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An Introduction To Koi Ponds

2012-01-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

Koi ponds have become a popular hobby in the world, and thereasons are clear as to why. Koi are beautiful, vibrant fish that can literallylight your day. Koi come in many colors, varieties, and kinds, so it is likelythat everyone in the world can find at least one type of Koi that would suittheir likes. While Koi may be a welcomed beauty to your pond, they also have aninteresting history attached to them.

In Chinese culture, Koi ponds are said to being good luck totheir owners. Koi ponds are used as an overall plan to fulfill their lives.Other parts of the world consider Koi ponds as a form of relaxation andserenity. In the united states, more and more people seem to findKoi ponds to be fun more then anything else. No matter what the reason you findto have a Koi pond, they are sure to brighten your life.

However, Koi keeping should not be taken lightly. Koi, likeany other animal, require time and money to maintain. The majority of firsttime Koi owners fail because they get the idea that keeping Koi is easy in someway. Do not let this discourage you though, as educating yourself will greatlyimprove your chances of succeeding.

It is important for you to learn all you can BEFORE youbegin obtaining the things you need for Koi keeping. This way, you will notslip up and have to replace anything that you have already done or bought.Planning ahead will not only save your money, but it will potentially save yoursanity as well.

It is important to learn the information for yourself ratherthen relying on other sources. People such as your product dealer and pondbuilder will have limited knowledge, but should not be trusted for a reliablesource, as they are selling products and may be bias. Plus, once you are athome with your Koi, your product dealer or pond builder may not be available tohelp you in the event of a problem.

Koi Have Personality

You would not believe that Koi actually have personalitiessimilar to other animals. They are social, and can even be trained to eatdirectly from their owners hands. The more time you spend with your Koi, themore you will notice each Koi has individual characteristics and traits.

Koi have been known to live for up to 200 years at time, butgenerally the average lifespan of a healthy Koi is about 30 years. So if youare looking for along time pet companion, Koi may be a good choice.

Building Your Koi Habitat

Before ever buying Koi, you must create a proper habitat forthem. This is where information from your pond builder and supplier will comein handy. However, you should not rely on the opinions of just one person. Itmay be a god idea to do research on your own, before you go to purchase thematerials needed for you pond. Because of it’s popularity, an unlimited supplyof resources can be found on the topic of Koi keeping. Visit your locallibrary, fishery center, or research online. There are quite a few thingsneeded to sustain a habitable pond.

When it comes to pond size, bigger is always better. Koihave a habit of growing rather fast, so you have to consider pond size at thesame time you are considering how many Koi you are going to put it in.

Your filtration system is extremely important. There are 2types of filtration, mechanical and biological. Mechanical filtration relivesthe pond of solids such as dead algae, insects, and Koi wastes. It is importantto have enough filtration to sustain the size of the pond, and the amount andsize of your Koi. Biological filtration causes a nitrogen cycle, which is whatremoves dissolved wastes from your pond. Without biological filtration, builtup waste will turn into ammonia and kill your Koi within just a few days.

Besides the technical aspects of your pond, you will alsohave the ability to create a visually appealing area as well. Waterfalls,fountains, and other water features will not only add a visual show to yourpond, but it will also create movement and sound. A variety of plants andflowers are also available for your pond.

Choosing Plants For Your Koi Water Garden

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

So you finally finished your water garden construction. Youhave finally come to the fun part of creating your water garden: picking theflowers and plants that will make your water garden a beautiful oasis.

Not only should you consider beauty when you are pickingyour plants, but you must also remember that plants provide another, moreimportant value to your garden, biological life. Biological life helps maintainyour pool by doing what they would do in nature.

Be sure to pay attention to your climate and area. Someplants can simply not survive in certain conditions, so it is wise to do yourresearch before hand. Talking with your local dealer will give you some idea ofwhat plants you can and cannot have in your pond.

Lotus Plants

Undoubtedly, since your pond contains Koi, a tropical fish,you may want to keep with the theme and place Lotus plants in your pond. Prettymuch everyone with a tropical water garden will want a Lotus plant because thebeauty is simply unmatched by other flowers.

