Giving the Best Koi Fish Food

Feeding Koi fish shouldn't be difficult with the availability of information and with the advances we have nowadays. Koi fish food should contain proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. These are all essential for all animals to maintain healthy bodies so they can grow and then later on reproduce. The type of food and the quantity that you give your Koi fish should depend on their size. It makes sense to choose a food that is small enough to be eaten by the smaller fish in the pond. If you fail to take care of this, your smaller fish can die of starvation. If you like to keep small Koi with larger ones, make sure you mix large and small food so everybody can eat.

Most Koi fish food comes in two forms and these include floating and sinking food. Since Koi are bottom-feeding fish, it's better to give them sinking food. The only disadvantage with feeding them with sinking food is that you cannot enjoy seeing them eat.

Be careful when feeding sinking food because it can easily pass unnoticed especially in muddy water. Luckily, Koi can take food from the surface. You can tame your Koi so you can feed them from your hand. Special expanded foods have been made for this purpose. These foods are steamed so that an outer shell will be formed. This will protect the food particle from saturation for a period of time. Once the pond water dissolves the protective shell, the food will sink. One advantage of floating food is that the owner can see if how much food the Koi already ate.

To make sure you are buying the best Koi fish food available, try to find out about the ash content. If the ash content is too high, it means that the brand you are buying is made of low-grade materials. Ash comes from scales and bones which are routine ingredients for normal fish meal. Whole fish meal is the best raw material in Koi food, it contains almost everything that a fish needs. When Koi owners say that ash is important for the fish's diet, they don't meanthat the diet should contain a high content of ash and miss the other important minerals that the fish needs. Always provide the nutrition that your Koi fish need. You will know that a Koi is healthy if the colors are brighter. While it is true that you should not feed them a diet of live foods solely, your Koi will enjoy the treat once in a while. Earthworms are one of Koi's favorite live foods and so is cockles and prawns. Although, they will eat just about anything you feed them, keep in mind that as a Koi owner, it is your responsibility to give them the right kind of food to keep them healthy.

Koi Fish Tattoos

Koi is really a rather attractive fish with bright and striking colors, which has been cultivated and bred by the persons of Japan for hundreds of years. Japanese koi fish tattoos denote both excellent luck and strength. They're believed to bring riches and abundance. Koi fish has the innate capacity to adjust to any environment and swim against the present of water, which are considered as quite rare qualities.

In Japanese culture, koi fish also symbolize love along with very good fortune. The act of swimming upstream against the present of water depicts strength in adversity. In Chinese culture, koi fish are the symbol of great luck, masculinity and strength. It really is a well recognized reality that koi fish are extremely energetic and have the innate capability to adjust to any type of climate and water conditions, for which they're supposed to symbolize strength and determination.

Keep in mind that obtaining a koi fish tattoo is making a actually bold statement by means of body art. So pick a design that's most meaningful to you. Ensure that that it holds the exact same significance all your life. Get it inked only from a certified tattoo artist. Regardless of whether you get koi fish tattooed for its deep meaning or its charming beauty and longevity, koi tattoo designs will usually remind you of the courage you're supposed to have although leading your own life full of happiness also as hardships.

Koi Fish Tattoo Designs
Koi fish are one of the most energetic fishes, and this is the reality, for which they're commonly depicted in bright shades with lots of movement. Their beauty and bright colors have generally fascinated artists. The conventional color scheme for koi fish tattoos are black and white. These conventional colors are really common throughout the world, but the use of the bright hues can further improve the beauty of this tattoo. An additional most widely utilized color for making koi fish tattoo isgolden yellow. Even the red and blue koi fish tattoos look terrific. Even so, the selection of color normally depends on the skin tone and complexion of an individual. As an example, those with yellowish skin tone can go for yellow, gold or red colored tattoos, although black, red and blue colors would look wonderful on a pinkish fair complexion.

Koi fish tattoos for girls are becoming really preferred, specially inside the western cultures. Koi fish tattoos typically have a typical design, consisting of a blue background, which depicts water, with a fish playing inside the water, inside the foreground. They may also be made with a combination of lotus flowers or maple leaves. Additional on tattoo designs for girls.

Ideas for Fish Tank Ornaments

The fishes we have inside aquariums at home are commonly thought of as our friends. They are our pets that we love, we feed everyday and give a great habitat to live in. Although a fish tank is not their natural habitat, we can make it look and feel like the real ocean or sea with the aid of different ornaments. There is a wide variety of fish tank ornaments available in different pet shops today. In choosing the right decorations for you fish tank, there are important things to be taken into consideration. You should not only go for those that look good but more importantly, they need to be appropriate for the needs of inhabitants and easy to maintain because they will be taken out from the tank regularly for cleaning. Here now is the list of the most commonly used fish tank decorations which you can consider opting for.

The first one in our list is the rock wall which can be bought in sheets.

