Koi: Everything You Need to Know About Nishikigoi
The koi is a breeding form of the carp. The popular ornamental fish are also called Nishikigoi (Japanese for brocade carp). Koi are bred in different varieties and impress especially with their shimmering colours.
In the following you will learn what different species there are and what you have to consider when keeping these demanding ornamental fish.
You will also learn what role nutrition plays for the well-being of the animals and how you can support the healthy development of your Koi carp with the right food.
Origin of the koi
The exact origin of the Koi carp is not clear. It is assumed, however, that its ancestors originated in Iran and were imported from there to Asia about 2,000 years ago. In the second half of the 19th century, Koi finally developed into popular status symbols of the Japanese nobility.
In the meantime, these noble ornamental fish are also enjoying increasing popularity in Europe. Besides particularly expensive direct imports from Japan, Koi carp are also available from domestic breeding.
In Europe, Koi are also bred whose scales are similar to those of Zeil or mirror carps. These fish are called doitsu or doitsugoi (Japanese for German carp).
Koi carps for every purse
The purchase price for a Koi varies greatly depending on the skin type, colouring and physique. Inexpensive young animals are already available for under 10 Euros. However, it is also possible to pay a five-figure sum for a particularly noble Japan Koi.
Appearance of the Koi
Koi carp reach a length of 80 to 100 centimetres. The most striking feature, which is probably also the main reason for their great popularity, is the iridescent colours in which they are bred.
Koi can be either plain or patterned. Their colouring ranges from white to cream, yellow, blue and red to black and is particularly effective in healthy animals from species-appropriate husbandry.
Popular Koi species at a glance
Koi are bred in at least 16 different main varieties with a total of more than 100 subtypes, whereby the variety is constantly increasing due to continuous breeding.
For example, the following breeding forms of the Koi are particularly popular:
- Showa (Koi carp in the basic colours black, white and red)
- Kōhaku (White animals with red spots)
- Tancho (White Koi with a big red spot on the forehead)
- Utsurimono (Black animals with yellow, red or white spots)
- Sanke (Koi in white ground colour with red and black spots)
- Bekko (Koi carp in the basic colours white, yellow or red with black spots)
- Kinginrin (Shiny scales in silver or gold that cover the body completely or partially)
- Ogon (Monochrome Koi with a shiny metallic scale dress)
- Asagi (Koi carp with a blue back, a white head and red coloured fins and cheeks)
The Butterfly Koi
The Butterfly Koi is another breeding form that is becoming increasingly popular. As this species is very common especially in the USA, it is often referred to as American Koi. It is called Butterfly because of its long fins, which are supposed to remind of butterfly wings.
How old do Koi get?
The life expectancy of Koi carps depends strongly on the keeping conditions. With appropriate care, an age of 40 to 60 years is possible without any problems. In individual cases, Koi should be able to live to over 100 years. However, if kept poorly, it is not uncommon for the demanding ornamental fish to hardly reach the age of 10 years.
Koi Carp keeping
Compared to other ornamental fish such as the Shubunkin, keeping Koi is very complex. A high water quality is essential for the health of these sensitive animals. To avoid problems, the water must be germ-free. In addition to a filter appropriate for the size of the pond, it is important to carry out regular checks of the oxygen content as well as the ammonium, nitrite and pH values.
The water temperature for keeping Koi carp should be an average of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, with a maximum of 26 degrees in summer and four degrees in winter.
It is recommended to keep at least five Koi in one pond. It is important to note that at least 1,000 litres of water are available per fish. Otherwise, the risk of parasite infestation increases considerably. Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure a water depth of at least 1.5 metres for hibernation.
Koi Carp diseases
There are a number of diseases and other health problems that Koi carp can suffer from. These include, for example, an infestation with carp lice and various worms as well as inflammation of the swim bladder and fin rot.
Another disease that can occur in Koi, which often cannot be detected at first sight, is the so-called Koi herpes. The infectious disease caused by herpes viruses is usually fatal and is one of the notifiable animal diseases in Germany.
In order to prevent the disease from spreading, sick Koi should be removed from the pond immediately and placed in a quarantine tank until they are fully recovered. The administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is not recommended, as this can lead to the development of resistance.
Koi nutrition
As a carp species, the Koi is one of the omnivores. It therefore feeds both on animals, such as larvae and insects, and on plants. When feeding, it is important to remember that Koi do not have a feeling of satiety.
It is therefore essential to provide a quantity of food that is appropriate to the animals' weight. However, due to their growth, young animals have a higher energy requirement than older Koi. It is also necessary to reduce the amount of feed when water temperatures drop.
Furthermore, it is advisable to distribute the feed ration over several small meals per day in order not to overload the koi's digestive system and to pay attention to a good quality of the feed when buying it.
Our feeding tip for spring and autumn
Like all fish, Koi are cold-blooded carps whose body temperature depends on the temperature of their environment and whose metabolism slows down at low temperatures.
As smaller ponds in particular warm up very quickly during the day in spring and autumn and cool down just as quickly at night, it is therefore important to rely on easily digestible Koi food.
Otherwise the feed remains in the gut where it can rot and make the animals sick. We therefore recommend feeding in spring and autumn with our particularly easily digestible KI-JA-KO Wheatgerm Koi food.
Aquaris Koi food: Quality at fair prices
With Koi food from Aquaris you decide on inexpensive food with a high quality. The products of Aquaris are characterized by a good digestibility and provide your Koi carp with all important nutrients in an optimal way.
Premium Koi food from KI-JA-KO
For your Japan Koi, is the best just good enough? Then the premium KI-JA-KO Koi food is the right choice. The high-quality products support the healthy development of your fish from an early age and make a valuable contribution to the vitality and the intensity of the colours of your Koi.
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