The Koi fish is one of the most famous and most beautiful types of fish there is.
Known for its elegant form and vibrant colors, koi have become a breeder’s favorite not just in its origin country of Japan, but in many places around the world.
Koi were first used as a source of protein for rice farmers during the winter in the mountainous regions in Niigata, Japan. These fish were kept in a trench or unused rice paddy. In the fall, the farmers would harvest and salt most of the fish, leaving a few to breed to replenish the stocks.
The koi were also useful in that their waste became excellent fertilizer for the crop. They were then selectively bred when it was discovered that some of the fish had red patches.
Over the years, the hobby of raising koi became widespread in Japan, and eventually, to the rest of the world.
A koi keeper usually takes into consideration the water quality and filtration of his koi’s home. Koi are independent creatures that take care of themselves. All you need to do is give them food. Koi ponds should also be at least 3 feet deep since they thrive in a stable environment. Shallow ponds tend to have large temperature fluctuations. The pond should also have steep edges that will stop predators from wading into it.
It is important to keep a koi pond clean and to provide them with nourishment. The amount of cleaning required depends on your filter system, so it is better to invest in a more efficient filter system that requires minimal maintenance rather than using a cheap and poorly designed one that will cause you a lot of work.
Koi are usually fed twice a day and are given an amount of food they can eat within five minutes. Overfeeding them can lead to poor water quality and obesity problems.
They should also be minimally handled since netting them too often stresses them out. The more stressed fish is, the more susceptible they are to bacterial infection.
Read more on koi fish and how to take care of them here.