When hand feeding koi, start with a flavorful and floating koi food that your fish like to eat. Don’t try to entice them to eat something they are unfamiliar with. Go to the pond at the same time every day to feed. Choose a spot where the water has sufficient depth so your fish can […]
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When pond owners ask for the “friendly koi,” you can be relatively certain that they are requesting a Chagoi. The Chagoi, (chah-goy), is a non-metallic, brown-colored, scaled koi. It is known for several unique qualities, with friendliness and social behavior being most notable. It is a fast-growing variety that can reach enormous length and girth. […]
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There’s a prevailing misconception that domestic koi are of lower quality than their Japanese counterparts. However, it’s important to note that both domestic and Japanese koi originate from the same roots — challenging the notion of inherent superiority. Domestic koi often match or surpass the quality of imported koi, regardless of the national origin of […]
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UDSA APHIS veterinarians from all across the country and Canada participated in multi-day training exercises at the Kloubec farm and USDA laboratory. Along with workshops the training curriculum included a “mock-investigation” of a fish disease outbreak.
Read MoreMany hobbyists love Sanke and Showa koi — the tri-colored koi that are white, red and black — yet they often struggle to distinguish one variety from the other. I am often asked, “Are they white fish with red and black markings, or black fish with red and white markings? How do I tell the […]
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Language of Koi The Koromo or Robed Koi is a fairly new variety. Developed between 1945 – 1950 in Japan, the variety emerged as a by-product of Goshiki breeding. Both varieties, Koromo and Goshiki, are grouped together for judging purposes and compete against each other at most koi shows. Koromo are white, non-metallic koi having […]
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Doitsu koi are gaining in popularity with backyard pond owners. These koi without scales truly are a beautiful addition to any koi pond or collection. They stand out brilliantly in pond water due to the absence of scales, bright colors and a dramatic overall appearance. Metallic-variety Doitsu koi usually have dazzling iridescent skin, which can […]
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We all know that stress is a part of everyday life, and you probably have your own methods of coping with it. Although you may not realize it, koi experience trauma related to stress as well. Because of their size, koi appear to be very hardy fish, and they are — as long as their […]
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Utsurimono is a class of koi that, by definition, is a non-metallic black color combined with a secondary color. It is one of the classifications considered for judging purposes. Shiro Utsuri koi is the most common type in this class, and it is held in very high regard. At some koi shows in the United […]
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Fish need oxygen! Adequate amounts of dissolved oxygen are crucial for all pond and fish life. Unfortunately, oxygen is one of the most overlooked parameters of water quality in the retail setting, as well as in koi ponds. Low dissolved oxygen (DO) is an underestimated cause of many fish losses. As a koi seller, it […]
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