Koi Fish Care in Ponds

 

Koi Fish Care in Ponds

   
        Got a pond? Think it’s perfect for koi? You might be right. Just remember that koi need not only a large area, but an area with enough depth as well. And there’s really no reason that if your pond is alredy dense with pond plants, you can’t make your koi feel right at home there.

        These fish, even though they are social animals, will do their best if the total population is kept small, with lots of room to roam. You’ve heard the phrase “a big fish in a little pond.” Well, these guys like to be big fish in a big pond  and the fewer their neighbors, the better.

        In fact, as you decide on how many koi your pond can hold, keep the following rule of thumb in mind: You shouldn’t stock more than one inch of fish for every square foot of pond surface area you have. The other crucial item every koi owner should know, especially new keepers, pertains to the ammonia level. Monitor your water  closely and keep a watchful eye on the amount of ammonia in your water.
                                                                                     

                                                                                    

Koi Fish Care in Ponds: Algae Alert

        Ah, algae! The potential nightmare of every pond owner. But it really doesn’t have to be. Controlling the buildup of algae in your pond is much easier than you think. You have two different approaches from which to choose. You can go the natural route or you can choose to control the algae through chemical means.

        Most pond owners use a combination of the two methods. Of course, because you’re trying to maintain the quality of your fish as well as of your plants, your ultimate goal is for a natural balance.

After all, your pond is a natural ecosystem in and of itself. In order to keep it running smoothly, several guidelines need to be maintained.

        First, when I talk of chemical control (or other koi parents talk about it), I’m referring to the use of algaecides. This is a class of chemicals that kills or at the very least inhibits – all types of algae to some degree. These chemicals normally include a variety of ingredients, not the least of which are simazine, chelated copper, and potassium permanganate.

        You don’t need to worry about the chelated copper. This doesn’t harm vascular plants. It may, however, inhibit the growth of hyacinths or of plants that get their nutrients straight from the water.

If you use too much of any product containing chelated copper, you may end up killing your fish unintentionally. Products with simazine will inhibit the growth of most water plants as well.

Koi Fish Care in Ponds: Dying Algae and Ammonia

        These chemicals are used by many of us as a preventive measure. It’s much better never to have algae at all than to have it grow and have to kill it. And I’m just not talking about the time and effort expending on eliminating the algae. There’s one more factor to take into consideration when killing off the algae: the increase in ammonia the dying algae create while at the same time depleting the oxygen.

        If you allow the algae to build up and then have a “massive” killing of it, you can set your pond up for disaster. While the algae is decomposing, ammonia is being released and the oxygen supply is shrinking. This may ultimately result in dead fish.

The Importance of Water Quality in Koi Fish Pond

      At this point, I don’t think I need to convince you that disease and water quality (or lack there of) go hand in hand. The following tests are among the most important you can run to help maintain your water quality in Koi fish pond. High-quality water will help prevent your koi from developing disease.

• Make sure that the level of nitrate in your pond is no more than 50 ppm (parts per million). 
• Make sure you have no ammonia and nitrite in your pond. 
• Avoid a population explosion in your pond. Make sure you have a sensible fish load with a desirable stocking density. Did you know that fish actually grow faster in a pond in which the stocking density is lower? They bodies are simply reacting to the larger areas of water. 
• The lower the stocking rate, the less stress on the fish. You’ve reduced the competition among the koi during their feeding period. 

The Quality of Water in Koi Fish Pond:

        If you understand the dire importance of water quality to your fish. You will know that many of their stress-related problems arise from exposure to a poor quality of water. But before I jump into that, let me explain just how stress can wreak havoc on your fish’s system. 

The Importance of a Good Filtration System in Koi Pond: 

 

        Stress can be reduced through a quality filtration system. By keeping the water circulating properly, you maintain a higher level of quality with less chance of debris or bacteria build up. The absence of bad bacteria floating around means your koi are less likely to develop disease.

        Don’t forget about the importance of diet on your fish’s stress level. I’ve already devoted an entire chapter to diet, especially the affect it has on the koi’s stress levels and its overall health. Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up. It’s impossible to prevent all water-borne bacteria and other pathogens from sneaking into your koi pond. So when you find something, don’t feel guilty. In fact, most of the time you should feel pretty good about yourself for keeping the pond as bacteria-free as it is.

