putting your hand in the water with the food. Eventually it will get used to your presence and it will eat from your hand. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Scared Koi

I have this Koi in my pond and it seems like every time I walk past it, he is skittish and darts around in the pond like a madman. What in the world is going on?? -Anthony Something probably scared your Koi in the past, and now it gets scared whenever someone goes by the pond. There's not much you can do other than trying to train it with food. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Do koi eat goldfish? -Daniel

Koi do not usually eat goldfish. The only time that could happen is if you have large Koi in a pond with tiny goldfish that could fit inside a Koi's mouth. Both Koi and goldfish are considered docile, so they get along great and won't fight. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Spring Fed Pond and Koi

I have a natural pond that is fed by a natural spring. The water runs into the pond at one end and exits at the other end. Do I need a filter? The pond is about 20 ft in diameter and about 2.5 ft. deep. I inherited this pond when I purchased the house. I need advise on how to maintain it and the Koi that are in the pond. The property sat empty for about a year and a half. - Masaie Since the pond is spring fed, you probably don't need a filter system. The water is being constantly changed. This is also known as a flow-through system. For more information on Koi keeping, refer the the Koi keeping articles. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Waterfall and Aereation

I now have 6 Koi in my pond. On hot days the water gets warm (80 degrees). I have a waterfall running. Will this be enough oxygen for the fish? -Anthony The waterfall should provide enough aeration. Six Koi don't require massive amounts of aeration. It would be a different story if you said that you had 30 or 40 large Koi in your pond. If you are concerned about your Koi not getting enough oxygen, then go to a local Koi supply store or pet shop and get a good sized air pump with some good sized air stones. Hook everything up and put it in your pond. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

How can I get my 4 Koi and 2 goldfish to eat from my hand? -Anthony

It takes time to train a Koi to hand feed. Start by putting your hand in the water with the Koi when you put food in it. At first they will be nervous and probably won't go anywhere near you. Eventually they will get used to the presence of your hand and will eat near it. When they are used to your hand being in the water, cup your hand and put some food in it. Lower your hand in the water and hold it near the surface. They Koi will smell the food in your hand and will be curious. Eventually they will build up the nerve to eat from it. Training your Koi to eat from your hand is one of the funnest parts of this hobby. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Stressed Koi and Goldfish

I have 4 Koi and 2 Goldfish in my pond. Every time I walk by the pond they quickly dart down to the deepest part of our pond. Am I stressing them out? -Anthony Something probably scared your fish in your pond. Walking by does stress them a little but don't worry about it. If you want to calm them down, add more fish to your pond. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Mating Koi

Do male Koi mate multiple times with other female Koi or do they just mate once with one female Koi? -Bethann Male Koi will mate multiple times with other female Koi. Monogamy is an abstract concept for fish. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Should I have a constant concentration of salt in the pond? If so, what concentration? -Glenn

The only time salt is absolutely needed is when your Koi have a parasitic infestation. Salt hurts freshwater parasites because they are used to living in a saline-free environment. Salt irritates Koi, so it makes them produce a thicker slime coat. Some people keep a low level of salt in their ponds to help their Koi osmoregulate too. From the Wikipedia article: Osmoregulation is the active regulation of the osmotic pressure of bodily fluids to maintain the homeostasis of the body's water content; that is it keeps the body's fluids from becoming too dilute or too concentrated. Osmotic pressure is a measure of the tendency of water to move into one solution from another by osmosis. The higher the osmotic pressure of a solution the more water wants to go into the solution. The pressure that must be exerted on the hypertonic side of a selectively permeable membrane to prevent diffusion of water by osmosis from the side containing pure water. Animals in all environments (aquatic and terrestrial) must maintain the right concentration of solutes and amount of water in their body fluids; this involves excretion: getting rid of metabolic wastes and other substances such as hormones which would be toxic if allowed to accumulate in the blood via organs such as the skin and the kidneys; keeping the water and dissolved solutes in balance is referred to as osmoregulation. If you want to keep a low level of salt, add one pound of rock salt per 100 gallons of water. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi in Aquarium

I would like to have Koi in an aquarium. I'm getting a 29 gallon tank and filter along with other stuff since I don't have a pond or have the money for it. Is there anything else I need to do to keep them healthy? Like vitamins? -Sydney Just make sure that you have adequate filtration on your tank and you feed them a good Koi food. Maybe plan ahead and find someone that could take them if they outgrow your tank. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Small Pond, Large Koi?