However, to save more money, you can make your own rock wall by gluing together many pebbles taken from the beach. The second ornament we have is the driftwood. Although this ornament can be found and picked up from the beach, it will be much better if you visit an aquarium dealer. To ensure the safety of your finned pets, you have to quarantine the wood in a separate tank for a bit before placing it into your own fish tank. The third ornament to consider is the coral. You will not find it that easy to take care of the coral but believe me when I say that they look so great inside the fish tank. We are referring herein to living corals and not the artificial ones.

The fourth ornamental item to be taken into account is the plants. You can choose between natural and artificial plants to place into your aquarium. Hence, you must be careful enough to place natural plants because there are some of them that can be harmful to the health of your fish. These ornaments can serve as their hiding places where they can explore. The fifth item in our listis the ceramic ornaments. They can come in the forms of bowl or dish displayed inside the aquarium. Moreover, you need to expect that there can be algae build- up which is not that easy to remove from the décor. The sixth in our short list is the gravel. This is one of the most common ornaments we see in most fish tanks. This is used to cover the bottom or as bedding of the tank. You may also consider adding colorful glass marbles.

Let us talk about sunken ships and castles which are at the number seven in our list. These can be purchased from many retail stores or pet shops in your locality. These can also serve as hiding areas for the fish. The third to the last is the stones and rocks. You can test rocks and stones with lemon juice to find out if there are possible reactions. If there are some, avoid placing them into your tank. At number nine, we have background paint. Aside from background papers available, you can paint the back instead with dark colors like black. The last but not the least is the fish itself. Make sure that you choose to domesticate those you like and you are willing to take care of.

Keeping all these fish tank decoration ideas in mind can help you facilitate beautifying the fish tank which can be a source of fun for your family at home.

Tips on Selecting the Right Fish Tank Ornaments

Choosing the right fish tank ornaments can be very confusing sometimes especially if you are like me who grab anything that I think would look good in my tank. Well now I admit that I'm wrong because not all ornaments are suitable for every fish. Fish have different requirements and if we want to see them healthy and happy, we should only give them what they can be comfortable with. Aquarists spend considerable amount of time and of course money just to make their fish tanks look attractive and pleasing to the eyes. Fresh water and salt water aquariums can be decorated with artificial underwater biotope life.

Corals and live rocks are popular fish tank ornaments because of the drama that they add to the aquarium. Both should be cleaned regularly. You can go for live corals but make sure you have the time and effort to maintain them. Lighting, water and feeding conditions all contribute to sustain live corals.

Live rocks are great because you can easily shape it into any form that you like using aquarium silicon sealant that you can purchase from your local pet store. If you will decorate your tank with your own collection of stones, make sure that they are not going to affect the water's pH level. It's also important to be certain that they do not contain any harmful toxic wastes. To test the stone, pour some drops of weak acid and see if it reacts. If you're not sure about this, I would suggest for you to just get the stones from your local pet store. This way you can be sure that they're perfectly safe for your fish. You can simulate caves and hiding places using stones.

Plants are also great additions to your fish tank. Don't you ever notice that a tank seems to look empty if there are no greens or plants in it? If you don't want live plants (although they are better), you can opt for silk plants instead.

Plastic plants can sometimes damage your fish's fins. Silk plants are much safer fish-friendly. There are more ornaments to choose fromlike artificial/real driftwood, wreck ornaments, castles, buildings, fantasy ornaments, light-up aquarium decorations (my personal favorite) and fake corals. You should be able to decorate your aquarium which way you want it but you always have to consider if the fish tank ornaments you choose will not be harmful to your fish.

Having Fun With Fish Tank Accessories and Ornaments

The most fun part for me when setting up an aquarium is picking out the accessories and ornaments. There are a lot of fish tank accessories and ornaments available in the market today and I'm telling you that you can get excited and you would want to buy all of them. Well the main thing is you should know if the fish that you own will be ok with an aquarium setup that will have ornaments. Discus fish (especially when it comes to breeding) are better off in a bare bottom tank. You can still decorate it though but having fine gravel at the bottom and some plants still look more presentable for me. This type of fish need a lot of room so over decorating is definitely out. When it comes to accessories, you only have to purchase what you need in giving your fish the healthy environment it deserves.

One of my favorite fish tank accessories is the algae scraper.

This tool will let you clean your aquarium without the need of dipping your hand or your arm into the aquarium. Choose something that will both work for glass and acrylic. Some of them even come in cleaning magnets so you can make sure you're getting 100% of the job done. These products cost about to 0. Using an algae scraper regularly will surely keep the viewers happy.

Lighting is one of the fish tank accessories that you should be careful of. Find out first what kind of light your fish need or how long they need it turned on every single day. Some fish cannot be placed under direct sunlight and noisy areas such as doors and hallways so light is definitely needed especially if you are going to put them in a secluded area in your home. Some of the lighting accessories include ballasts and cords, lighting timers and power strips and aquarium light bulbs.