Lotus plants provide beautiful blooms, and a smell that isunmatched. However, unless you live in an area that sustains temperatureshigher then 65 degree Fahrenheit, you will need to have to have a place tohouse your Lotus plants during the colder months. A greenhouse setupspecifically for water plants will work the best.

Lotus plants require soil, and a large amount of sunlight.They should be planted in water about 2 to 3 feet deep during the warmermonths, and indoors during the colder months.

Water Hyacinths

If you simply do not have the time to plant and maintainyour water garden’s foliage, or you are somewhat lazy when it comes togardening, you may want to consider adding Water Hyacinths. Water hyacinthshave become very popular recently because of their simplicity. They do notrequire any type of soil or planting, you must simply throw them into thewater. Only minimal time is needed to anchor them down so that they do notfloat all over the pond freely.

Water Hyacinths are not only pretty, but are also veryfunctional as well. These plants aid in the fight against both algae andblanket weeds.

One downside when having Water Hyacinths is the fact thatthey will take over your pond and yard if you allow them. Water hyacinths arevery invasive, and will spread if allowed. In extreme cases, it may even jumpthe fence and take over the neighbors yard as well. Once they have caused thiskind of infestation, it is notoriously difficult to get rid of them.

Hidden But Functional Plants

Alternatively, you may want to consider investing in plantsthat are not necessary seen. These plants live below the water line, andprovide many needed functions to your pond. Some help you battle algae, putoxygen back into the water, or feed your fish for you.

You can find these plants in bundles at your local pet storeor Koi dealer. The majority of underwater plants will not need additionalsupport during the winter, so once you place them in the water, you may notthink twice about them again. However, the benefits that you gain from havingthese types of plants make up for the fact that you are not able to actuallysee them.

KHV- Koi Herpes Virus

2012-01-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

KHV or Koi Herpes Virus is a potentially deadly virus whichhas recently shown up in the Koi industry. The first outbreak was reported andconfirmed in late 1998, early 1999 in Israel. Since then, outbreaks havebeen reported all over the world, in Asia, Europe, and The United States ofAmerica. As with the majority of Herpes type viruses in the world, Koi HerpesVirus is believed to remain with infected fish for their full lifespan. EvenKoi that was exposed to the virus at one point or another are consideredcarriers, even if they did not show signs of the virus. The mortality rate forfish exposed to the virus ranges from 60 to 80 percent.

When it comes down to it, any Koi is susceptible to thevirus. The only real way to prevent it is to make sure that your Koi is neverexposed to it. As long as you are knowledgeable about the disease, the chancesof your Koi catching Koi Herpes Virus is substantially less.

Koi Herpes Virus Facts

Since the first outbreak in 1998, quite a bit has beenlearned about the virus. Knowing the facts about the virus may mean thedifference between potentially infecting your pond, and preventing it.

Once a fish has been exposed to the virus, it will always bea carrier. Even with proper treatment, these fish will never be able to go to anew home. Sending exposed fish to a new home can potentially spread the virusto other fish. Likewise, adding new Koi into your pond could cause the new fishto get the virus, and cause a potentially higher mortality rate.

There is no known cure for Koi Herpes Virus.

Stress does not cause the disease in any way. However,stress can cause the disease to have a higher mortality rate.

74 degrees Fahrenheit activates the disease. This isextremely useful information because it allows for quarantining and testing tosee whether or not fish have Koi Herpes Virus.

The virus can be spread a number of ways, including cominginto contact with infected fish, water in which infected fish swam in, toolsused when handling infected fish, and so on.

Preventing Further Spreading Of The Virus

Once your fish have been diagnosed with Koi Herpes Virus,the only real way to ensure that you do not infect any other fish is toconsider depopulation. Depopulation is essentially the elimination of yourentire population of Koi. While this might seem harsh, it is truly the only wayto completely eliminate the possibility of any other fish from catching thevirus.

When purchasing new fish, it is a good idea to quarantinethe new fish separately from your current population for no less then 15 days.Knowing that the disease is activated at exactly 74 degrees Fahrenheit allowsyou to expose your fish to the right conditions for the disease to show itself.Koi that live in the conditions for this amount of time and do not develop anysymptoms will have a substantially less chance of having the virus.

It is important to remember that when you quarantine yournew Koi, they should remain under total isolation. This means that you shouldnot allow anything to come into contact with the quarantined Koi, especiallyitems that also come into contact with your current population. Separate tools,food, and water should be used, and never under any circumstances, should thetools used for your quarantined fish leave the area in which they are used.Another important thing to remember is proper hand washing procedures whenhandling both Koi and Koi items within the same time period.

Koi Communities Online

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Koi pond keeping is quickly becoming a very popular hobbyamong fish enthusiasts. Koi proves to be an interesting hobby, as it is everchanging. The nature of this hobby makes it almost imperative to communicatewith others who have knowledge in Koi and Koi pond keeping. However, whathappens if you run into a problem when your Koi dealer just is not available toanswer your questions? This is when a network of Koi enthusiasts would come inhandy.

This network can also provide sheer fun and entertainment.Who better to discuss your hobby with then others who find just as muchenjoyment out of it as you do? No matter what the reason you find to join a Koicommunity, you will find that you are glad you did.

The majority of online Koi communities are available 24hours a day, 7 days a week, and are typically free to use. All that is requiredof you is to go through a sign up process, and then begin reading, posting, andresponding to other members posts.

Even if you have never joined an online community before,you will find that it is extremely easy to do so, and the benefits of being apart of such a community is rewarding. In just a few steps, you will be able tostart talking with other Koi enthusiasts, potentially all over the world.

1) You must find an active community. While there areliterally thousands of communities available online, the vast majority of themare old and outdated, and may not even be visited anymore.

Most message boards have statistics available right on theirmain page, you just have to look for it. Typical statistics include the numberof posts for that day and month, the total number of users that are members,and the total number of members currently signed in to the board. The largerthe number is generally better, especially when looking at the amount ofmembers currently online. The higher amount online signals that you will notonly be able to post and respond to messages, but you may potentially even beable to talk to other members in real time.

2) After you find a community with the amount of activitysuits your needs, then you must become a member of this form. Some messageboards do not require you to sign up to post messages. This option is a goodidea if you do not plan on posting more then a couple of posts. However, if youplan on visiting the board more then that, then it would be a good idea toobtain a member name and password. This will be your identity.

Once you sign up, you may be able to create a memberprofile. Only add information to this profile that you would want the generalpublic to view.

3) Once you become a member, you can begin flowing thoughthe various topic boards. Topic boards break different topics into separatedivisions, allowing users to more easier find and discuss what interests them.Topics can range anywhere from Koi keeping for beginners, advanced Koi keeping,all the way to specifics such as Koi behavior and health issues.

4) Once you find a board that suits your interests, you canread and post messages. Remember to only post messages on the topic listed toprevent any confusion and the possibility of your post being deleted. Also,always try to follow typical online typing etiquette when posting messages. Donot post in all caps, spell out each word instead of using abreactions, do notargue, etc.

5) Finally, help out! Other Koi enthusiasts or even peoplethat are new to the hobby will find your opinion helpful and will welcomeanything you have to say. Providing the knowledge you have may mean thedifference between someone else’s pond crashing, or making it through an issue.

Koi Ponds During The Spring

2011-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

Making sure your pond is ready for the coming seasons shouldnot take you more then a weekend to complete, and will ensure that you have asuccessful water garden for the remainder of the year.

Your Koi pond will literally come to life at the first ofspringtime. The Living organisms in your pond have spent the previous winter ina proverbial hibernation, and are ready to come to life at the first signs ofwarm weather. This is the perfect time to begin maintenance on your pond beforethe fish, plants, and other pond life come back to live from their winterslumber. As the days begin to get warmer, your pond will start drasticallychanging. If you are not careful, you may miss this much needed opportunity toperform maintenance. Generally, watch for temperatures around 50 degrees, asthis is the perfect time.

The maintenance needed on your pond will largely depend onwhat happened during the previous winter. If the previous winter was hard,chances are you will need to perform more changes, so it may be a good idea tostart as soon as you start noticing the weather changes. However, some springmaintenance will have to be completed every year, no matter how harsh or howmild the previous winter was.

Water Quality

You may notice that the water in your pond is extremelyclear when the seasons are changing from Winter to Spring. Do not let this foolyou, as there are several factors that will actually cause problems once Summercomes if you do not remedy these issues ahead of time.

During the Fall and Winter months, organic material such asleafs and plant material may have found it’s way into your pond. While thewater seems clear at the time, the organic material placed a large amount ofnutrients into your pond, which will cause a surge of algae growth once springarrives. If algae was not enough, the large amount of organic material in yourpond will start to decompose, and will reduce the oxygen content in your water.

Since your water is perfectly clear, it is the perfect timeto clear all of this unwanted debris and slit from your pond. This can becompleted a number of ways.

1) Hire a pond professional from your local dealer or petstore. They will have the equipment needed to vacuum the majority of the debrisand slit out of your pond. While this is a more costly option, you will havethe assurance that the majority of the problem causing material will be removedfrom your pond.

2) If hiring a professional is not an option, you may wantto consider using a fine mesh net to scoop up as much debris as possible. Theonly issue is most nets will only stir up the slit in your pond, rather thenremove it.

Once you have removed unwanted debris, you must then testyour water. Winter seems to cause the pH levels to change. At the start ofSpring, your pH level should be an 8. This can be achieved by topping your pondoff with treated tap water which is buffered to be slightly alkaline by yourlocal water company.

Maintaining your Fish

Spring time is a very weak time for your fish, because theyhave not eaten for months, and have may be living on a low level of energy.This cause your Koi to be more susceptible to attacks from organisms such asbacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. This makes Spring the opportune timeto take all preventative measures possible. Adding a large spectrum oftreatment solutions will greatly reduce the amount of disease causing pests andmaterial. Once the temperature warms up, another dose of this treatment willensure that your Koi will be well protected while they redevelop their immunesystems. Once temperatures warm up, your Koi immune systems will be effectiveenough to protect themselves from disease.

Koi Ponds During The Summer

2011-12-30T01:30:00.000-08:00

Summer is considered one of the best and more vibrant timesfor your Koi pond. Temperatures are beautiful, and you are more able to enjoyyour pond then during the cold Winter months. However, by no means, should yourmaintenance drop during the summer months. Remembering a few things during thesummer months will ensure that your pond stays beautiful and lively.

Higher Temperatures Cause Less Oxygen

During the summer months, the oxygen level in your pondactually decreases. Proper precautions should be taken, especially if you livein an area where temperatures stay high for the majority of the year. If youwitness your Koi hanging out towards the top of the water, and they seem to begasping for air, this may be a good indication that your pond does not have ahigh enough concentration of Oxygen.

One way to keep oxygen moving in your water is by installingwater features such as waterfalls and fountains. The more the water is moving,the more Oxygen is available to your Koi.

If water features are not available, frequent water changeswill give your fish the amount of Oxygen they need to survive.

Watch For Evaporation

Higher heat will cause your water to evaporate at a muchhigher rate. Pay close attention to your water levels and do adjustments asnecessary. Remember, you must remove all chlorine from the water you add.

Summertime is Parasite Season

Not unlike other situations in life, heat brings onpotential parasites and illness. The majority of parasites are not seeable bythe naked eye, so instead, you must watch your Koi for signs of illness.

You may notice strange behaviors in your fish such asrubbing against objects, scratching, shaking, or shivering. Each symptom couldindicate a different type of illness, so it is important to watch closely.

It is especially important to pay attention to your Koi ifthey start developing noticeable spots or changes on their body. They may alsoknock fins off.

If any type of change is noticed, contact your local vet,pet store, or Koi dealer as soon as possible. While some parasites will causelittle damage, some illnesses such as KHV or Koi Herpes Virus have a highmortality rate, and should be treated as soon as possible.

Feeding Your Koi

To remain healthy during the summer, you fish will need foodhigh in the types of nutrients that they need. During the summer you shouldfeed your fish a food that in low in protein at least one to three times a day.If you fish still seem hungry after feeding, you may want to increase feedingslightly.

Feeding your Koi small amounts of food at a time willprevent food from spoiling. If you feed in larger amounts, some food may remainuneaten, and it can spoil in a very short amount of time. Fish will only eat what they need to survive,and will leave the rest. Spoiled food can cause water quality issues if closeattention is not paid.

Feeding your Koi actually causes less Oxygen content in thewater. During the summer this can especially be an issue, as Oxygen levelsdeplete in high temperatures. You can remedy this by feeding your fish in thecooler hours of the day.

Summer presents a special time to hand feed your Koi.Children are out of school, and the weather is usually perfect for beingoutside. Get the kids involved as they will remember it for years to come.

Koi Population Control

2011-12-29T20:33:00.000-08:00

Population control is typically easy with the majority ofdomesticated pets. It is usually as simple as removing the possibility ofconception until the time in which the opportunity has passed. Unfortunately,this is not the case with Koi. Koi, no matter whether you want them to or not,will spawn and lay eggs, and other Koi will fertilize them. It is nature, andthere is little you can do. Since contraceptive methods are not available forfish, population control really comes down to removing the unwanted babiesafter they are already born.

As a new comer to this hobby, you may simply disregard thisinformation. For whatever reason, whether it is that you feel removing unwantedbabies is cruel, or if you believe that the more fish the merrier, you willquickly realize that keeping all the babies that are born could be apotentially harmful situation to both your pond, and the original parent fish.

Why Are The Babies Harmful?

What is so harmful about having more fish the your originallystarted with? Well a number of harmful situations can happen.

First, Koi can and will grow to us to three feet in length.Koi, unlike some other fish, will grow, no matter the size of their habitat.This will turn a beautiful pond in a wasteful, extremely overpopulated pond.Not only will to many fish cause damage to a smaller pond, but they will not becomfortable in their habitat.

When you originally setup your pond, surely you set thefiltration system up for a specific amount of fish. Adding extra fish withoutadding more to your system will ultimately cause a surge in unwanted gases andchemicals in the water that is dangerous to your Koi.

Getting Rid Of The Babies

There are several ways of removing babies from your pond.

One way is to stop feeding your Koi the minute you realizethat spawning has occurred. You should stop feeding you Koi for no less thenthree weeks. Do not worry about your Koi starving, as they will focus more onnatural foods if you are not feeding them daily. This “natural” diet includestheir young. Koi are not cannibalistic animals by any means, but they will eattheir young when they are still eggs or if they are small and resemble insects.Once the baby Koi actually resemble real fish, and the adult fish recognize this,they will no longer see them as food, so it is important to start this processas soon as you notice spawning or babies.

While this is a process of nature, you may still find thismethod to be cruel or unusual. Another way of removing unwanted babies fromyour pond is to give them away.

First, check with your local pet store. Many pet stores haveprograms in which they will accept unwanted animals and give them good homes.Some may even pay a certain amount for each fish since they sell them, but donot count of this. Local zoos may also have programs.

If you know of a local Koi society, you may let them knowthat you have unwanted babies. Alternatively, you can find a message board orgroup online and post messages there. Who knows, you may even start anotherperson on a Koi keeping hobby.

How To Prevent Heron Theft

2011-12-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

Herons are beautiful, majestic birds that have one majorflaw. Herons love to feast on Koi, and where better then to find Koi then anunattended Koi pond or garden?

When you first notice a Heron in your garden, you may noteven think of these birds as a danger. Herons are 2 or 3 feet tall, with aextremely large wingspan. They appear to be extremely graceful until yourealize that the beautiful sight you were just looking at could havepotentially been a thief caught in the act.

If you noticed that your fish are missing in action, chancesare a Heron is to blame. You may even notice large gapping holes in the sidesof your Koi. This happens when a Heron attempts to catch one of your Koi, butdoes not get a good grip on it. Other will notice their Koi laying on the lawnseveral feet away from the pond, which is the result of a Heron dropping theKoi after removing it from the pond. While nothing can completely stop thisfrom happening, you can do a few things to detour Herons from eating your pridestock of Koi.

