In the past keeping koi has been exclusive to the advantaged and elite; the wealthy and often powerful. A lush setting with colorful koi gracing a pond was only found on the grounds of royals and only the truly privileged enjoyed the experience of entering their koi in a competition or even attending an event. Fortunately for people all over the world a lot has changed in the last few decades, primarily in the last few years.
Keeping koi, and enjoying the exotic yet peaceful presence they bring to their environment has become accessible for people all over the world and is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States. Raising koi, and even entering them in competitions or showing them off at events is now possible in almost every area of the U.S. The community of koi owners is growing and the art of raising and keeping healthy koi is proving to be something people truly enjoy sharing with each other.
If you are new to owning koi (or are considering becoming a part of this community); here is a little background information on this impressive fish. Koi fish are gorgeous, selectively bred variety of Carp. In fact “Koi” is the Japenese word for Carp. Japanese breeders have been working since the early 1800’s to yield Koi in a range of colors. Today, we often see Koi in black, red, orange, yellow, silver, green and blue, just to name a few of the gorgeous colors, not to mention the variety of patterns.
Like most things in life, caring for koi fish is most rewarding when done correctly. Fortunately this is not difficult to achieve. Starting with the right pond is key. Again, this has become much more accessible in recent years with the development of easily installable koi pond kits and easily accessible supplies. A good filter will help to ensure adequate water quality; an essential element in ensuring the good health of your koi. Once the pond is in place, it is wise to add plants. While many people talk about putting koi in water gardens with lots of plants, this may not work out as koi will eat almost anything and happily devour most plants. They don’t however, eat lilies. Lilies are a wonderful addition to a pond as they provide shade (which koi absolutely need) and often attract bugs and larva which koi eat. Of course they are beautiful as well, proving what is good for the koi is often good for the owner.
Once your pond is in place and your fish are enjoying their new home, all you have left to do is feed them. This is the fun part. Over time Koi will begin to recognize the person who feeds them and approach that person at feeding time. We have even had owners tell of their fish eating right out of their hands. Premade koi fish is available at most pet stores. Koi will also happily accept “people” food. They have been known to eat lettuce, peas, watermelon and much, much more. Many owners feed their koi shrimp, blue-green algae and other foods rich in cartenoid pigments which will actually boost the koi’s color.
Caring for koi can be a very rewarding endeavor. Given proper attention koi will live long, healthy lives and provide elegance and tranquility to your own backyard.
