Koi Keeping can be a truly rewarding hobby.
Unlike common goldfish, Koi fish can easily grow to nearly three feet in length and are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Many pond owners become "koi kichi," which means crazy for Koi.
Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect about having Koi fish is teaching your Koi to eat from you hand.
Extremely friendly, Koi recognize the hand that feeds them and will often follow you around the pond begging for a handout.
Because of their size and waste produced, sufficient care must be taken to ensure a healthy environment for Koi to help avoid common illnesses and parasite outbreaks.
Unlike goldfish kept in aquariums, Koi fish growth is not determined by the size of their pond.
Even in a small patio pond, a Koi fish can easily grow to well over 24 inches in length within a few years.
To prevent overcrowding, a proper Koi pond design should allow at least 500 gallons of swim area for each Koi fish.
Koi are relatively hardy fish and can easily survive in a wide range of temperatures.
For Koi to flourish; however, proper pond maintenance is absolutely paramount.
Partial water changes should be completed on a regular basis.
In general, it is recommended to replace ten percent of your pond water volume on a weekly basis.
In addition to improving water quality, these weekly water changes also serve to reduce the amount of dissolved hormones in the pond water.
These hormones play a big role in Koi growth, so reducing them can help to achieve maximum growth rates.
Because Koi keeping can becoming quite an addicting hobby, many pond owners do not adhere to this recommended stocking rate of one Koi per every 500 gallons.
This reality makes proper pond filtration extremely important.
Koi produce an enormous amount of waste.
Without proper maintenance, this waste can quickly build up in your pond and result in poor water quality.
Overcrowded conditions and inadequate filtration are two of the most common reasons for Koi health problems.
Highly stocked ponds that are not properly maintained present an ideal environment for opportunistic parasites, which are present in any Koi pond or backyard water garden.
Left unchecked, these parasites can quickly take over your pond and cause ulcers, illnesses, and ultimately fish deaths.
The secret to keeping these parasites in check and avoiding these problems is water quality.
By ensuring healthy, clear water you are providing an ideal situation for your Koi's natural immune system to flourish.
Another important factor to consider in terms of Koi health is the quality of fish food used.
There are a wide range of Koi foods available to choose from, but not all of these fish diets are created equal.
A quality Koi food will contain high quality ingredients, easily digestible, and produce less waste than discount-priced foods.
This quality choice will pay for itself in time savings spent cleaning your pond filter and larger, healthier Koi fish.
We hope you have found this article useful and informative and welcome any comments or questions.