Pond and koi keeping often can require a lot of time and labor. It is a labor of love for many koi fans, but a little help from time to time is greatly appreciated. Sometimes, this assistance comes from the most unlikely of sources. Believe it or not, even Aeromonas has its own helpful qualities. …
Language of Koi | Custodian Critters Assist with Pond Upkeep Read More »
Located more than 200 miles north of Tokyo, Niigata is surrounded by mountains of mountains. Heavy snowfall in winter is famous. It can be as high as 10 feet. Niigata used to be an inaccessible corner of the island during winter. Although it was such an inconvenient area, the soil was rich, and the water …
Language of Koi | A Journey to Niigata, Japan’s Koi Mecca Read More »
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 …
Language of Koi | Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Tanks and Ponds Read More »
What are some of the biggest hurdles to selling and keeping ornamental pond fish? Knowledge, space, time and cost, just to name a few. Offering some honest answers to common questions may help increase koi enjoyment — and sales! Many of the questions we are asked may seem simple or even trivial, but remember, you …
Koi sleeping disease is an infrequently discussed viral disease in koi that has been around for many decades. Most koi health books written in Japan mention this disease, but it seems that many U.S. koi dealers have heard of it but do not really understand it. I would venture to say that most koi hobbyists …
Bacterial infections are among the most unsightly and frustrating health issues that koi dealers and keepers alike are likely to experience in their journey. As a dealer, arming yourself with information on the causes, prevention and treatment of bacterial infections not only can keep your stock healthy, but it can also build trust and confidence …
Language of Koi | Understanding and Preventing Bacterial Infections in Koi Read More »
The term “Gosanke” in the koi world refers to the three main varieties: Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) and Showa Sanshoku (Showa). Although there are more than 100 varieties of koi, these three varieties stand apart from the others for their excellence, perfection and popularity. It is no exaggeration that these varieties are well representative of …
Language of Koi | Gosanke: The Big Three in the Koi World Read More »
Most of us have witnessed this scenario. The pond is doing well, and the koi are really healthy. So, time for more koi, right? In go the new fish, and all is well for a week. But then, things turn ugly. Suddenly the koi look very sick, they don’t want to eat. If proper action …
Language of Koi | Preventive Treatment for Koi Health, Part One Read More »
The pond build is complete! Water parameters are in check, and oxygen levels are adequate. Congratulations — you’ve created the ideal pond environment for your customer. The next step is to introduce koi into the pond because, after all, koi are the highlight of the water garden experience. They really are living jewels. Just like …
Language of Koi | Nishikigoi Bring a Slice of the Rainbow to the Pond Read More »
There are so many names for this variety — hirenaga (“long fin”), onaga (“long tail”), tenaga (“long arm”) and hagoromo (“celestial robe of an angel”) are just a few. I like to use Hirenaga, because it is the most commonly used. Hirenaga’s History Few people know that Hirenaga breeding traces back to Japan’s emperor. When …
Language of Koi | The Long-Finned Hirenaga Variety Read More »