Make sure you buy lights that are specifically made for aquariums. Apart from an algae scraper and lighting, you also need to keep a box with you where you can store all test kits, medicine and additives. This will help you inorganizing your stuff and this will avoid you from looking everywhere for the things that you need to maintain your aquarium. Fish pumps and aeration accessories are also staples to make sure your fish are supplied with the right amount of oxygen.

Koi Fish Food

With a little basic information you can ensure that your koi fish are getting exactly what they need at the right time of the year. Also, at the right time in their life. Is it Winter? Is the weather super hot? Are they babies (fry)? All of these things matter when deciding which koi fish food is best.

During the winter months, in cold weather, koi do not require as much food and tend to eat less. You want to cut back on the amount of food you are feeding them. If the temperature is less that 55 degrees, you can skip feeding them. Especially in a mature pond.

During the hot, summer months you will need to feed your koi fish up to 8 times a day. During warm weather the fish are more active and grow faster. They will need more protein to compensate for the extra energy being used.

Koi fish have no stomach. A very basic way to describe the way they use food is that what goes in essentially goes out.

Except for what they are able to convert to needed energy. This is the reason for their need for frequent feedings when they are active and growing. You may need to increase the amount of protein in their meals to approximately 55% from 40%-45%.

Serving several small meals is a much better option than one or two larger meals. This also helps to reduce the amount of food that is left over and makes it's way to the bottom of your pond. Excess food in a pond can create problems. Waste and excess food need to be vacuumed from the bottom of the pond.

When deciding what to feed your koi fish, you will want to make sure that fish is the number one or two ingredient in your pellets. Corn should not be in the pellet. At least, corn should not be in the top 4 or 5 ingredients. Sprinkle just enough pellets over the top of the water.

Some believe you should mix two or three different types of pellets to ensure your fish will get all of the ingredients in their food that they need. This is up to you. Just make sure that their diet is richin fish proteins.

Of course, you will want to give your koi fish some treats. They love fruit, vegetables, pieces of cut up shrimp, and some koi fish even love earthworms. You can also grow water celery in a pot and put in at the edge of their pond. If you grow several pots at once, you can trade them out as the fish eat the leaves off of the plants. I recommend growing 3-4 at the same time.

Koi fish will eat smaller fish. You will need to be careful about what fish you put them in the pond with.

This should give you a basic idea of the direction to take when deciding on what koi fish food you want to serve your fish.

Feeding Koi Fish

Koi have 13 varieties and three types that are the most popular. The Kohakuis a white fish with a red pattern. The Toisho Sanke is white with a red and black pattern. The Showa Sanke is black with a red and white pattern.

Koi fish don't have a stomach. They rely on their teeth and chewing as a starting point for digestion. It is best to buy food specifically for koi. Floating pellets are great for because you can skim anything they don't eat with a net off the top.

Koi can grow to up to 3 feet in length and live for 50-60 years! It is important to give these fish plenty of room to roam.

Because of their size koi are not brought inside during the winter. Break a hole in the ice for oxygen and they will be okay in the pond during the winter.

When it starts getting cold change your food to something that is rich in wheat germ.

This helps digestion when they are not as active.

As the water temperature and activity of the koi decreases, you need to start decreasing their food. When the temperature gets below 50 degrees stop feeding them. As the water starts to warm again to about 60 degrees you can start feeding them a little once a day. Continue to increase food as the water begins to warm.

Koi are actually really smart fish. They can be taught tricks!

Feed your koi twice a day for adults and even more for young koi. Give them only as much as they can eat in 5 minutes. Don't overfeed them. Try to feed them in the same area of the pond every time you feed them.

Koi Fish Information

For centuries, the common Koi has been regarded with a sense of wonder and fascination that belies its humble beginnings.

 

Once bred as a food resource in China, it wasn't until after it was adopted by the Japanese, that it was quickly recognised more for its incredible splendor than its food potential, and therefore began the production of the most brilliant Koi colors via selective breeding. The Koi was from this point on no longer Ordinary, but an aesthetic object of beauty - much loved and designed to be the envy of all.

 

The word Koi actually comes from the Japanese word meaning Carp. Since the early twentieth Century, Koi have been bred and cross-bred to create a myriad of jewel-colored mutations and, whilst formerly a popular distraction of the Japanese, Koi have since turned out to be equally popular in the wider international community.

 

Considered to be the most stunning and admired of all ornate freshwater fish, Koi are nowadays the centre piece of scores of Koi garden ponds the world over. Featured right through the record of Chinese and Japanese Art, Koi are also considered to be vessels of good luck, wealth and happiness. With such positive symbolism surrounding Koi, it is no surprise that they have been embraced with enthusiasm by the Western World in an attempt to create a place of serenity within the home.

 

Establishing your own peaceful Koi Garden Fishpond might seem like a mammoth task, but, with the right research and groundwork, is completely doable and unquestionably worth the effort.