I am only 20 years old and very new to the world of the Nishikigoi and becoming extremely interested in this hobby. I am worried about the size of my pond (only 90 gallons). How many Koi under 12" can this comfortably support?? and also...Could it support Koi larger than that until next year when I have the money to work on a new pond? Any tips to help would be much appreciated! Thanks! -Tweek Your pond can probably support 4 to 5 small Koi, for a while. Eventually they will outgrow that size of a pond and will need a bigger area to live in. I would not get any Koi that are larger than six inches until you get a bigger pond. Larger Koi need more water volume, more aeration, more filtration, ect. You will run into problems with putting large Koi in a small pond. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

I have lost two fish who seem to have dirt or old food coming out of thier gills? What caused this? -Dave

That dirt or old food is probably a fungus. A fungus is a secondary or tertiary infection. It basically means that something damaged your Koi and its immune system was weakened, so the fungus was allowed to take over. You need to find out what caused this and then take the appropriate action. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

I have two Koi, the smaller slender one always swims under the larger rounder Koi. Why? -Phyllis

Koi aren't really anywhere near the top of the food chain, so they will do whatever it takes to not get eaten. Your smaller Koi probably feels safe while hiding under the big one. Maybe he will be more friendly if you put some more Koi into your pond. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Do Koi fish die after giving birth like salmon? -Angie

Koi do not die after "giving birth". Koi don't actually give birth, they are egg layers. The females release their eggs and the males then fertilize them. When they reach sexual maturity, they are able to spawn every year for the rest of their lives. Most people find this out the hard way. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Do Koi Hide?

I recently purchased 3 koi and put them in my man made pond. I am unable to locate them. Do koi hide and stay out of sight? I do have a lot of rocks/barriers in the pond. -Mary When Koi are introduced into a new environment, they are skittish and will hide for a while until they know that it is safe. They are probably hiding in your rocks, you'll be surprised to see how small of a space a Koi can fit into. If you don't find your Koi for a long time, then something probably has happened to them, either getting sucked into a pump, a bad parasitic infestation, ulcers, or a predator. Try putting some Koi food into your pond at dawn or dusk to see if they will come out to eat. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi Attacked

I have a pond with Koi at about 2 years old but when I put some new small Koi in the pond, the rest of the fish attacked them! Why? - skimflint622 Koi are classified as a "docile" fish, meaning under normal circumstances, they will not harm their own species and any other species of fish. You didn't elaborate much on the extent of the amount of damage that the new Koi received from your old Koi. My guess is that the old Koi were trying to spawn with your new Koi. When Koi spawn, the males will chase the females around your pond and they will bump the females hard to try to make their eggs come out. If this is the case, then you might notice a lot of tin Koi swimming around in your pond soon. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Is it okay to have underwater plants in a Koi aquarium? If so what kind would you recommend? Thank You -Lou

It's okay to put plants in an Aquarium with Koi. Although, the Koi might nibble on them. You can put whatever plant you want to with the Koi. You should also consider adding a CO2 injector and a special full spectrum plant grow light on the tank. The plants will definitely benefit from those. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Water Quality Problems

Hi, I have a problem with my water, the pH, Nitrate and Nitrite levels are all out. I am slowly losing my Koi due to this problem. I have done water changes and am still unable to bring the chemical levels back to normal. Advise Please. -Mohamed Iqbal The worst of your named problems is the raised Nitrite level. Over time, this will hurt your Koi and it could cause a buildup of methemoglobin, otherwise known as "Brown Blood Disease." A buildup of methemoglobin will cause your Koi's blood to not be able to carry oxygen. A solution for a high Nitrite level is to increase your filtration on your pond. If you rely on biological filtration, you might have to wait a while for the Nitrobacter bacteria to grow in the filter and catch up with your fish load. The second worst problem is your elevated Nitrate level. Although it is not toxic liek Ammonia or Nitrite, tests on reptiles and other animals have show that even a low concentration of Nitrate in their environment causes immune system and reproductive problems with long term exposure. A solution for high Nitrate level in your water it to do a big water change. A high pH level won't harm your Koi, as long as it's stable. A fluctuating pH is what causes harm. I don't think that you have to do anything for the pH. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Fin Damage

Hi! It's me again, my question this time is: Why do sometimes the smaller fish have a kind of bite on the tail, especially on the ventral fins? -Troppls That piece missing out of the fins on the small fish is probably due to damage. There's a good chance that the fin might grow back as the Koi gets older. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Bio-Filter Cleaning Question

I have 5 small Koi fishes in an aquarium. How often must I clean the aquarium? I do have a bio-filter, but the water is becoming a bit murky. -Natasha Your aquarium should be cleaned weekly to keep the water clean and clear. If a weekly cleaning gets to be too much, consider adding additional filtration to your aquarium or cutting down on feeding a little bit. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

