Koi Fish

The koi fish belong to the common carp species Cyprinus carpio. The origin of koi fish is from Caspian and black seas of Eastern Asia. They are very similar to goldfish and also breaded very similarly. Koi fish are grown for ornamental reasons. The breeding of koi fish first became popular among rice farmers of Japan. Fascinated by the beauty of these species at the exhibition at Tokyo, these species are exported to all the parts of the world. The price of the fish depends on the beauty and the quality.

Koi fish differ in their colors, patterns and scales. They are available in different colors including white, black, blue, red, yellow and cream and the combinations. New hybrid varieties of koi fish are developed by Japanese breeders. Based on the color combinations and patterns of scaling, Koi fish have been named as Ghost koi, Butterfly koi, Goshiki, Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku and much more.

Koi fish breed well in ponds that are altleast 1.5 meters deep as these fish are cold-water fish. The warm climate is very suitable for the fish. During winter, the depth of the pond ensures that the water does not freeze as a solid. The attractive colors of Koi are their disadvantage too as its predators like cats, kingfishers also get attracted to the pond. Hence ponds should be developed in places such that it is difficult for these animals to invade. It is advisable to grow shady trees to block the view of the fish eating animals.

Koi are omnivorous and they eat algae, lettuce, peas and so on. They eat very little in winter. When the temperature is too low, they should not be fed with protein as it may cause digestive problems. The breeders enjoy Koi fish because these species have a special ability to find the person who is regularly providing food. Koi can live upto 40 years if breaded properly. They can grow upto 36 inches in length.

Koi fish reproduce through the spawning method where the female koi lays a large number of eggs which are fertilized by one or more male Koi. Eventhough the parents are carefully chosen by the intelligent breeder, the resulting fry may have unimaginable color combinations. A number of fry may be defective or ugly which are destroyed by the breeder at various stages. With a careful investigation, a breeder with a good knowledge will be able to breed koi fish of different qualities.

It is a pleasure to breed koi fish as they are very friendly and relieve stress. Three grades of koi are popular: Pond grade - they are cheap and are breaded by water gardeners, Ornamental grade - they are also inexpensive and they have attractive colors that decorate the place, Show grade - they are expensive and brightly colored and shiny mainly breaded for showcasing.

The koi are priced based on their size. But it cannot be said that the biggest size costs more. Generally, the size of the koi depends on size of the pond, food, temperature and oxygen supplies in the pond. The symmetric body also determines the price of the koi.

Breeding koi fish is essentially a hobby. They are human friendly and they can even be trained to eat the food from your hands. But you have to take proper care of them. If you don’t provide healthy food they will become sick. Most of the health problems are associated with the stomach of Koi. You need to watch out the health regularly and seek the advice of the experts to aid your Koi to live long. The oldest one is about 230 years old. Before buying your favorite koi check for any infections or parasite disease. If your koi is healthy, then surely you and your friends will enjoy playing and watching these species.