 

Merely close your eyes for a moment and visualise yourself sitting on a rock at the edge of your fishpond, watching and waiting as each one of your Koi come up to meet you. You've chosen names for each of them as you would for your children - it's all about how they look and their particular personalities! Yes, Koi have personalitiestoo and will in general interact with you willingly, especially at feeding time! In fact, once they learn to recognise you, you won't want to leave them. Rearing and caring for Koi is often such a rewarding and enjoyable pastime. Let's face it - anything that reduces stress, can only be a good thing!

 

Knowing where to begin - now that's a good question!

 

How many Koi Fish should I get?, How large does my Koi Pond need to be?, What kinds of Koi Fish are there and what should I get?, What do I feed my Koi Fish?, What do I do if my Koi Fish becomes sick?, How do I construct a Koi Fish pond?, Is it hard to breed Koi?, What Koi Fish Equipment do I need to buy? - and the questions keep going!

 

The best place to begin is regularly at the Start - sounds corny, I know, but it's so true. Many people just do not know where to begin and therefore jump in at the middle or the end, instead of at the beginning. Before they realize it, they've used up a load of time and money, everything goes wrong, and they end up wishing they had never begun at all! This is absolutely NOT how you want your story to go. So, follow some straightforward rules and you can't go wrong!

 

The 4 R's

 

Research! Review! Revise! Relax!

 

Research - there's no point in starting anything, least of all a Koi Pond, without doing your homework to start with. That's just stupid - kind of like hopping in the vehicle and trying to drive to Someplace Special without a Map and ending up in Nowhere Inparticular. Make yourself a list of questions and then carry out some research until you find the answers. Also make yourself a list of what you will have to Spend on your Koi Fishpond and what you will need to Do in order to Build your Koi Pond. Once you have these 3 tasks completed, you can begin to chart out your journey to Koi Pond Paradise.

 

Review - every step of the way, review your plan and be certain thateverything is on the right track, both timewise and moneywise!

 

Revise - now and again, even the best-laid plans can hit a bump-in-the-road, so remember to be Flexible. If you hit a snag, then Revise your plan and find a solution to get you back on course as quickly as possible.

 

Relax - once your Koi Garden Pond is completed, you can rest and begin your life-long enjoyment of being a truly devoted Koi Fish enthusiast!

Building a Koi Fish Pond

Where are you going to place your pond? You want your pond to be close to electricity to run your pumps and for heat in the winter. You don't want your pond in direct sunlight because it will heat the water too much and your fish don't like hot water. Shade is an issue because trees shed their leaves and contaminate the pond. The roots from the trees can also grow into your pond.

Do you want goldfish or koi? Koi are very beautiful and hardy. However they can grow to be three feet in length. This is important to consider. If you want a small pond you should probably go with the goldfish.

The pond needs to be deep enough to protect the fish. It needs to be deep enough so your fish don't freeze in the winter and it needs to protect the fish from predators.

You also need some type of ledges and or plants to help provide your fish shelter.

Do a little research to figure out what type of plants are best for your area.

Ponds can be built with several types of materials. Concrete can be expensive and you have to test the water because of the lime in concrete. Pre-molded liners are fast and easy to set up, but are usually too small for koi. Flexible liners are great for different pond designs. It can be a lot of work and it will tear. Rubber liner comes in sheets and is made specifically for pond use. It can also last up to 20 years.

Figure out your design and get your hole dug before buying your liner. This way you have accurate measurements and you don't run out of liner.

Decorating your pond is where you can make it your own. You have alot of different options. You can do an island, waterfall, fountains, plants and even lights.

Plants are great for the water and provide a place for your fish to hide.

You can get floating plants, shallow plants, and submerged plants. Be careful with the floating plants so your fish don't eat them right away.

All About Asagi Koi Fish

In most parts of the world, pond owners prefer to get a koi fish as a primary decoration for their ponds as they are easy to take care of and that its beauty helps accentuate the beauty of their ponds through its wonderful and vibrant colors. Among all the koi types, a lot of professionals and breeders choose the Asagi breed because they claim that it is finest and most elegant type of koi.

Asagi koi is defined by its blue-colored back and belly. Its fins and gills can sometimes be covered with the same color and often embellished with red markings on the side of its belly.

They have a net-like pattern and it is known for its scales. Its scales have white edges, making it look like a net. This is the selling point of the fish as it entices collectors to get it because of its uniqueness.

Asagi koi is can be distinguished by its net pattern which makes a perfect line in their scales.

If this pattern is somehow crooked or imperfect, the value of the koi is depreciated.

Its primary color is blue, and it goes up to its lateral line. Its scales have a red coloring from its underside that continues to its side. On some occasion, the red marking is also evident on its fins, gill cover, and mouth which highlight more of its beauty and elegance.

There are times that this type of koi can also have a color variation. This is because of the type of breed that they are crossbred from. They can be dark-blue and can also be blue-gray. The most liked variation though by the breeders is that of koi with light blue color.

If you intend to collect this koi type, here are some tips that might be helpful to you when you get one.

A younger koi of this type has a lighter net pattern, but do not worry since it will go darker as the fish matures.
Make sure that the net pattern is that of a straight row as this has a higher market value.
Do not get just any kind of blue. Try getting an indigo kind of blue since this is considered to be itsperfect color.

As always, when you choose to get an Asagi koi fish or any koi type for that matter, make sure you can give all the love and care that it needs.

Facts About Koi Fish Colors

In the beginning there was the ancient Carp, the Magoi, dark and uninteresting, a vital link of the food chain in China, however destined to be the forerunner of the magnificent "Living Jewels" we enjoy nowadays.

 

Fast forward to the early 20th century, where the color potential of these fish was discovered by the Japanese, more by accident than by design, and manipulated into the exquisite specimens nowadays recognized as Nishikigoi - literally meaning "Brocaded Koi".

 

Bred for their artistic splendor, modern day Koi come in a multitude of colors, patterns and varying degrees of brilliance, making them breathtaking additions to the home garden fishpond. Well treasured for their ability to instill calm and inspire a sense of inner peace, Koi are also much loved for their plentiful and diverse personalities. Not being particularly shy, they are normally very happy to be hand fed and will readily rise to the surface to greet you once they settle in.

 

The always increasing range of Koi colors was once restricted to Red, Black, White, Orange and Yellow, but now includes shades of Indigo, Blue, Grey, Green and Cream.

 

For a beginner to entirely appreciate Koi, one must begin with a basic awareness of the Japanese nomenclature for describing the traits of color, markings, shape, scalation and brilliance.

 

This can be a bit over-whelming to start with but it's not long before the method behind the naming becomes easily comprehensible.

 

Starting with colors, it's always important to note that there are often two or more Japanese words for the same color, simply because one relates to a base skin color and the other to the colored markings on top. For instance, the Japanese word for "Red" can be "Hi" indicating the red markings on top of a different color, or it can be "Aka" meaning the continuous red base skin color. The classification name results from the combination of theappropriate descriptors.

 

Vocabulary of Japanese Identification Words:

.

Ai  -  Blue or Indigo color

Aigoromo  -  Blue or indigo colored Goromo Koi

Ai Showa  -  Blue or indigo colored Showa Koi

Aka  -  Red - pertaining only to the base color of the fish

Asagi  -  Blue pertaining to koi with a bluish body and red markings on the underside, pectoral fins and cheeks

Bekko  -  Solid base color of red (aka), yellow (ki) or white(shiro) with black markings (sumi)

Beni  -  Dark red color

Budo  -  Grape color

Cha  -  Brown color

Chagoi  -  Brown variety of Koi noted for its splendid growth

Doitsu  -  German carp - either scale-less referred to as Leather Carp; or having a line of large scales along the lateral and dorsal lines referred to as Mirror Carp

Fukurin  -  Area around the scales of a metallic koi that displays more luster than the other areas

Gin  -  Silver (white metallic)

GinRin  -  Pearl-silver reflective scales

Goke  -  A fish scale

Gosanke  -  Group of three major varieties of koi -  Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa

Goshiki  -  Japanese meaning "five colors."  Refers to a koi with a white base color, a black and blue appearance, overlaid with red markings

Gotensakura  -  Kohaku variety of koi with an abundance of red spots

Hageshiro  -  Mostly all-black with head and snout patched with white or brown

Hagoroma  -  Particular variety of Aigorormo

Hajiro  -  Mostly all-black with tail and fins edged in white

Hariwake  -  White, metallic koi with gold or yellow markings

Hi  -  Red - pertaining only to the colored patches of the fish

Hikari  -  Shiny or metallic

Hikari Moyo  -  Metallic with platinum and either red or yellow

Hikari Utsuri  -  Tri-colored metallic koi with black markings - metallic versions of Showa andUtsuri

Hikari Muji  -  Single colored metallic koi including Ogon and Matsuba

Inazuma  -  "Lightning" pattern most associated with Kohaku variety

Kabuto  -  Japanese meaning "helmet." Refers to Koi with head color different to body color

Karas  -  Japanese meaning "Crow" - old variety with black fins and jet black body

Kawarimono  -  Term applied to Koi that cannot be classified into standard types

Ki  -  Yellow - relating only to the base color of the fish

Kin  -  Gold (yellow metallic)

Kin Rin  -  Pearl-gold reflective scales

Kiwa  -  Edge of a patch or marking

Kuchibeni  -  Lipstick

Matsuba  -  Term for scales with a pine cone or net pattern

Midori  -  Green color

Mono  -  Type

Moyo  -  Type of pattern

Muji  -  Single color

Nezu  -  Gray color

Orenji  -  Orange color

Rin  -  Shiny Scale

Shiro  -  White - relating only to the base color of the fish

Sumi  -  Black - pertaining only to the colored patches of the fish

Tancho  -  Single strong red spot on the head only

Yamabuki  -  Pale yellow form of the Ogon metallic koi

 

Interesting Facts About Koi Colors

With "Color" being high on the list of favorite attributes, it is important to examine the quality of a Koi's color when making a selection. Not only is the vibrancy of color an aesthetic choice, more importantly it's an indicator of the Koi's state of health. I the red or orange is anything but brilliant, if the black is dull, or if the white is not "snow" white, then this possibly will indicate poor health. This can be a result of poor diet or poor water quality.

