How to keep Taiwan butterfly koi? Detailed guide to breeding methods
SummaryChoose an aquarium: you need to pick an aquarium of suitable size; if it is too small, water quality cannot be guaranteed, and if it is too large, it will require very large water changes. Adjust water quality: add a small amount of nitrifying bacteria to adjust the water quality, then 3 days later introduce the Taiwan butterfly koi. Feed in moderation: feeding once a day is enough. Clean the filter: cleaning should not be too frequent, and it can be done in batches. Water change frequency: add a small amount of water conditioner before changing the water; you can change the water once every 15 days, with a water change volume of 1/3.
1. Choose an aquarium
When keeping Taiwan butterfly koi, you must choose an aquarium of suitable size. If the aquarium is relatively small, the water quality will be harder to control; if the aquarium is relatively large, the difficulty of controlling waste concentration will be lower. Many beginners who have just started keeping them buy a small aquarium with 1 filter compartment inside. This kind of aquarium is relatively difficult to clean, and to clean it thoroughly, a very large water change volume is needed, so it is not recommended to choose this kind of aquarium for keeping them.
2. Adjust water quality
Put an appropriate amount of nitrifying bacteria into the aquarium you bought to adjust the water quality, then on the 3rd day introduce the Taiwan butterfly koi fry.
3. Feed in moderation
Generally, feeding once a day is appropriate, and be sure not to exceed 2 times. Because beginners have just started keeping Taiwan butterfly koi and cannot yet fully grasp the water quality conditions, and do not yet understand the impact of excrement and leftover food on water quality, feeding once a day is already enough. During this period, the feeding amount should not be too much either, because the probability of Taiwan butterfly koi starving to death is relatively low; overfeeding will be detrimental to their healthy growth, and in severe cases can even lead to direct death.
4. Clean the filter
The filter is very important for the growth of Taiwan butterfly koi, and the colony of nitrifying bacteria on the filter media is an important guarantee for ensuring their healthy growth. Cleaning the filter media too frequently or replacing all of it with new media will be detrimental to their normal growth and development.
The correct approach is to separate the timing of water changes and filter media cleaning. You can rinse the filter media casually or clean it in batches. If the Taiwan butterfly koi show abnormal reactions after cleaning the filter, stop feeding for 2-3 days and add an appropriate amount of nitrifying bacteria to adjust the water quality.
5. Water change frequency
During the keeping process, adjust the aquarium water temperature well and change the water in time according to the water quality conditions. When changing water, do not change too much. The frequency of water changes should be determined according to the feeding amount. Generally, you can change the water once every 15 days, with a water change volume of 1/3. When changing water, note that the speed of adding water should not be too fast either; it can be controlled within 20-30 minutes. Because changes in the water pH value have a relatively large impact on Taiwan butterfly koi, you can add a small amount of water conditioner before changing the water. Note that it should not be added after the water has been added.