What To Know About Koi - Factors Affecting Koi Growth & Koi Size
Koi Growth & Koi Size Depends On Several Factors
Given optimum conditions (quality diet, adequate space, healthy pond environment etc) Koi will grow rapidly like their plainer colored carp cousins. Koi are after all fancy colored carp.
Koi growth and Koi size is determined to a large extent by the size of the pond in which they live. A 1000 gallon pond, for example isn't going to produce substantially large Koi.
I'm sure you have seen pictures of really large Koi, which surprisingly don't
look elegant and graceful, but more fat and disfigured.
These fish known as Jumbo Koi, in the Koi keeping world, have been substantially overfed and under exercised.
To achieve healthy Koi that reach their full growth potential, coloration and vibrancy, you will need a large pond, a feeding regime that incorporates the best Koi foods and excellent biological filtration.
Professional Koi keepers ensure that their Koi are in tip top condition by introducing a current into their ponds.
This current ensures that there is always resistance in the water. This is akin to us human's running uphill on a treadmill. Koi like humans need to exercise and watch their diet if they are to remain lean and fit.
What Encourages Maximum Koi Growth And Koi Size?
The maximum size of your Koi depends upon both genetic factors and the size of the pond, in which they live. The diet Koi's diet is also a major part in determining the mass of the individual Koi. These factors along with excellent biological filtration with result in excellent results in terms of the mass of the Koi.
which filter for my koi pond?
In the UK, proper Koi ponds tend to utilize Vortex settling chambers and Vortex Biofilters. Vortex koi pond filters, combined with Japanese Matting or Kaldness filter media are ideal for optimum Koi growth, development and reducing koi pond ammonia.
This type of system allows the maximum amount of oxygen to enter into the pond. This oxygen encourages optimum ammonia conversion rates.
As discussed in previous articles the Nitrogen Cycle that converts ammonia to less harmful nitrate, requires plenty of oxygen.
In the USA, proper Koi ponds tend to use Bubble Bead Filters instead. These systems whilst different to vortex filtration systems are in many ways just as efficient. They to maintain and allow optimum water quality conditions for the Koi to thrive in.
Meticulous draining of bio filter systems on a daily basis (maybe more) is required to provide perfect water quality and ideal growth systems.
Prize Winning Koi Do Not Necessarily Produce the Best Koi Fry
Unfortunately, unlike race horses where the best horses tend to produce equally magnificent offspring, the Koi world has a sense of humor. Two prize winning Koi parents, with the best coloring and markings won't necessarily produce genetic equals.
Bear this in mind when you are agonizing over the 5" Koi that you see at your local dealers. Koi dealers will attempt to sell, to the novice Koi buyer, their Koi based on markings, colorings, Koi length and Koi mass. Unfortunately, in the Koi world the story of the "Ugly Duckling that bloomed into a beautiful swan", seldom rings true.
Encourage Koi growth By Reducing Competition and Keeping a Low Stocking Density...
- Don't have too many fish in your pond, if you are looking for optimum Koi growth and Koi size. It stands to reason that a large pond with fewer Koi fish encourages better growth and development. If you think you may have too many Koi, then the likelihood is that you have.
- In the wild, a Koi carp's metabolism will start to slow down, as the water temperature gets colder. This results in Koi eating less and generally not being as active. By incorporating a Pond Water Heater into your pond you will have more control over the water temperature. This means that you will be able to ensure a year round pond temperature and eating regime that encourages continual Koi growth and development. Apply the following: Summer (25 C and 27 C); winter (15 C to 17 C). Avoid rapid and sudden pond water temperature changes.
- Depending upon the season, feed your Koi carp a branded, Quality Koi Food that is high in protein (35%+) and contains essential minerals, vitamins and color enhancers. Ensure that you only feed small amounts every couple of days. Remove any excess food after about 5 minutes. By doing this you will reduce the potential for high levels of ammonia to develop within the pond water (ammonia spikes). When it comes to feeding pond fish apply this maxim "little and Often!"
- Ensure that your pond has plenty of oxygen. This not only encourages efficient and quick breakdown of ammonia by your biological pond filter, but also ensures that that Koi convert their food into new body tissue far more efficiently.
As you are reading this article you will either believe every word said or disagree in part. Either way it is good. I wasn't born with a memory full of facts and figures relating to pond keeping.
What I do know, I have learned over the years by application, reading and questioning what I have read. At the end of the day, if you have been achieving a healthy pond with healthy fish then you are doing something right. Long may this continue.
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