How to keep koi? Breeding methods and daily management key points
Koi are omnivorous fish, gentle by nature, fond of swimming in groups, easy to keep, and highly adaptable to water temperature. They can live in water temperatures of 5-30°C, with a growth water temperature of 21-27°C. Besides water temperature and the abundance of bait affecting the growth rate of koi, the growth of female and male fish also differs greatly. Let's take a look at how to keep koi!
What are koi like?
1. Environmental requirements: Like goldfish, koi are not strict about water temperature and water quality, with a suitable temperature range of 2°C-30°C, but they cannot resist sudden changes in water temperature. If the temperature difference suddenly exceeds 2°C-3°C, koi will experience discomfort. The most suitable water temperature is 20°C-25°C; they need sufficient oxygen and are suited to living in slightly alkaline water with low hardness.
2. Feeding requirements: Koi are omnivorous fish. Generally, mollusks, fragments of higher aquatic plants, benthic animals, and even tiny algae or artificial synthetic pellet bait can all be eaten.
3. Fish selection: Choose fish that are healthy, uninjured, free of missing scales and other diseases, with bright bodies, diverse colors, and clearly defined markings.
4. Stocking density: Common carp is a highly adaptable fish, and koi retain this characteristic. They can be kept anywhere from small fish tanks to large outdoor ponds. They will quickly grow to 30 cm long or larger, so using a traditional indoor fish tank is not as good as a round plastic basin. Koi are cold-water fish, so in places where summers are relatively hot, the water depth for keeping koi should preferably be half a meter or deeper. For general pond stocking density, refer to the koi stocking density table for ponds; for aquarium density, generally a 60 cm × 30 cm × 15 cm tank can hold 6 koi with a body length of 15 cm-20 cm; a 90 cm × 30 cm × 50 cm tank can hold 8; a 110 cm × 30 cm × 50 cm tank can hold 10.
5. Bait feeding: Koi are omnivorous fish. It is best to feed them artificial synthetic pellets, bait, soybean cake, rapeseed cake, bread crumbs, fish worms, clams, crab meat, duckweed, and so on. It is best to feed bait at fixed times to avoid causing stress reactions in the fish.
6. Four-season management: As the seasons and temperatures change, the management methods for koi also differ.
① Spring: The weather turns warm but is still cold. Koi begin to revive from hibernation, and keeping them shifts from indoors to outdoors, but special attention must be paid to sudden temperature drops. Plastic film should be covered in time to keep the water temperature stable; feeding should mainly be plant-based bait, with the amount gradually increasing from small amounts to help koi digest and absorb.
② Summer: The weather is hot and scorching. A plastic shading net must be added to prevent direct sunlight, reducing sunlight illuminance from 8000-12000 lux to 5500-5800 lux, which is most suitable.
③ Autumn: The weather has little rain and is mostly sunny, and the water temperature drops noticeably. This is the most suitable time for koi growth. The proportion of animal-based (protein) food can be increased, such as silkworm pupae. Increase the feeding amount to promote rapid growth.
④ Winter: The weather is relatively cold. When the temperature drops to 0°C, koi should be promptly transferred to indoor ponds to overwinter, and the indoor water temperature should be maintained at 2°C-10°C. The key point is to keep them warm, feed them appropriately, maintain their condition and prevent disease. The period from November to March of the following year is the overwintering period for koi.
How to select and buy koi
1. General standards
① Body shape: The fish's back should be straight, the body balanced left and right, the swimming posture steady and upright, and the body robust and powerful. The shape of the cheeks and the position of the mouth should be proper, without skewing, full at both ends and not sunken, and all fins should be symmetrical and complete, moving flexibly when swimming.
② Color: This is the most intuitive aspect of koi. When selecting, those with bright, gorgeous colors, clear markings, neat edges, and dazzling luster are superior. As for the markings, you can choose according to personal preference.
2. Choosing a farm: The fish farm should be honest and reliable, with thoughtful service, and relatively close by. In this way, even if koi are in danger, effective service can be obtained. The fish farm owner must have strong appreciation ability and possess excellent bloodline parent koi. You must choose an expert who is knowledgeable, careful, responsible, and able to provide after-sales service as a guide, so you can get advice from them in normal times. Choose a fish farm with brisk business; first, you can see many excellent koi, and second, you will not buy bait that has been stockpiled and spoiled.
3. Types and quantity: The koi in the pond should mainly be Kohaku and Sanke, ideally paired with 1-2 Hikarimono or variant koi, making the group swim luxurious and beautiful. If there are too many miscellaneous fish, the beautiful posture of Kohaku and others swimming in groups will be ruined. The purchase quantity should depend on the pond's capacity. The best keeping method is to keep as few as possible, which is greatly beneficial to the fish's growth and development and the maintenance of water quality. Only when koi are brightly colored and the water is clear can you enjoy the pleasure of appreciating koi. Therefore, keeping a small number is one of the secrets to keeping koi well. The best time to buy is from September to December each year.
4. Price: Koi do not have a fixed price standard, so sometimes it is difficult to decide even when buyers and dealers look at them. In short, a rough price is determined by the quality and size of the koi, and of course there is also the issue of personal preference. Usually, pay more attention to the approximate prices of koi in various places, and then you can understand roughly how much koi of what quality, size, and type are worth. The price difference for koi is enormous; some are several hundred thousand yuan per fish, or even tens of millions of yuan, while others are just over ten yuan per fish. Therefore, people of any class can afford them. When buying, as long as the price is reasonable and the quality matches your personal preference, that is enough.