Koi Fish

Koi Fish are a species of carp and are a close relative to the common goldfish. People have been keeping them in ponds and aquariums for thousands of years. This article will discuss all the reasons why you should consider amazing Koi Fish as pets.

1.    Koi are very hardy.
 
2.    Koi are especially peaceful. They don’t fight with other fish or amongst themselves.

3.    They don’t eat other fish; however, small fry can sometimes accidentally get swallowed.

4.    Japanese Koi can grow very quickly. Under perfect conditions they can grow eight inches a year and have been known to grow to two and a half feet long.

5.    They live a long time. When well looked after, Koi Fish can live fifty years, and in many fisheries in Japan, fish have been known to live more than seventy years.

6.    Koi can be tamed easily. They readily come to the edge of the pond to be fed. In Japan many Koi Fish breeders feed their animals with their mouths, proving that there is a great attraction between Koi and their owners.

7.    Koi (carp) are considered by many as being good to eat. In Japan they are referred to as ‘warrior fish’ because they do not jump about when cut into slices. The Japanese eat them uncooked, usually minutes after they have been ritually slaughtered.

8.    Koi Fish are very easy to keep indoors in a fish tank or outdoors in ponds with goldfish. They survive happily in aquariums without heaters, thriving in water between 40- 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They can even go without food for a week or two (although not recommended).

9.    They are not fussy eaters. They will eat what a human will eat, although it is best to feed Koi Fish pellets as these float and you are able to see that food is not sitting at the bottom of the pond rotting. Carp will only eat small quantities of fish food at a time, so it is best to feed them twice a day.

10.     Koi carp are easy to move around. When doing this it is important to ensure that the water temperature changes are made slowly.

11.     Koi are very relaxing to watch. Japanese are very contemplative people. They can sit and stare at colourful Koi Fish for hours contemplating their problems. Many Japanese equate a long hot bath to being the same as a visit to the Koi pond.

12.    Outdoor koi ponds are ornamental and a great addition to the garden landscape.

13.    Quality Japanese carp are very profitable. In the spring individual fish will spawn over 200000 eggs. By starting with quality breeding parents and carefully selecting the best fry (baby fish), you can breed fish easily that are worth a lot of money. Of course you’ll need a lot of space to do this properly. If you are able to breed fish with the correct color patterns and body shapes, it is possible to sell them for many thousands of dollars.

14.    Koi Fish are great to show off to your visitors. They are interesting and fantastic to photograph making them an excellent talking point.
   
Why not become a Koi enthusiast and consider keeping Koi Fish as pets?