What temperature should the water be in a Koi aquarium? -Ashea

You should keep the water temperature at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in your Aquarium. This is the best temperature range for Koi, not too hot, not too cold. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

I was wondering if Koi pond fish can go in an aquarium? -Lynn

A small Koi will fit in an aquarium, for a while. A small Koi can turn into a large Koi pretty fast, so if your going to find someplace for it to go. Here are some options: You can buy a very large aquarium (i.e. 1500+ gallons) You can build a pond in your backyard, if you don't have a backyard, go to the next option. You can contact a local Koi or water gardening club, it'll probably have a member that would be willing to take your Koi and give it a new home. You can give your Koi back to the pet store, they may even trade you for a new one. Remember to have adequate filtration for the tank to make sure that your Koi has a clean environment. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi Care in the Middle East

Hi, I live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, I know nothing about Koi, I have just purchased 5 small Koi (10 cm) they are in an outdoor pond thats 14 meters in diameter and 1/2 meter deep. I got some pond plant that they hide in and eat. My questions are: 1. The winter here has mid 20 deg c. day time and say 15 deg c. night time which I am sure is okay for the fish, however, the summer can be extreme with high 40 deg c. Will I have to put the fish indoors during the summer or if I buy large lily pads do you think that the shade will be good enough? Secondly, there is a decorative fountain in the pond that runs 24/7, will this annoy the fish? I think its good for oxygenation as well as looking nice. Thirdly, how much food should I give? Can one over feed? whenever I put a teaspoon of food in they eat it in no time. I have just read about fruit so I will try some of that. Finally, they seem to be huddled together at the bottom of the pond allot, are they just settling in? Are Koi normally shy? Thanks Gary. The winter in the United Arab Emirates seems to be pretty mild compared to the northern United States and Canada. Your Koi will do just fine in those temperatures. Your water should be warm enough to keep on feeding your Koi throughout the winter. The summer seems pretty hot. Make sure that you provide plenty of shade for your Koi and that the water temperature doesn't go over 33 degrees C. You can either bring you Koi indoors if the temperature gets too high or you can buy a chilling unit for your pond to keep the temperature down. You are correct about the decorative fountain, it will aerate the water and it will not annoy the Koi. You can probably feed your Koi more food. Try giving them enough food to keep them eating for a couple minutes, a couple times a day. When a Koi is introduced into a new environment, it will be nervous. Koi usually calm down within two weeks, eventually you may be able to train them to hand feed. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

My pond froze over during the winter, are my Koi still alive under the ice? -Mark

There is a possibility that your Koi may still be alive. It depends of three variables: The size of your Koi in the pond. How many Koi you have in the pond. The size of the pond itself. If you have only a few small Koi in a large pond that is several feet deep, then they should be fine. If you have a small pond with several large Koi, then the odds are against you and there's a good chance that they could have run out of oxygen. The best thing to do right now is to get fresh oxygen in the water. To do this, pour hot water onto the ice so that it will melt a hole through it. Never chip at the ice, it's a great way to harm your Koi, their lateral line is used to sense vibrations. Then either put an air stone or a horse trough heater into the water to keep the ice open. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

What size tank should two Koi be in?? -Kayla

Two small Koi (4"-6") can easily live in a 55 gallon aquarium. Make sure that you have adequate filtration and aeration. Your Koi will eventually outgrow their tank. Then you will either have to get a bigger tank or donate your Koi to a local pet store, Koi club, or water gardening club, ect. You can also build a pond for the Koi to live in during the summer and then use the tank to over-winter them. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi & Plecostomas

I have a 2 1/2 inch long Koi and a Plecostomus in a 10 gallon aquarium. Is there any issue with the algae wafers that I feed the Plecostomus and the Koi? What should I be feeding the Koi? He's eating gold fish flakes right now. There should be no issue with the algae wafers that you are feeding your Plecostomus, they are not harmful to Koi. You should probably switch from goldfish flakes to a small pellet Koi Food. Goldfish food is meant for goldfish, so it may be missing some important nutrients that are good for Koi. Make sure that you do not overload your filter by feeding your fish too much. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Just moved into a new home with Koi Carp pond with 22 fish, why would the water start to smell? -Tracey

That smell is probably ammonia buildup in your pond due to inadequate filtration. A short term solution is to do a big water change and to cut down on feeding your Koi. Make sure to dechlorinate the new water before you add it to the pond. You will need to get a good filter for your pond, long term exposure to low levels of ammonia in the water will poison your Koi. Here's an article with more on filtration. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