While there are many types of technical equipment availableto attempt to detour Herons, you will quickly find that these types of detourswill only work for a small amount of time.

Some pond owners place a fake plastic Heron into theirgarden. This is suppose to detour another Heron from landing there. This worksfor parts of the season, until mating season comes. Herons will be more likelyto land near your plastic Heron when they are looking for a mate.

Various other types of equipment attempt to detour Herons bycausing them discomfort. This only works until the Heron gets use to it, orjust finds a way around it.

The only way to protect your Koi is by watching out forthem. A few simple things will not prevent Heron from visiting your pond, butit will greatly reduce the presence of them.

Constantly change your routine. Herons are smart and knowwhen you will typically be present. Visiting your pond frequently at varioustimes during the day will greatly increase the chance that you will catch theHeron in action. If you are unable to vary your routine, you may considerenlisting others to visit your pond as well. Older, trustworthy children in theneighborhood may delight in visiting your pond at various times of the day.Giving them permission to visit whenever they want will allow others to visitwhen you are unable too.
If you catch a Heron in the act, make as much noise andfrighten the Heron as much as you physically can. Shout, yell, throw things, orwhatever you feel will scare the Heron. The more frightened the Heron is, theless chance he is to return anytime soon.
Create a hiding place in your pond for your Koi. Morenatural Koi pond owners have noticed that after a Heron attacks a pond, it may seemthat the Heron has got all the fish, only to notice that the Koi startappearing from strange hiding places once the scare is over. If you purposelyprovide a place for your Koi to hide in the event of an attack, you greatlyreduce the amount of fish that a Heron will leave with. Do not worry about yourKoi hiding from you, as they should know and trust that you will not hurt (oreat) them.
Do not restock your pond right away in the event of aHeron attack. Waiting to restock may send the Heron searching for new feedinggrounds.

Bagging and Transporting Koi

2011-12-29T07:35:00.001-08:00

Koi, like any other pet, will have medical issues throughoutit’s life, especially since Koi have been know to have a life span of up to 30years. You contact the vet because you Koi is showing signs of injury orillness, and unless you have a vet that does house calls, chances are the firstthing they will say is “bring it in.”

Issues with your pond can arise, whether it is an emergencymove because your pond is placed into harms way by natural events, or a plannedmove due to new construction. No amount of planning can ensure that you willnot have to move your Koi for one reason or another.

With the problems that arose from recent events such aHurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, and everyday events such as commonillnesses, it is imperative that you have a plan of action when it comes toyour pride and joys. No matter if it is an emergency or not, knowing how toproperly bag and transport your Koi could mean the difference between life anddeath.

Equipment Needed

First, it is always a good idea to have all the equipmentneeded to transport your Koi on hand. If you are having an emergency with yourKoi, you may or may not have time to make a trip to your local pet store togather what you need. The equipment needed to bag and transport Koi is small,and easily stored when not in use.

Bags- You must have the proper bags on hand to transportKoi. Do not attempt to transport your Koi in trash or regular plastic bags, asthey are not designed for this, and may cause damage to your Koi. Unless youremembered to keep the bags you brought your koi home in originally, you willhave to make a trip to your local pet store. Make sure to get bags sizableenough to hold your Koi.

Rubber Bands- You will need quite a few rubber bands foreach bag you buy. Make sure that your rubber bands are good quality, as you donot want the pressure from the water to pop the rubber band in the middle ofthe transport.

Net- You will need to have a net sizeable enough to competewith your Koi. You will never need the net to pull the Koi out of the waterwith, but you will need it to lead and direct your Koi into the place you wantthem. Nets can potentially damage your Koi, especially as the larger they get.

Paint Bucket- A paint bucket is a better option for catchingyour Koi, as they cannot hurt your Koi like a net can. Make sure that yourbucket is sizable enough to hold your Koi.

Bagging your Koi

The process of catching and bagging your Koi is actuallypretty simple as long you have the proper equipment available. If you pond islarge, you may want to consider enlisting the help of your friends when baggingyour Koi.

Use the net to guide the Koi into the Paint Bucket. Once theKoi is in the paint bucket you can remove any excess water, and begin baggingthe Koi.

Make sure that your check the bags for leaks. Once you aresure that the bag is secure, place the bag over the Koi from head to tail. Makesure there is enough water in the bag to completely cover the gills. Leaveplenty of air room so that the bag is not to heavy to carry. Slip the rubberbands around the end of the bag and continue to double it until the bag issecure.

Place the bags horizontally in your transport container.Make sure that you do not bend the fish when lifting it. Secure the bag so thatit will not move with bumps and turns, and cover the fish so that as littleheat and sun light can enter as possible.

5 Steps To a Perfect Koi Pond

2011-12-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

Step 1- Setting Up The Perfect Environment

You perfect Koi pond starts with the actual pond itself. Youhave to create a pond that will not only be pleasing to the eye, but will alsoadequately sustain Koi. Proper placement, size, and pond type is essential whenbuilding your pond.

When it comes to pond size, the bigger is always better. Koihave a habit of growing rather fast, so you have to consider pond size at thesame time you are considering how many Koi you are going to put it in.

Unless you have a large amount of knowledge in outdoorlandscaping, fish keeping, and construction, it may be a good idea to leave thepond building to a professional. While some people think that building the pondyourself with save you money, this could not be further from the case. If yourpond is not build properly the first time, you will end up spending a largeamount of money on fixing the problems that come up. Not only that, if yourpond is not properly setup, you may not even be able to keep fish alive.

Remember when you hire a professional, it is their job togive you what you want. They can give their knowledge when it comes to decisionmaking, but ultimately, they will do whatever you want them too. Because ofthis, you cannot blame them if your pond fails do to location, size, or otherfactors. However, beware of extremely cheap quotes as they may cut corners thatcould potentially cause you problems later. While quotes will come indifferent, there should not be a very dramatic difference between them.

Step 2- Learning about Koi Keeping

Knowledge is power when it comes to Koi keeping. It isimportant to learn as much as you possibly can about the hobby before jumpingin with both feet.

It is important to learn the information yourself ratherthen relying on other sources. People such as your product dealer and pondbuilder will have limited knowledge, but should not be trusted for a reliablesource, as they are selling products and may be bias. Plus, once you are athome with your Koi, your product dealer or pond builder may not be available tohelp you in the event of a problem.

Step 3- Picking Out Koi

Once you have created the perfect environment, you will needto start looking into buying your fish. It is important to remember never topurchase to many Koi because they will grow rather large, and they breed almostyearly. Overpopulating your Koi pond will cause serious problems in the future.

Step 4- Preventing Common Koi Pond Problems

You can prevent certain types of Koi pond problems byfollowing simple prevention steps.

Always quarantine new fish before introducing them to yourcurrent Koi population. Koi can have certain illnesses and viruses, such as KHVor Koi Herpes Virus, with little or no showing symptoms. By quarantining, youwill greatly reduce the risk of exposing your population to potentially deadlysituations.

Do water tests at least on a weekly basis. This will allowyou to notice discrepancies in the test results long before your pond startsshowing symptoms of stress. This iwill potentially save not only your pond, butyour fish as well.

Step 5- Feeding You Koi

Finally, feeding you Koi can be one of the most pleasingparts of having a perfect Koi pond.

You should check with your local pet store or Koi dealerwhen it comes to the amount and types of food that you should be feeding yourfish. Feeding patterns change with season and temperature.

Koi can be fed treats such as fruit, veggies, bread, andstore bought treats.

Koi can literally be trained to eat directly from your hand.This takes time and patience, but will ultimately provide entertainment to youand your visitors.

2010-12-07T18:10:00.001-08:00

Just Have Fun and Enjoy Your Life!!

We all complain about our lives from time to time. An unexpected expense comes up or we get laid off from our jobs. So many things can happen to us in even just one day. Unfortunately, complaining is a waste of time. It is a grown up version of whining, and yes, we too have tantrums. The key to enjoying life is in how we react to the events and mishaps in our daily lives.