         The use of a UV sterilizer or clarifier helps to eliminate much of the bacteria, but your pond may still be harboring bacteria somewhere. After all, consider this fact: It’s possible for bacteria, viruses, fungus, and parasites to enter your pond’s environment through the air. You’re never going to provide your koi with a completely sterile environment or one which promises the elimination of all potential disease. We certainly don’t live in a utopia like that.

How Old are Koi Fish?

         Koi are a rare kind of fish. They’re almost considered mythological creatures in Japan. The facts and myths about these fish have been intertwined and embellished throughout the years. It’s difficult for even the best authorities on the subject to tell where history stops and fable begins.

         And it’s odd to see such a tradition grow around fish. Ask three separate authorities on the precise historical point at which the varied color of koi were first observed, and you’ll get three distinctly different answers. And for heaven’s sake, don’t even bother to ask them who first recorded the existence of koi – a fistfight is liable to break out.

        You are beginning to see the larger picture. Much of the history of the koi, especially the ancient history is shrouded in a vague fog, clouded by time, colored by folktales, and embellished by stories handed down from one generation to the next.

        It’s believed by at least some of the most respected koi experts that the fish are native to Persia. They were taken from their home country by various visitors stunned and infatuated by their beauty. That is how they began their journey around the world.

        From Persia, their travels can be directly traced to China and Japan. It’s believed that these beautiful fish originally began as common-looking fish. How common, you wonder? According to some experts, koi were originally a drab gray. They foraged in streams, sifting the bottom of the stream bed for food.

Rugged and hardy, Koi fish were an important source of food for many people. But beautiful, they were not!

How old should your Koi fish be when you buy it? 

        This is a never-ending debate among those who love koi: How old should your fish be when you buy it? Many experts and experienced hobbyists say you should only buy mature fish, and should never buy the young ones.

      They say that when you buy a young koi, you’re never quite sure about the eventual quality of the markings. As a Koi ages , sometimes its markings fade. Just as often, they say the markings may improve with age. Which way will that young fish go? Only time will tell.

        In choosing this gorgeous fish for your aquarium or pond, consider the ultimate health of the individual Koi. Check the fish for any signs of infectious or parasitic disease.

        For the most part, though, you’ll be looking for holes in the fins, missing scales, or scales which have grown back, but not very well as well as bent fin rays. You’ll also want to make sure the Koi you finally select are free from curvature of the spine and any problems with the eyes.

The Parts of Koi Fish Body

Koi Fish Eyes:

        The eyes of your koi are located just behind his nostrils. If you examine your fish closely, one of the first things you’ll see is that the fish lacks true eyelids. The covering over Koi fish eyes is really a layer of transparent skin.

        The lenses of its eyes are spherical and rigid. A koi focuses by moving the lens either forward of back within the eye itself.

Koi Fish Gills:

        The fish’s gills allow a fish to breathe underwater. In the koi, you’ll find them behind the eyes in something called the "branchial chambers."

      Covered by a flap of skin and bone known as the operculum, each set of Koi fish gills uses this flap to move water across the feathery organs. The gills contain tissue that possess rich networks of capillary – tiny blood vessels – designed especially for the purpose of gas exchange. Dissolved oxygen is taken from the water and carbon dioxide and ammonia are then released.

Koi Fish Scales:

       And like most fish, koi are endowed with scales. The body of this fish is covered with a host of tiny scales. However, you can find some members of the species where the opposite is true. They’re covered in a small number of larger scales. And don’t be surprised if you encounter an occasional koi with no scales at all. Yes, a few of them really do exist.

        If you were to look at a Koi fish scale under a microscope, the first feature you would notice would be a series of concentric rings. Believe it or not, these rings can help scientists determine the age of the fish – at least it provides them with a rough approximation.

        Very often, a koi’s scales overlap and actually project out of the skin at an angle. They’re also covered with a layer of mucus. This reduces friction as the fish swims. Scales also provide protection from infections – both bacterial and viral – because the mucus covering contains antibodies.

Lateral lines:

        If you examine your koi very closely, you’ll notice a series of very small pores along its sides.  Called lateral line, these pores run midline from its head to its tail.

        Believe it or not, these are another of your fishy friend’s organs of “hearing.” They detect low-frequency vibrations in the water, most notably those that might come from predators.