Koi are a wonderful addition to your backyard pond. It is relaxing to watch these graceful fish gliding slowly through the water. To live a a long and healthy life, koi need just as much care as any other pet. Koi live an average of 25-35 years, although some have lived much longer. If you want to provide the proper care and environment for your fish, you need to do some research.
Make sure you do your research before you go to buy your koi. Read through books on koi care, browse the internet, and consult with koi experts.
Before you buy your fish, your pond needs to be properly prepared. It has to be big enough for the koi to swim around. A minimum of 1000 gallons, and 18 inches deep is recommended. The koi also need a quiet corner that they can retreat to. It is also advisable to have a number of hiding places for the fish so that they can avoid predators, such as racoons, or your neighbor's cat. The pH of the water should be between 7.5 and 8.5. Make sure that the filter has been running for a while, and that the beneficial bacteria in the pond have had a chance to establish themselves. These bacteria are important for maintaining the chemical balance of your pond once you add the fish.
It is always best to shop for your koi at a specialty store. Be sure too look for healthy fish with clear eyes, no missing scales and erect fins. Many variables affect the price of the fish, including size, pattern, shape, and availability.T Younger fish are usually a lot less expensive than the older and larger fish. Younger fish, about 3-4 inches long will probably cost less than 10 dollars. Older fish, 22-24 inches long can range from $1,200 and up, occasionally ranging up to $10,000. Butterfly koi are more expensive than regular koi due to their long flowing fins.
Be sure to add fish to your pond gradually. If you put in too many, the bacteria won't be able to handle all of the fish waste, and the chemical balance of the pond will be thrown off. Start with just one or two fish, and then after a week or two, go ahead and start adding a few more. Because of their metabolism is slower in the winter, it is best to buy the fish in cooler weather if possible. Koi do just fine in cold water, but you should avoid rapidly fluctuating temperatures. Even though koi are a warm water fish who prefer water temperatures of around 78 - 80 degrees F., they are capable of surviving in freezing cold temperatures and water over 86 degrees F. Deeper ponds are also preferable, so the water underneath the ice would not freeze. If you live in an area where the pond will freeze over, be sure to use a floating heater to keep a hole in the ice.
When the weather changes for the warmer, their metabolisms will speed up. Feeding of koi is quite easy by just feeding them koi pellets which are found online or at a pet store. Make sure to feed them twice a day. With some training, it is even possible to teach koi to eat out of your hand. When the weather and the water temperature start to cool off, you want to gradually reduce the amount of food that you feed the koi. When the water temperature drops to 50 degrees, then you should stop feeding them altogether until spring, when the water warms up again.
Koi will add a brilliant splash of color to your pond. And properly cared for, they will be in your pond for a long time, and provide years of enjoyment.
A Koi pond is a project that will require a large surface area, and even more research. This illustrious landscape is very stimulating, but also may require some work when the changing of the seasons occurs.
Once the weather breaks and the leaves appear to be changing colors, it is generally a good idea to install netting over the Koi pond to eliminate the amount of leaves and sticks that will land in the Koi habitat. This will drastically lower the amount of debris to be removed at seasons end. Another precaution that should be taken during the break of the weather is winterizing the Koi pond.
In winterizing the fish habitat requires several pieces of advice. One of the most important steps to take into account is the cleaning process. It is wise to physically take the fish out of the pond, place them into a bucket full of the water in the pond, and clean the excess bacteria from the pond. However, completely removing all the bacteria will destroy the harmony of the pond through the summer months; the plants feed off the bacteria while the fish feed off the plants. Other things that need to be removed are the remaining leaves and sticks that were not caught by the netting. Failure of removing these materials will result in creation of methane gas, a byproduct of the decomposing that will occur. Lowering the amount of water will allow the pump to circulate water, allowing the fish to survive below the level of ice that accumulates in the cold weather. Another tip worth perusing is to create a hole in the ice when the winter season approaches. Do not use force when attempting to create a hole. The best method for this is to place a pot filled with boiling water over the ice to allow a hole to be melted into the ice. This will allow the gases that accumulate in the pond to escape.
The largest problem that occurs with the overall presence of the Koi pond is mobility throughout the surrounding area of the piece. Installing a bride over the center or an area of interest will serve a dual purpose. The practical purpose for this landmark is to be able to cross over the pond to access other portions of the yard or landscape. On the other hand, the second purpose of building a bridge is to create the effect of vastness and attractiveness. Bridges can come in a variety of styles with according costs.
Both Tim Sousa & Steven Cancel are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tim Sousa has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Bathroom Home Improvement and Cooking Tips. Isn't it time to get your water garden started? Visit to find a wide selection of fountains, garden waterfalls, and much more.. Tim Sousa's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
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