Koi images are used by Koi hobbyists for many different reasons. The methods they use can be determined by how they are going to use them. Images of the fish and the Koi ponds as well can be used.
Many Koi enthusiasts like to document the progress the fish are making in growth and coloration, as it can be used as a measurement of their good health.
Commercial breeders and sellers as well as hobbyists frequently use pictures to buy sell and trade fish over the internet. Images of these beautiful and colorful fish work very well to show off these fish. Using email or images on various websites can save a great deal of time and possibly travel to view the Koi live.
Pictures of Koi ponds are also a great way to get ideas for designing and building your own pond. These images are also great for planning your landscaping around the pond.
The use of beautiful plants as well as a wide variety of waterfall displays and arched bridges and distinct lighting arrays can be seen. They can be a great help guiding you through the design process of you pond. a search on Google will result in thousands of images to view. Plenty to get you started on an assortment of design ideas.
Taking pictures of your Koi fish is not as easy as it looks, and takes a great deal of patients. If your want to try taking picures of your fish and pond here are some pointers to help:
Koi are always on the move and they tend to dart around so you'll want to set your shutter speed to maximum in order not to blur the pictures.
Use as many different angles as you can. Many of your pictures won't turn out, but if you take a lot of pictures and have a wide variety of angles, your sure to have plenty of usable pictures. You may want to use something like a ruler or an object that will give your fish and the pond some size perspective in order to measure the progress you fish have made in growth and coloration.
For light colored fish you should use a contrasting dark colored background and for dark fish use a light colored background. Whatever you do remember to take your time and be patient. The Koi will move at their own pace and you will find that you have to adjust to them.
Take lots of pictures from lots of angles. And as many different lighting settings as you can and you should have plenty of good pictures to choose from.
The use of images will surely make the adventure of Raising Koi Fish a much more delightful pastime.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Koi Images
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Many Colors of Koi
The Japanese have taken a great deal of pride in the careful breeding of Koi Fish to produce the many different fabulous colors and patterns that are available today. Koi fish are loved and treasured by their owners because of the gorgeous colors and patterns available.
The colors of the Koi Fish should be vivid and bright. Yellow Koi should be a vivid yellow, and black Koi should be a deep jet black. Dullness of color or spots that are slighly off color are undesirable qualities. Just as white Koi that are not pure white but contain specks of gray. Color is an indicator of the Koi's overall good health. Poor health as well as poor water conditions will cause the Koi to lose color and become dull and drab. Understanding the importance of color and what the colors should be will help a great deal when you are selecting your Koi. It will also help to keep an eye on the color at home as you are raising them to be sure the water conditions and care you are giving them is the best quality possible.
Koi Fish come in a large variety of colors. Some of the most seen Koi colors are red, black, white, green, blue, yellow and cream. Certain terms and descriptions are used by the Japanese to describe the different colors and traits of the Koi Fish, There are a large number of categories that have been identified by Koi breeders. Gosanke is the most popular variety and it includes many sub-categories such as Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoki and Showa Sanshoki Koi. The Kohaku are white with red patterns. The white on this breed of Koi should be pure white and the red should cover 50 to 70 percent of the body with well defined edges.
The Taisho Sanshoki category or Taisho Sanke or just Sanke, as they are also known, are white fish with red and black markings. Again the white coloring should be pure white and the black and red should be bright colors with distinct edges. Like the Sanke category of Koi, the Showa Sanshoki, or just Showa category are white black and red in color as well. The main difference is the black is the predominant color, with red and white markings. There are many other varieties that each come in their own color variations. The Ogon come in an assortment of colors but they are all one color. They sould be a solid bright color with no patterns, or markings at all.
You can help keep you Koi's colors bright and distinct by feeding them a rich diet. Some examples of the things added to a rich commercial diet are shrimp, marigold, plankton, and blue-green alge known as Spirulina. These foods are specifically geared to enhance the colors and markings of the Koi. Also, adding foods such as freeze dried brine shrimp and daphnia, you are ultimately feeding them color anhancing foods. Each of these fodds have high concentrations of carotenoids, and carotenoid pigments are the major pigments in the Koi's skin.
The Many Varieties of Koi Fish
Way back in the 1820's when the Japanese began breedingKoi Fish they only came in one or two colors. They were started from carp mutations and so they were initially very limited. Then as the popularity of Koi exploded and more and more people began breeding them, gradually the variety of patterns and colors began to expand. They now come in a rainbow of colors and patterns including red, yellow, black, blue, green and White Koi.
In order to easily recognize the different varieties of Koi Fish you will need a basic understanding of the classifications the various Koi are divided into. There are different standards for each variety but a certain amount of diversity is usually acceptable. A couple stand out as the most popular varieties. Kahaku Koi is one of the most popular varieties. Another popular variation is the Hikarimono or Ogon Koi.
In the term Hikarimono the "Hikari" means metallic and the "Mono" simply means single color. So these Koi Fish are all one color but with a metallic appearance. They usually appear as Yamabuki Ogon or yellow and in white or silver and referred to as Platinum Ogon. Regardless of the color or the variety they should be the same shade of color from the head to the tips of their fins. In order to offset the plain color they have been bred to have larger fins for a better display.
