Koi fish are stunning, smart, live and long time and provide great satisfaction for any fish hobbyist. Don't just have a Koi fish tattoo, have a real Koi fish! Here are the essential tips for starting a Koi hobby.
SHOULD YOU START A Koi FISH HOBBY
Obviously, the first reason you should start a hobby is if it makes you happy. Koi fish are beautiful, interesting and caring for them can be a truly satisfying experience. Watching them happily swimming about in their vibrant and varied colors can help you relax and relieve stress. If trained well, they will even eat fish food from your hands. Meanwhile serious Koi fish breeders will swear that they have unique personalities.
There is the cost to consider first of all.
You will also need a decent sized pond, as they may grow up to 3 feet. You need at least a 1,000 liters of water per fish, with at least 18 inches of pond depth. The pond needs a filtration system to remove waste products, aeration to add oxygen into the water and regular care and maintenance. Don't let this put you off, looking after a pond can be as rewarding as gardening, as you add landscaping features, plants and, of course, add to your Koi fish collection.
Certain types of small Koi may only cost a few dollars, but the rarer varieties and sizes can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. To offset costs, owners are known to sell off their extra fish once they have grown larger. In general young Koi are cheaper than the more mature ones. Koi do not mature until they are about eight years old, so you have plenty of time to watch them develop.
BE COMMITTED: Koi FISH ARE ONE OF THE OLDEST LIVING ANIMALS
The other thing to consider is the lifespan of the Koi. The oldest recorded Koi fish lived to 200 years old but the average lifespan is 25 to 35 years. That puts this particular carp right up there in the list of animals who live the longest, up with certain tortoises, sturgeon and the blue-and-yellow macaw. So be prepared for the long haul!
BUYING A Koi FISH
The beauty of Koi fish lies in their shapes and color mutations. So, part of the enjoyment of starting a Koi fish hobby is picking the fish in the first place. Like most things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Find a breeder or pet shop which has a decent range of Koi fish varieties, so you have plenty of choice. It is best not to invest in your collection all at once. Built it up slowly, not only will you gradually learn about the varieties you prefer, but there is a certain satisfaction to choosing and buy the right fish so why not stretch out the fun!
Look at the fish closely to see if they look healthy. They should be swimming freely and smoothly and be without any visible physical damage. Make sure there are no holes or ulcerations in the scales, a crooked spine, missing fins, gills that do not close flat and so on. They should eat well and look as though they are breathing normally.
THE BEST PLACE TO BUY Koi FISH
Do not rush this process. Take your time to find a good Koi dealer in your area. Look for a place that is clean and the fish are not overcrowded. Ask the shop owner where the fish come from, the variety, if there are any specific arrangements for keeping them. It is okay to buy fish online but ask how they will be transporting the fish and what track record they have had in this.
THE BEST TIME TO BUY Koi FISH
Make sure you pond is ready, tested and established before purchasing your fish. Plus, it is probably best to avoid November or December when buying ornamental fish for the first time if the area in which you live suffers from harsh winters and you do not have a heated pond or water garden.
No two Koi are alike and caring for your fish, watching them grow into the large and majestic pets will give you tremendous satisfaction. If you start your hobby in the right way, with the right foresight and planning, you are sure to enjoy keeping them for many years to come.
Gemma Swansburg is a writer/researcher who could watch fish merrily swimming for hours on end. Read Gemma's latest article, a review for Luminess Tan, the airbrush tanning system featured in Allure Magazine. For special prices, trial offers and great before/after images for the Luminess tan solution and other airbrush self-tanners, visit her site at airbrushmakeupfoundation.com
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