Some varieties of Koi in fact change color as a consequence of temperature changes instead of poor health. Matsukawabake is one such breed.

 

Koi Color can in fact be improved via dietary supplements.  Foods withhigh concentrations of carotenoid pigments are very beneficial and food supplements such as Spirulina (a green algae), Shrimp, plankton, daphnia and marigold are ideal. Carotene affects the red pigmentation, but if used in excess, can ruin the Koi's colors.

 

From time to time a Koi's colors may be less than splendid purely because it hasn't yet reached its full potential. Young koi will frequently look a little dull throughout their early development as the initial focus is on the perfection of the body shape and form instead of the improvement of color. At a specific point in their maturity, the colors will start to develop more vibrancy.

 

Koi colors can also be enhanced by providing good quality living conditions. Waters abundant in green phytoplankton can help develop strong yellow and red colors. Black coloring may be enriched in hard water with a pH level of 7.5-8.5. Take care however - changing the pH and hardness of the water can produce toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite.

Types of Koi Fish and Koi Fish Colors

There are a few factors that help to determine a type of koi fish. They are usually identified by koi fish colors, markings, patterns and scale variations. Here are some of the more common types of these wonderful pond fish:

Kohaku. This is probably the most common and popular type of koi. It's colors are red and white. The japanese translation for kohaku is red and white.

Asagi. This beautiful fish is pale blue with an orange-red type color of belly. It's scales on it's back form a net pattern. The word asagi means pale blue.

Ogon. This shiny metallic koi is usually gold or orange. You can also find these in cream color, but they are rare in that color. The scales are one color. Ogon means gold.

Bekko. This koi can be white, yellow or red. It has black markings on it's body. Bekko translates into tortoise shell.

Matsuba.

This koi is one color. It's scales are similar in design to a pinecone.

Utsuri. This fish is black with white, red or yellow markings. The markings are similar to ink stains. This is the reason the japanese word for to print, utsuri, is it's name.

Karasugoi. A black fish with an orange belly.

Showa. This beautiful koi has a black body with white and red markings.

Ochiba: A light blue koi with yellow markings. Ochiba translates to fallen leaves.

Butterfly koi: Koi that are bred with asian carp. The color is determined by the type of koi that is bred with the carp. Butterfly koi are known for their long, flowing fins.

Koi fish, overall, are viewed as symbols of love and friendship. These and other meanings ranging from courage to strength are the reasons that they are such popular symbols being seen on anything from jewelry to tattoos.

Koi fish colors are beautiful and original no matter what type you choose.

How to Choose Koi Fish

Those two reasons alone make them enough to fall in love with Koi fish. If you are considering purchasing Koi for your garden pond then this article is for you.

The first thing that's recommended for you to do is to acquire as much information as you possibly can about Koi fish. This information could be acquired from your local pet shop owners, a reputable breeder and even online.

The staff of the breeder and pet shops should be knowledgeable about Koi fish and should be able to answer lots of questions for you. One of the questions you may need to ask is if the Koi Fish are imported or from a local source? Of those two choices the imported Japanese Koi fish is usually going to be the highest quality.

If it is at all possible for you to visit fish farms, where Koi are raised, that would be an excellent thing for you to do. While there check the conditions at the farm.

See how well the fish are being taken care of, how they are maintained and the overall general cleanliness of the farm. The Koi fish farms ponds water should be clean and odorless; their supplies for sale should be of excellent quality.

As you probably already realize Koi fish come in unique stunning color patterns with no two Koi ever being exactly alike. Each Koi has all of their own unique colors and markings. Did you know however that the young Koi will change as they grow more mature? As they mature and grow their colors will usually darken so remember this when shopping for your new Koi fish.

Koi fish are generally very social creatures and will normally be seen socializing and swimming with other Koi. If by chance you see one or two swimming alone off to themselves then I would recommend avoiding these fish.

Chances are they are not healthy fish.

A healthy Koi fish will swim effortlessly and glide through the water with ease. They should have no jerking type motions and no twitching when swimming. Their gills should move at an even pace andrhythmically together. If you do happen to notice that they are only breathing through one gill or if they have any redness around their gills this is also a sign that they could have an infection called gill flukes. This would be another sign that they are not healthy Koi.

When observing a healthy Koi's body it should be gently tapered, well defined and thick. There should be no visible signs of damage, any ulcers or spots of discoloration on the fish. Their scales should lay flat against the fish with no lesions of any kind.

Experts cannot agree on the amount of Koi fish that should be kept in a garden pond. The best answer really is that it would depend upon the size of your pond as well as the efficiency of the filtration system.

Your garden Koi pond should be at least 1000 gallons big with a minimum water depth of 4 foot. As excited as you are to go out and purchase your new Koi it is very important to make sure your pond has been built and has an excellent filtration system already working. After these things have been accomplished then your pond is ready for all of your new Koi fish.

