Being cold blooded koi's temperature and metabolism varies in line with their environment, which means that the amount that they will eat depends on the water temperature. As the water warms up they eat more, as it cools down they eat less, so it is important to bear this in mind with their feeding.
Koi have a very simple digestive system, They have no stomach as such but rather a simple alimentary canal with which they can only digest a certain amount of food at a time. Consequently it is very important to only give them the right type and amount of food in order to avoid leftover food remaining and building up in the water and causing contamination and adding to potential problems. IIt is also essential that they get the right kind of balance in their diet in terms of roughage, proteins, vitamins and fat.
As the weather warms up you will find that your koi become far more active and their appetite will increase. It is essential that you increase the protein levels within their food to compensate for this. This is also the time of year that Koi are growing the most so a diet rich in protein ensures that your koi stay healthy as they grow.
There are different ideas on what is the best way to feed koi but what is generally accepted is that as temperature increases the protein level in their food needs to be increased as well as the number of feeds. In the height of summer when temperatures are at their highest you may well be feeding your koi eight times a day. The protein level will need to be around the forty five percent mark to ensure that they are getting all the nutrition that they need. It is important, especially at this time that you watch to see how much of the food is being eaten . Warm water temperatures can deplete oxygen, if you then add in too much food and a potential algae bloom and you could have serious problems in your pond.
As the water temperature starts to drop you need to start reducing the protein content and number of feeds. A protein level of around forty percent is ideal for coler temperatures and as the temperature drops below fifty degrees you need to stop feeding the koi altogether. This is because as the temperature drops, so does the koi's metabolism until they are no longer able to digest food which can lead to health problems.
If you have a mature pond that contains plants your koi are unlikely to ever starve as there will be a natural food supply in their environment especially in warmer weather. It is always difficult to advise on how much to feed fish as there are so many factors that can influence this such as age of pond, size of pond, the number and type of plants as well as the number and size of koi and other fish in the pond.
If you get to understand your koi's eating habits and spend time watching them as they feed you are unlikely to ever over feed them to any serious extent. Make life easier for yourself by changing the brand of food on a fairly regular basis. That way when you need to change the protein content they will already be used to changes in diet
Enjoy your koi
Nick Harrison is a koi keeping enthusiast who has been keeping koi carp for nearly twenty years. He promotes the koi keeping hobby to encourage others and shares his knowledge and experience through his articles and through the website which he is a co-author of. If this article has been of interest and you would like more information on the koi keeping hobby visit the website at
http://www.pondsofkoi.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Harrison
Monday, May 11, 2009
Black Koi Fish Information
Black Koi fish is distinctively different from other koi fishes mainly due to their large color variations. Other than that it is typically the same as other colored Kois. Koi fishes come in a variety of colors making them highly attractive.
They are actually considered to be uniquely bred fishes and are known for their characteristic colors and color patterns. Generally black koi live for over thirty years but it is not a typical life span for this species.
The male and female koi fish are easily distinguishable from each other through their anal configurations.
That of males have more concave anus and their head have distinct breeding spots. These fish can spawn as much as 1,000 eggs. Baby koi fish are called fry and their survival is highly dependent on the water temperature. They cannot survive in very cold water.
A fry is not as colorful as adults but their color patterns become prominent by 3 weeks old. The first Kois bred by the Japanese were only of two color variety. But years of breeding allowed them to produce more color variants with colored patterns and combinations. Black koi is one of the most common variant but there are other gorgeous colored kois.
Black Koi can grow as long as 4 feet. When breeding this fish you need to keep in mind to build a larger pond for them. Magoi Koi was the first cultivated black koi that can grow thirty six inches in length. It is not actually black in color but instead is bronze. From above the water however it reflects a black color. Magoi are known to maximize the growth of other species through its blood by-products.
One of the old species of black koi is the Karasu or known as crow in Japanese. They are black colored in fins and body but some were bred with some color on their stomach usually white or orange.
Unique species of black koi is the Matsukawabake which comes in intriguing color variations due to water temperature and according to season. The change in its color is also influenced by the food it is fed on. The original black color of the Matsukawabake is retained if no temperature changes occur.
Many love to breed the dragon fish which is a black koi known as Kumonryu. It was first seen in 1980's and has grown in popularity since then. This fish has a mesmerizing body structure that is similar to a dragon commonly seen from the Japanese paintings.
This type of koi is capable of changing its color aside from being black. They are beautifully thought of being a dragon that is ascending through the sky's white clouds.
The beauty of black koi can be very enchanting with its glamorous patterns of color combination and their abilities to change color according to the current water temperature. Taking care of koi fish can be amusing and the black koi is the species that is a common favorite to all.
Randy Tan is a koi breeding expert. For more great tips on black koi fish information and general koi care, visit http://www.koibreedingtips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_W._Tan
They are actually considered to be uniquely bred fishes and are known for their characteristic colors and color patterns. Generally black koi live for over thirty years but it is not a typical life span for this species.
The male and female koi fish are easily distinguishable from each other through their anal configurations.
That of males have more concave anus and their head have distinct breeding spots. These fish can spawn as much as 1,000 eggs. Baby koi fish are called fry and their survival is highly dependent on the water temperature. They cannot survive in very cold water.
A fry is not as colorful as adults but their color patterns become prominent by 3 weeks old. The first Kois bred by the Japanese were only of two color variety. But years of breeding allowed them to produce more color variants with colored patterns and combinations. Black koi is one of the most common variant but there are other gorgeous colored kois.
Black Koi can grow as long as 4 feet. When breeding this fish you need to keep in mind to build a larger pond for them. Magoi Koi was the first cultivated black koi that can grow thirty six inches in length. It is not actually black in color but instead is bronze. From above the water however it reflects a black color. Magoi are known to maximize the growth of other species through its blood by-products.
One of the old species of black koi is the Karasu or known as crow in Japanese. They are black colored in fins and body but some were bred with some color on their stomach usually white or orange.
Unique species of black koi is the Matsukawabake which comes in intriguing color variations due to water temperature and according to season. The change in its color is also influenced by the food it is fed on. The original black color of the Matsukawabake is retained if no temperature changes occur.
Many love to breed the dragon fish which is a black koi known as Kumonryu. It was first seen in 1980's and has grown in popularity since then. This fish has a mesmerizing body structure that is similar to a dragon commonly seen from the Japanese paintings.
This type of koi is capable of changing its color aside from being black. They are beautifully thought of being a dragon that is ascending through the sky's white clouds.
The beauty of black koi can be very enchanting with its glamorous patterns of color combination and their abilities to change color according to the current water temperature. Taking care of koi fish can be amusing and the black koi is the species that is a common favorite to all.
Randy Tan is a koi breeding expert. For more great tips on black koi fish information and general koi care, visit http://www.koibreedingtips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_W._Tan
Do Koi Ponds Have to Look Like Split Pea Soup, Even With a Koi Pond Filter?
Is the color of the water in your Koi pond not exactly what you expected it to be when you installed a Koi pond filter? Does the water still look like a huge bowl of split pea soup regardless of your investment and your intentions to do things right? You are not alone. There are many owners of a Koi pond who have the same concerns. It is a concern of many when the water does not look as clear as expected. The desired result of a biological filter is of course clean healthy water. Here are some remarks on biological filtration that you should consider. Several events need to happen in the filtration process. Filtration is not just a matter of transforming ammonia to nitrate. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about biological filtration.
Are you cleaning the Koi pond filter timely? All dissolved organic carbon compounds (DOC) need to be removed from the pond as soon as possible to avoid that it decomposes. The pollutants would return to the pond water to pollute it even more. Leaving it there for a prolonged time period would appear to defeat the working of the filtration system you installed. The chemical, metabolic, and biological reactions that take place in a Koi pond are indeed responsible for specific forms of pollution. The decomposing fish feces should not remain in the water or the filter, ever. Cleaning and maintenance of the Koi pond and the filter are essential to prevent harmful processes.
Size matters, even when it comes to Koi ponds and your Koi pond filter. The surface area of the pond, as well as the surface area that is actually measured in the filter, need to be considered carefully when purchasing filters and other pond equipment. Bacterial growth is the strategy pond filters are based on. An adequate bacterial growth should be allowed to take place in the biological pond filter chambers. A layer of bio film, manifested as bio slime, has to be abundant for these bacteria that nitrify, to thrive. Water needs to be cleaned as it passes through the filter and that is role of the microorganism in the bio film. If the surface area in the filter, the area where the bacteria have to thrive, is not big enough, than that is a problem. Bacteria have to feed right and function.
The importance of empty space for the water to slowly flow by should also not be disregarded. The bio film contains microorganisms. These microorganisms need adequate time when they try to collect the pollutants that are so harmful to your Koi. Sufficient retention time and specific surface area (SSA) are the two terms to keep in mind regarding your Koi pond filter and media.
Insufficient breakdown of compounds that are not organic are a frequent result of bad mathematics. The SSA, the size of the filter, and the retention time, are the three factors to consider. For these compounds not to be broken down has major consequences. Organisms and halfway products returning to the pond water instead of being filtered out create a bad situation. Algae will be fed more than just the nutrients they need and that can create problems.
The result of the media and thus of the entire filtering process depends on choosing the right media. Media comes in different materials. Some of these materials are plastic, matting, sand, gravel, and foam. Any of these media can work great as long as one keeps in mind that the water flow, the retention time, the growth of the potential bio film, and the SSA have to be optimal. Also consider purchasing UV filtering for your Koi pond filter. UV filtration will limit the green algae growth in your Koi pond environment. Other types of algae that do not pass through the pond filter because of where they are located need of course other growth reduction and elimination solutions.
It is never inappropriate to consult the expert in the pet store for advice and assistance with you Koi pond. If your pond water looks like split pea soup despite the installation of a pond filter than it is good idea that a pond specialist takes a look at your individual problem and solves any issues with your pond water and possibly your Koi pond filter installation.
Jessica Arons specializes in Koi fish care and is currently working with the Koi Fish School team. For more great tips on a Koi Pond Filter visit The Koi Fish School today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Arons
Help Your Koi Survive and Thrive With the Help of Koi Pond Filters
Do you want your Koi to succumb to their waste products, or do you want them to survive and be healthy? That really is the only dilemma when it comes to deciding about yes or no on installing Koi pond filters. No, we are not exaggerating the matter. Koi eat a lot. They are producing of course also an ample amount of waste products. All the ammonia and nitrites of the waste products make their living environment, the Koi pond, uninhabitable in even just a short amount of time. Of course they eat just as much in the wild and produce an equal amount of waste products, but there the situation is more than just slightly different. The current makes it that there is a lot of circulation in the water, and because there is a lot more water involved in their natural habitat the toxics are more diluted. Because the water in their natural habitat is a lot more diluted, it is also a lot less toxic than the water in the Koi pond.
When you buy Koi and put them in your pond than you are taking care of the health and well-being of creatures that are alive. Taking care of helpless animals that are one hundred percent relying on you is a huge responsibility that should never be underestimated. Would you be in peace with yourself knowing you do not give them what they need to be healthy and comfortable while they have no way out of the Pond and choose where to go? Keep this thought in mind when you shop for Koi Pond filters. Koi need clean water or they cannot survive. It is a matter for your conscience!
How you choose a filter is very important. There are several things you should consider, especially with Koi. After all, Koi eat a lot, can grow large, and produce a lot of waste. Before you start shopping around, make sure you've got the facts strait. Not just the number of fish you want to start off with is important. Also consider if you plan on keeping the Koi population to that number or hope to increase the number. Of course the size of your pond is important both in making the decision on how many you can keep, as in how strong does the filter have to be. Do not consider reliable biological Koi Pond filters to be a luxury. It is a mere necessity to keep the water clean if you have a population of Koi living in your Pond.
Do not underestimate the responsibility you take up when you populate a Koi pond. Make sure you are informed about all the essentials, including pond filters, before you start the adventure. Talk to people who know how to deal with Koi ponds and pond filtration. You need to know in advance what you are in for. Talk to the experts in the pet store. They are used to informing people who have no experience and they know how to configure the needs. You want the pond filtration system that works for your pond and your number of Koi.
There is a considerable choice of Koi pond filters on the market. Each brand and model is a little different and you need to find out which one is best for you. Realizing that the pond filter is not the only thing to install, after all you also need a pump and other things to make things work right, the whole adventure can seem a little overwhelming at first. But if you talk to the right people and get all the measurements and amounts straight you will soon find it is not an impossible thing to do right. Do it right from the beginning, even if the price tag is kind of high. Losing your Koi because the water was not clear enough is not only a costly but also an ethical downfall. Changing and adjusting things later to measure up with the real situation of your Koi pond is a lot more expensive than doing it right first time.
Jessica Arons specializes in Koi fish care and is currently working with the Koi Fish School team. For more great tips on Koi Pond Filters visit The Koi Fish School today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Arons
When you buy Koi and put them in your pond than you are taking care of the health and well-being of creatures that are alive. Taking care of helpless animals that are one hundred percent relying on you is a huge responsibility that should never be underestimated. Would you be in peace with yourself knowing you do not give them what they need to be healthy and comfortable while they have no way out of the Pond and choose where to go? Keep this thought in mind when you shop for Koi Pond filters. Koi need clean water or they cannot survive. It is a matter for your conscience!
How you choose a filter is very important. There are several things you should consider, especially with Koi. After all, Koi eat a lot, can grow large, and produce a lot of waste. Before you start shopping around, make sure you've got the facts strait. Not just the number of fish you want to start off with is important. Also consider if you plan on keeping the Koi population to that number or hope to increase the number. Of course the size of your pond is important both in making the decision on how many you can keep, as in how strong does the filter have to be. Do not consider reliable biological Koi Pond filters to be a luxury. It is a mere necessity to keep the water clean if you have a population of Koi living in your Pond.
Do not underestimate the responsibility you take up when you populate a Koi pond. Make sure you are informed about all the essentials, including pond filters, before you start the adventure. Talk to people who know how to deal with Koi ponds and pond filtration. You need to know in advance what you are in for. Talk to the experts in the pet store. They are used to informing people who have no experience and they know how to configure the needs. You want the pond filtration system that works for your pond and your number of Koi.
There is a considerable choice of Koi pond filters on the market. Each brand and model is a little different and you need to find out which one is best for you. Realizing that the pond filter is not the only thing to install, after all you also need a pump and other things to make things work right, the whole adventure can seem a little overwhelming at first. But if you talk to the right people and get all the measurements and amounts straight you will soon find it is not an impossible thing to do right. Do it right from the beginning, even if the price tag is kind of high. Losing your Koi because the water was not clear enough is not only a costly but also an ethical downfall. Changing and adjusting things later to measure up with the real situation of your Koi pond is a lot more expensive than doing it right first time.
Jessica Arons specializes in Koi fish care and is currently working with the Koi Fish School team. For more great tips on Koi Pond Filters visit The Koi Fish School today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Arons
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