My pump went out for a few hours, are my Koi OK? -Dave

Your Koi should be fine, unless you are very heavily stocked and its a hot day, then you should panic. A couple of things happen when a pump stops pumping: The filter stops working and some ammonia will build up in the water. A few hours is not long enough for toxic levels of ammonia to build up. Your filter should remove any buildup shortly after you turn your pump back on. Another filter related thing, if your not pumping water and you rely on a biological filter to clean your water, your nitrifying bacteria that live in the filter are not getting any fresh food (i.e. ammonia, nitrite) or fresh oxygen. Don't worry, you won't lose any noticeable amount of bacteria in a few hours. The on;y reason you should be concerned over this is if your pump was off for half a week. The oxygen levels in your pond will drop, but only if you are relying on a waterfall to aerate your pond and you don't have an air pump/air stone to supplement it. During mild temperatures, a few hours won't hurt, but be cautious if its 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and your water temperature is 84 degrees Fahrenheit, you could run out of oxygen fast. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

What is the average life span of koi fish? -Leon

Most Koi live about 20-30 years. That is usually cut short due to an accident or a miss hap. There's a joke about how a Koi will live until the owner kills it. It is not uncommon to find a 30-60 year old Koi in some ponds around Asia. The oldest Koi ever recorded was named Hanoko. Apparently, it lived to be about 226 years old and was kept in a natural pond in someones backyard in Japan. Hanoko was passed on down from generation to generation and even lived through many earthquakes. Hanoko was not a very pretty Koi, it was kept as a pet when the whole "selective breeding" thing just started, it was only a dull red color. Hanoko died back in the 1970's. The owners had the rings in its scales counted, like the tree rings in a tree trunk, to determine its age. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

How many times do small Koi have to be fed in a day? -Butters

Small Koi, i.e. under six inches, should be fed about two or three times a day during the summer. Since they are small, they won't need very much food. In the spring and fall, when your pond water is cold, you should only feed them one or two times a day. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Can you use roof slates for water falls? Will they harm my Koi? -Rob

I assume that you are talking about actual slate, and nothing like fiberglass or asphalt shingles. Slate itself is harmless to Koi, so you should be fine with using them in a waterfall. Absolutely make sure that there are no anti-mold or any other chemical treatments that are applied on the shingles. The chemical treatments could poison your Koi. That is not really the desired effect of a new waterfall. Here's the blurb from Wikipedia on roofing slate: Slate can be made into roofing slates, also called roofing shingles, because it has two lines of breakability: cleavage and grain. This makes it possible to split slate into thin sheets. Fine slate can also be used as a whetstone to hone knives. Because of its thermal stability and chemical inertness, slate has been used for laboratory bench tops and for billiard table tops. In 18th and 19th century schools, slate was extensively used for blackboards and individual writing slates for which slate pencils were used. Slate tiles are often used for interior and exterior flooring or wall cladding. Tiles are installed and set on mortar and grouted along the edges. Chemical sealants are often used on tiles to improve durability and appearance, increase stain resistance, reduce efflorence, and increase or reduce surface smoothness. Tiles are often sold gauged, meaning that the back surface is ground for ease of installation. Slate is often used as a decor in freshwater aquariums. Slate will not alter the chemistry of water {except in the slate containing feldspar which may leech silicates into the water resulting in excess diatom growth in marine aquaria). When broken, slate produces a natural appearance while remaining relatively flat and can be easily stacked. Silicon glue adheres to slate, creating a non-toxic bond to secure it. It is also used in stairs and pathways for the same reasons. Slate. (2007, February 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:26, February 19, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Slate&oldid=109060524 Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Goldfish & Koi

Is it possible that a 2 years old carassius (A goldfish) could kill a new 4 month old koi? They lived together in a 1000 gallon open outdoor pond. -Troppls Both goldfish and Koi are docile, they will not eat or damage each other in anyway. There are a few things that may have happened to your Koi: It may have been eaten by a predator. It may have gotten sick and died. It could have had an internal defect and died from it. It could have jumped out of your pond and then flopped itself under something, hidden from view. It's usually a good idea to cover your pond when you introduce a new Koi into it. They tend to be skitterish when they get new surroundings. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

How many Koi can one can safely keep? -William

William, The standard that most people go by is this: One Koi for every 150 gallons of water in a pond, or 1:150. 150 gallons of water per Koi will give them plenty of room to swim around and plenty of space to grow out. Some people go much higher than 150 gallons per Koi, some go up to 1,000, 1,500 or 5,000! Many hobbiests do get concered if they have 22 or 23 Koi in a 3,000 gallon pond. They don't need to worry, it only lowers the ratio by a few gallons. The amount of filtration that you have for your pond is far more important than a gallon ratio. Being underfiltered is far worse than being overstocked. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit