Koi content that appears in the print magazine.
Koi, or nishikigoi, are known as living jewels. In Japanese, koi means love or affection. What makes them so special? Koi are smart fish with brilliant colors, body confirmation and personality. They can be fed out of your hand. They are so mesmerizing that people keep coming back to check on them. Feeding them is …
Language of Koi | Understanding Color-Changing Koi Read More »
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 …
Language of Koi | The Dramatic Beauty of Doitsu Koi Read More »
October is the most exciting time of the year for all koi dealers and hobbyists. It is also the time of the koi harvests in Japan. Every day in October, breeders harvest so many living jewels. Before COVID-19, buyers from all over the world came to the small towns of Ojiya and Nagaoka in Niigata, …
Language of Koi | Rare Varieties at the Japan Koi Harvest Read More »
When I was young and barely hip-high to my father, he began taking my older brother and me trout fishing at the local creek. I had no fishing pole — I was only there to observe, since my casting skills were still lacking. As the story goes, while I was exploring the shoreline, I spotted …
We recently received a call from a customer who reported something they had not seen in more than 46 years. Their pond had been rebuilt last season, and the rebalancing act had become a bit of a mess, thanks in part to this season’s extremely hot weather. After getting the water quality in check, they …
Troubleshooting Unusual Pond Koi and Water Quality Problems Read More »
For koi enthusiasts, traveling to Japan, the birthplace of koi fish, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As koi dealers, we are spoiled and usually get to travel to Japan at least once a year. After five years of going on koi-buying trips, we have been lucky to learn from the top breeders about what to look …
Are your fish clean? Do they have parasites, or have they been mixed with a contaminated batch of fish that have shown problems? There is a saying among fish dealers: “All fish dealers are liars except you and I, and I’m not so sure about you!” You purchased your koi, so now what? Do you …
If your koi should die or even look sick, you would be in a panic. If you did not know why the koi was dead or sick, you might wonder if your other koi were in danger as well. Being in the koi business for almost 50 years in Japan as well as in the …
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 …
It might as well be a four-letter word, but considering the times we’re in, I’d go out on a limband say that most everyone has become familiar with what it means for us humans to quarantine. In the end, the idea is to keep people safe from potential harm. This is exactly the idea when …