Unique and popular in the world of Koi are the White Koi or Platinum Ogon, whose bodies appear to shine like the luster of precious metal. First appearing in 1963, these unique and glamourous Koi Fish were probably crossed with the Kigoi or graysh-silver Nezu(from the Japanese word "rat" or nezumi) Ogon. These have become very popular because they are easily cared for, are hardy and grow very rapidly. Standing out and easily seen in murky water they are the perfect choice for poorly filtered ponds. Nezu, Orenji and the Fuji Koi are other varieties of the Ogon Koi.
Most of the Platinum Ogon Koi are bred with what is known as Ginrin scales. The Ginrin scales make them appear even shinier, and are very different than the scales seen on the metallic or "Hikarimono". The regular scales have somewhat of a sheen on them and the Ginrin scales have a highly refective sheen over all or part of the scale. This creates a shimmering effect much like cut diamonds. In order to qualify as Ginrin they should have more of these scales than one can count as it swims past an onlooker. The accepted minimum is about 20 scales.
The large variety of colors and patterns is the main attraction for pond enthusiasts fo fill their pond with Koi Fish. Viewing directly from the top is the best way to see the Koi in all their splendor. Most of the Koi's pigment is in the top side of the fish. In Koi Fish shows in Asia the Koi are always viewed from top in round pools.
Koi Fish Ponds
Outdoor fish ponds have become very popular among homeowners who use them to create wonderful outdoor living areas and fabulous gardens to create a relaxing and enjoyble atmosphere around their homes. Koi Fish, because of the longevity of their lives, gorgeous colors and the gracefulness of their movements have become the fish of choice for the ponds. They are relatively easy to care for as well and this makes them the perfect candidate for an outdoor pond.
It will take a pond of 500 gallons or more to accomodate the Koi Fish comfortably as they can grow to be very large. The health of the Koi fish depends a great deal on the amount of space and the quality of the water. Temperatures of 60 to 67 degrees Fehrenheit are best for the Koi as they are a cold water fish. Those people living in a cool weather climate will be happy to know they will also be able to keep Koi during the winter months. The Koi will hybernate in the winter when ice forms over the surface of the water. No need to feed them in the winter as their digestive systems slow down almost to a halt allowing them to easily make it through the winter.
The Koi are not the only thing that make the pond and yard into an enjoyalbe and relaxing place to be. Koi love to have live plants and lilies in and around their pond. The lilies can cover up to 70 percent of the ponds surface. Not only do they give cover and shade to the Koi, but they also cut down on the algae growth in the pond. Five or six hours a day is about the maximum amount of direct sunlight the Koi can tolerate and the lilies give the perfect shade to protect them from the sunlight. The lilies and other plant life also provied the omnivorous Koi with insects and larva to eat.
Building your Koi Pond under a tree is another good way to provide the Koi with extra shade. But you may want to consider the fact that being under a tree will also attract a good deal of debris from the tree and will create a good deal more work to keep the pond clear.
When planning the pond some thought needs to go toward the depth of the pond. Outside predators can be a problem with your outdoor Koi Pond and the depth of the water can provide some needed protection. Raccoons are always looking for a free meal and Koi Fish would be an ideal meal. About four feet of water will give the Koi good protection from raccoons and other ground predators. In some parts of the country you will also need to worry about birds like the Great Blue Heron who like a good meal of Koi as well. A Blue Heron can eat as much as 100 six inch Koi. To foil the Great Blue Heron you will need a water depth of about eight feet. Covering the pond with netting is another way to protect them from Heron and other birds.
Building your own Koi Pond gives you the freedom to use your imagination to build your Koi Pond and outdoor living area as lavishly and spectacular as you wish.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Raising Koi Fish-Getting Started Info You'll Need!
What exactly are Koi Fish? With all of their glorious colors you would expect them to be some exotic breed of fish, when in fact they come from the carp family! Around 1820 the Japanese began breeding Koi, and as the variety and colors expanded their popularity exploded. Today Koi Fish come in a large variety of colors and patterns. The colors range from patterns of Black, red, orange, yedllow, silver green and blue.
There just isn't anything more relaxing than sitting around a Koi Pond and listening to the sounds of rippling waters and the occasional splash of a jumping fish. Turning a Koi Pond into a living garden as well can enhance the experience even more.
Mixing living plants into your pond will replicate a natural environment even more. Its necessary to employ some special tactics to your plants because sometimes plants and Koi don't exist well. Koi sometimes will knock over potted plants placed within the pond and even sometimes try diggin the plants up. But with a little effort you can avoid many of the problems and still have plants within your pond. Nettting can be wrapped over the pots to prevent digging and pea gravel placed on top. Also, river rocks placed around the pots can keep the larger Koi from tipping them over and making a mess of your pond.
Lilies are the number one choice to grow in your pond. They come in a large number of varieties that grow well in different depths of water. Lilies also provide shade for your Koi. Koi don't tolerate a great deal of sun so the lilies the shade and shelter that your Koi need. They also provide an environment for insects. As Koi are omnivores they will seek out the insects and larva as a food source.
As omnivores Koi require a variety of foods in order to stay healthy. Insects are only one source of food for your Koi. Koi have the ability to recognize the people who feed them and will approach them for feeding. you can purchase ready made Koi food from your local pet store and as its a good balanced diet for the Koi, you probably should, however Koi also enjoy a wide variety of people foods as well. Things like peas, lettuce and even Watermelon. With a little experimenatation you will be able to find a wide variety of food your Koi will enjoy, and the variety will help maintain the health of your Koi.
Having your own Koi Pond is truly a relaxing and enjoyable experience. They are able to add a great deal to the lives of their owners, and they are rewarded by the generocity and good care of their owners As well.