Painted Fish

Methods

There are a number of methods for introducing artificial colour to fish, although specific information on methodology is sometimes scanty.

Dyes

A common method of creating "painted fish" is through injection via syringe. Generally, fish are injected multiple times. Fish may also be dipped in a caustic solution to strip their outer slime coat, then dipped in dye. This method is reported to have a very high mortality rate.

Many varieties of "colour-enhancing" foods for aquarium fishes are available to the consumer. Generally, these foods contain natural dyes such as beta carotene and are not harmful to fish, although as with other dye methods, the effect is temporary. One source reports that harmful dyes are sometimes used by wholesalers, however.

Lasers

Fish can also be tattooed using a low-intensity laser with a dye, a process developed for fisheries by scientists but this technique is now applied to ornamental fish.

Genetic modification

Aquarium fish genetically modified to fluoresce in bright colours under white or ultraviolet light are now available commercially in the United States, under the trade name GloFish. The technology was developed originally to produce a fish capable of detecting environmental pollution. These zebrafish are available in several fluorescent colours, protected by a United States patent.

Hormones

It's not introducing any kind of artificial color, but provoking the apparition of mating period tonalities by administering hormones. This is argued to be used for minimizing the stressful effects of transport in fish aspect. This might also be used for making females of certain fish species look more colorful, despite this can also render them infertile.

Varieties

Painted blood parrot cichlids

Some species, such as albino Corydoras and "painted" glassfish, are injected with dyeusing a hypodermic needle. In more recent times (2004-2005), injection dyed albino Plecostomus and rift lake cichlids have also become available. Other than the Indian Glassy Fish, most dyed fish are albinos.

Some commonly painted species

Indian Glassy Fish (Parambassis ranga). Tradename: Painted glassfish; Disco Fish; Colored Glass Tetra; Lightbulb tetra.

Black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi). Tradenames: Berry Tetra; Painted Tetra.

Oscar (Astronautus ocellatus). Tradenames: Blueberry Oscar; Strawberry Oscar.

Corydoras species

African Rift Lake cichlids, such as Pseudotropheus. Tradenames: Ice Blue Albino Cichlid; Zebra Ice Albino Cichlid.

Suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus). Tradenames: Patriotic Suckerfish; Mixed Color Suckerfish.

Blood parrot cichlid (Amphiliphus citrinellus x Heros severus). Tradenames: Jellybean Cichlid; Cotton Candy Cichlid.

Goldfish (Carassius auratus). Tradenames: Jellybeans; Icepops.

Health hazards to painted fish

A 1998 survey carried out in the South of England revealed that over 40% of painted glassfish showed signs of a Lymphocystis infection, compared to 10% of unpainted glassfish. The infection may have been caused by transmitting the virus from fish to fish via an infected needle, or by a reduced resistance to the infection due to stress from the injection process. In addition, fishes injected with dye often die without apparent external disease symptoms, presumably due to kidney disease caused by injection.

Efforts to stop fish painting

Some members of the aquarium trade want to ban this practice. For example, the British publication Practical Fishkeeping started a campaign in 1996 to ask retailers to stop selling dyed fish, which led to a significant decrease in the number sold in the United Kingdom. Practical Fishkeeping has launched a similar campaign with a globalscope and maintains a register of stores which do not stock dyed fish. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) regards the practice as cruel and unnecessary cosmetic mutilation. A campaign in Australia and in the UK has limited the sale of these fish. Dyed fish are still available and are generally imported from Southeast Asia.

In February 2006, the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that it will not be making it illegal to sell dyed fish in the UK under the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.

References

^ a b Dr Stan MacMahon and Dr Peter Burgess (March, 1998). "Why it's cruel to dye". Practical Fishkeeping. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=72. Retrieved April 20, 2009. 

^ a b Shirlie Sharp. "Death by Dyeing". About.Com. http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerinfo/a/paintedfish.htm. Retrieved May 19, 2006. 

^ "Company offers custom fish tattoos with laser". Practical Fishkeeping. 2006-02-23. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=850. Retrieved 2006-05-19. 

^ "GloFish: First Genetically Modified Pet in U.S.". The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. 2004. http://pewagbiotech.org/buzz/display.php3?StoryID=118. Retrieved 2006-12-10. 

^ "United States Patent 7,135,613". November 14, 2006. http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,135,613&OS=7,135,613&RS=7,135,613. Retrieved 2006-12-10. 

^ http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/steroids.html thekrib.com

^ "Shades of Death". http://www.deathbydyeing.org/colormedead.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-19. 

^ Jim Greenwood, B.V.Sc.. "What's wrong with a painted angel?". Eastern Districts Aquarium Society.http://www.edas.com.au/EDAS-Editorials.htm#PaintedAngels. Retrieved 2009-04-20. 

^ "Dyed Fish Campaign". Practical Fishkeeping. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/campaign.php. Retrieved 2006-05-19. 

