About Koi

Koi are beautiful fish but they are not a pet for everyone. PetSmart advises that only those 14 and up (with adult supervision) should own koi. This is no hamster because the average lifespan of koi is 50 years - so think carefully about the lifetime responsibility of this fish before you rush into buying one. Koi can be kept in an aquarium or in a pond but either way, proper care must be taken to keep this beautiful fish healthy. A good diet and environment are essential for the koi finishing process.

Koi Personality

Koi tend to be peaceful fish but because they are omnivores, they have been known to pick on slower moving fish. When it comes to food, they are aggressive and will often jump to get even the tiniest morsel. Koi are so smart that over time, they will recognize their owners.

History

As you might have expected, Koi are descendants of Carp, and are thought to have originated from Persia and western Asia. Through trade, Koi was introduced to Japan where breeding began in the 1600s. Because of their beauty, Koi became popular outside of Japan 300 years later.

Diet

Similar to dogs, koi are not picky eaters. Although they do not care what they consume, it is important for koi to eat plant matter to keep them healthy. You can choose something from the supermarket like spinach or opt for fish food like spirulina flakes.

Care

As with other pets, koi can bite and transmit diseases to humans so be sure to wash your hands before and after handling both the koi and their home.

If you want to add new fish to the pond or aquarium, keep the numbers small. No more than three fish should be added at a time. Stick with other koi so there is peace in the pond.

Keep the water temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Check your koi each and every day to make sure they are all OK. Signs to look for are inflamed gills, koi lying on the bottom of the pond or aquarium, and weight loss.

Keep the water clean. Live-Koifish.com recommends checking ammonia, carbon dioxide, oxygen and pH levels once a week.

Fun Fact or Rumor?

According to Live-Koifish.com, the longest recorded living Koi was passed down from generation to generation in a Japanese family, and that same koi lived for 276 years.

Koi Show

On Saturday, September 12, 2009, the Washington Koi and Water Garden Society will hold it's 18th Annual Koi Show at the Bellevue Community College (located at 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue, WA).

Purchasing Koi

There are many different types of koi and their prices vary greatly. Buying koi in bulk will save you money, as will buying koi that is unfinished. You can buy Koi from sites like Ebay for as little as $30 but only one site claims to be the sole authorized importer (from Japan).

According to Pan Intercorp, they have developed close relationships with a number of noted koi breeders throughout Japan; this in turn allows customers access to koi varieties and bloodlines that are seldom available outside Japan. Buying from Koi.com might be the way to go for a high quality fish but the price isn't cheap. You can expect to pay between $1,500-$3,000 - just for one fish.

For more information, visit your local pet store, Live-koifish.com, or Koi.com.