Koi ponds have become a popular hobby in the world, and the reasons are clear as to why. Koi are beautiful, vibrant fish that can literally light your day. Koi come in many colors, varieties, and kinds, so it is likely that everyone in the world can find at least one type of Koi that would suit their likes. While Koi may be a welcomed beauty to your pond, they also have an interesting history attached to them.

In Chinese culture, Koi ponds are said to being good luck to their owners. Koi ponds are used as an overall plan to fulfill their lives. Other parts of the world consider Koi ponds as a form of relaxation and serenity. In the united states, more and more people seem to find Koi ponds to be fun more then anything else. No matter what the reason you find to have a Koi pond, they are sure to brighten your life.

However, Koi keeping should not be taken lightly. Koi, like any other animal, require time and money to maintain. The majority of first time Koi owners fail because they get the idea that keeping Koi is easy in some way. Do not let this discourage you though, as educating yourself will greatly improve your chances of succeeding.

It is important for you to learn all you can BEFORE you begin obtaining the things you need for Koi keeping. This way, you will not slip up and have to replace anything that you have already done or bought. Planning ahead will not only save your money, but it will potentially save your sanity as well.

It is important to learn the information for yourself rather then relying on other sources. People such as your product dealer and pond builder will have limited knowledge, but should not be trusted for a reliable source, as they are selling products and may be bias. Plus, once you are at home with your Koi, your product dealer or pond builder may not be available to help you in the event of a problem.

Koi Have Personality

You would not believe that Koi actually have personalities similar to other animals. They are social, and can even be trained to eat directly from their owners hands. The more time you spend with your Koi, the more you will notice each Koi has individual characteristics and traits.

Koi have been known to live for up to 200 years at time, but generally the average lifespan of a healthy Koi is about 30 years. So if you are looking for along time pet companion, Koi may be a good choice.

Building Your Koi Habitat

Before ever buying Koi, you must create a proper habitat for them. This is where information from your pond builder and supplier will come in handy. However, you should not rely on the opinions of just one person. It may be a god idea to do research on your own, before you go to purchase the materials needed for you pond. Because of it’s popularity, an unlimited supply of resources can be found on the topic of Koi keeping. Visit your local library, fishery center, or research online. There are quite a few things needed to sustain a habitable pond.

When it comes to pond size, bigger is always better. Koi have a habit of growing rather fast, so you have to consider pond size at the same time you are considering how many Koi you are going to put it in.

Your filtration system is extremely important. There are 2 types of filtration, mechanical and biological. Mechanical filtration relives the pond of solids such as dead algae, insects, and Koi wastes. It is important to have enough filtration to sustain the size of the pond, and the amount and size of your Koi. Biological filtration causes a nitrogen cycle, which is what removes dissolved wastes from your pond. Without biological filtration, built up waste will turn into ammonia and kill your Koi within just a few days.

Besides the technical aspects of your pond, you will also have the ability to create a visually appealing area as well. Waterfalls, fountains, and other water features will not only add a visual show to your pond, but it will also create movement and sound. A variety of plants and flowers are also available for your pond

Beginner’s Corner KOI

But what you have to bear in mind, that Koi are, if you like,
similar to that very rare Painting or pieces of sculpture … the higher the
rating of the Artist, or in the case of Koi, the Breeder, then the higher the
price .. but the name of the breeder alone does not completely govern the price,
the body shape of the fish, the patterns, depth of colour all play a roll in
determining the final price of that particular Koi …

How big, how old, how expensive?

The average Koi can grow to 24 – 36 inches, with some jumbo
varieties growing up to 52 inches – but that won’t happen if the conditions
within the pond and if the pond is not large enough … and to get a Koi to grow
to those larger sizes is never going to be an easy task to achieve …

Where did Koi Originate from?

Initially it was the Chinese that first perfected this art of
introducing colour to what was then the Common Carp – that happened perhaps as
long ago as 2000 years … and many early Koi, or coloured Carp can be seen on
very old paintings – porcelain and other pieces of art dating back many hundreds
of years …

Today most of the Koi we import are from Japan where the art of
Koi breeding has been perfected to such extremely high standards now for a great
many years and although Koi are now being bred once again in China, I feel sure
that it will be many many years before the Chinese can produce Koi with such
high bloodlines as the Japanese…

Where do we keep these fish?

Koi can be kept both indoors or outdoors – and you may have seen
examples of Koi being kept indoors and even in the foyer of some of the worlds
finest hotels ..

But you are never going to be able to keep Koi unless the
conditions are right .. and the most important part of any Koi pond is without
any doubt the filtration system that is installed on that pond of a size that it
can cope with the copious amounts of
waste products produced by these Koi .. which is far greater than the common
Goldfish or similar pond fish which are available in most countries ..

There are many ways to have a pond – you may just want to have a
simple small pond with just a few Koi, and perhaps a couple of Goldfish – or you
may be thinking of something on a more grand scale … either way the principles
are the same .. and the same amount of care should go into building a small
garden pond as with the more elaborate ones …  and before you even consider
building a pond, or putting a spade into the garden – then our advise would be
for you to do a lot of research into what is needed – what equipment you are
going to need and how much it is going to cost you .. those are all important
matters and we suggest that perhaps you may start by taking a look at a few of
the ideas we have placed on our website under the heading of ‘Pond Construction’
..

We are always available to give you the advice you need .. and a
big ‘Golden Rule’ is seek advice first before you try to do the job if you are
unsure .. mistakes are hard to rectify and can cost you a lot of money and
heartache …

Do Koi Have any Teeth ?

That is one question we are very often asked .. and the answer
is YES !