^ "Dyed fish to remain legal". Practical Fishkeeping. 2006-02-17. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=848. Retrieved 2006-05-19. 

Related Sites

Painfully Painted Fish

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Aquarium and fishkeeping hobby

Types

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Aquarium equipment and furniture

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Fish terms

Hardy fish Dither fish Algae eater Bottom feeder Tropical fish Coldwater fish Painted fish

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Lists

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Other terms

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Practical Fishkeeping Tropical Fish Hobbyist Koi Aquarium Fish International

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Aquarium related companies

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Categories: Fishkeeping | Animal welfare

Need a Pond For Koi Fish?

If you are thinking about keeping Koi fish, then one of the most important factors you need to consider is the pond for Koi fish. Most fish owners will keep their fish in a pond but some people do keep them in aquariums. The problem with this is that you will need a very large aquarium and it can be a lot harder to maintain than a pond because of the size. If you are looking at building a pond for Koi fish then there are a few factors you need to consider before you get started. fish are quite easy to look after and to maintain and they make brilliant pond fish because they have such an ornamental quality because of their unique colorings, but before you do purchase your fish you need to make you're your pond for the Koi fish is up to standard and ready for them.

If you are not sure how to build a pond for fish, then you should invest in a guide which will show you everything you need to know including step by step instructions, pictures and illustrations as well as all of the tools and equipment that you will need.

You can get these types of guides in a downloadable format for as little as a few dollars which is a great investment when you are getting started with your pond for fish. You can find dozens of these websites by running a quick search on a search engine, but make sure you shop around for the best deal and the guide with the most valuable information.

When it comes to fish ponds, one of the most important things you need to consider is the size of the pond because this will restrict how many fish you can keep. On average, two fish will need around 1000 gallons of water to survive so you need to take this ratio into consideration when you are preparing your pond for Koi fish.

You also need to think about the temperature of the water because the pond is outside; the water temperature will fluctuate constantly so you need to maintain the temperature all year around, especially during the winter months.

If you need more informationon fish and fish ponds, then run a quick search on the internet and you will find dozens of helpful sites and links to get you started. It might also be worth popping into your local pet store and asking in there for advice before you get started.

Pet Guard Fish, Chicken & Liver Food for Cats, 14-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12)

Fish Pets

• Pack of twelve, 14-ounce cans (total of 168-ounces)
• Specifically formulated and correctly balanced

Pet guard food for cats is prepared from wholesome ingredients including meat, fish, chicken, vegetables and fresh-milled whole grains. Each dinner is specifically formulated and correctly balanced with the proper amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and chelated minerals, avoiding excess sodium, magnesium and other nutrients that may harm pets. You will not find By-Product ingredients in PetGuard. Just good wholesome food.

List Price: $ 33.60

Price: $ 25.00

Littlest Pet Shop Prized Pet Pairs Series 1 Figure Guppy Fish Special Edition Pet

Fish Pets

• NEW RELEASE PETS!

Congratulations! Youve just welcomed some new friends into your very own Littlest Pet Shop, where all your petloving dreams come true. Every pet needs a best friend! And these Littlest Pet Shop Pets come packaged together with their best friends.!

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Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish

Ornamental Fish

A lavishly illustrated reference covering all aspects of keeping fish, the Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish is the first book on the market to provide care and identification information on all types of fish for every possible environment, from indoor aquariums to outdoor ponds. The book contains a directory of over 800 of the most popular fish-freshwater, saltwater, coldwater, and tropical-showing not only what each fish looks like, but what food they eat, which species they can cohabit with, how big they grow, and much more.

List Price: $ 24.95

Price: $ 14.16

What Fish? A Buyer's Guide to Tropical Fish: Essential Information to Help You Choose the Right Fish for Your Tropical Freshwater Aquarium (What Pet? Books)

Fish Pets

• Buyers Guide To Tropical Fish
• Books-Marine

Prospective tropical aquarium hobbyists will find vital information on many fish varieties--cichlids, swordtails, and many others. Readers will find tips on species identification, feeding, behavior, approximate and purchase prices. Quick-check data requirements are given regarding aquarium size, water temperature, food, compatibility with other fish, and much more. This title is one in Barron's new series of pet buyer's guides, all of them filled with practical information and approximately 250 vivid color illustrations.

List Price: $ 16.99

Price: $ 3.88

Aquarium Plastic Floating Ornamental Fish Ornament

Ornamental Fish

• These items are five Ornamental Life-Like Plastic Fish with colourful body
• Place the Floating Plastic Fish in the fish tank and they start to swing tails, floating in the water
• Add 5 new Ornamental Plastic Fish to your aqurium and they will surely be eyecatching items
• Perfect for a aquarium decoration or swim along with them
• Dimension (Each One): ~3.8(L) x 3.0(W) x 1.1(H)cm

Built-in weight and moveable tail, which offer a natural look and provide stability;
Material: Plastic;
Package Included:* 5 x Plastic Fish

List Price: $ 5.57

Price: $ 5.57