Koi carp are an unusual decoration for your aquarium. Brocade carp Koi fish

Among nature lovers, it has recently become fashionable to equip decorative ponds and pools in the garden. Often the owners try to decorate them with ornamental plants, and the most advanced ones populate the ponds with ornamental fish species. Among them, koi carps have won the greatest popularity. However, these fish have not yet received such wide popularity that they deserve.

Koi in the pond.

The name koi comes from the Japanese language and literally means "carp". A little later, the word "nishikigoi" appeared in Japanese, which means "brocade carp" in translation. Such a transformation did not happen by chance, because the first koi were really ordinary fish that did not stand out among their relatives. Later, by selection, many decorative forms were bred, which were distinguished by the richness of color and shape. So the Japanese word gradually penetrated into other languages ​​and is now used to refer to all decorative carp breeds.

Red koi carp.

Koi are genetically domesticated forms of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Their wild ancestors lived everywhere in fresh water from Western Europe to Central Asia. From Asia, they were brought to the Far East more than 2500 years ago. There they successfully acclimatized and naturalized. First, the Chinese, and then the Japanese, began to grow carps in artificial ponds. So the peasants provided themselves with nutritious, and, most importantly, labor-intensive food. Over time, mutations began to appear in fish populations, which manifested themselves in a change in the natural shape and color. The once nondescript natural forms of carp began to turn into bright fish. Such changes did not go unnoticed by people, and soon anomalous specimens began to be crossed and bred separately. This was the origin of many koi breeds. Selection work does not stop to this day. In Japan, the selection and breeding of koi carp is a prestigious and profitable occupation. Individual exhibition specimens of koi are valued at tens of thousands of dollars.

Juvenile koi in a raised pond.

Outwardly, koi largely retain similarities with their wild ancestors. They have a streamlined body with a head of proportional size, fins are short, rounded.

In body proportions, koi resemble ordinary carp.

The body of a koi is covered with rather large scales, although in some breeds there may be no scales in certain parts of the body (by analogy with a mirror carp).

This koi carp has "mirrors" on its sides - areas of the body devoid of scales.

When viewed from afar, koi carps can sometimes be confused with large specimens of the "goldfish", but if you look closely, you can see a characteristic distinguishing feature - the antennae near the fish's mouth.

Characteristic koi antennae.

Koi breed "butterfly" fins are long like a veil. Some experts consider such fish not purebred koi, but hybrids with decorative forms of crucian carp.
Perhaps the greatest variety of koi reached in coloring. In some breeds, it can be blue with a metallic "golden" sheen ...

The scales of this koi have a metallic sheen.

others have a single color red, yellow ...

Golden koi.

or white.

Koi carp are pure white.

But the breeds that have red, yellow and black spots scattered over the white body have reached the greatest popularity and distribution.

These are koi breeds "Shubunkin". A breed with exactly the same name and similar coloring is found in the decorative form of crucian carp - a goldfish.

Among these fish there is a division into species depending on the size and location of the spots. In total, about 80 breeds of koi are known.

One of the most popular decorative forms of koi.

Koi, like all cyprinids, are unpretentious. True, it is better to keep them in clean water, but they also tolerate a slight clouding of the reservoir. Often the cause of this cloudiness is the koi themselves, as they are very fond of digging in the mud, thereby stirring up the water. Koi can live in water with a temperature of 15-25 degrees. In the waters of their homeland - Japan - koi are active almost all year round, in a cooler climate they go for wintering. With a decrease in water temperature to 10 degrees, the fish become lethargic, inactive and almost stop eating. In such a "sleepy" state, they spend the winter and come to life with the advent of heat. It should be borne in mind that koi originate from areas with relatively warm winters, so they do not tolerate the freezing of water bodies.

In order for the fish to successfully overwinter, they need to provide a reservoir with a minimum depth of 1.5 m.

Koi, like all cyprinids, feed exclusively on plant foods. The basis of their diet is algae and succulent parts of aquatic plants, but they will not refuse additional feeding. Koi are happy to eat lettuce, peas, watermelons.

Hand koi eats watermelon.

These fish are quite voracious and with good nutrition can grow to a considerable size. Koi 60-80 cm long are not uncommon. During spawning, the female spawns a large number of fairly small eggs, and one or more males fertilize them. Koi have high fecundity, but they are not easy to breed. The fact is that most of the fry have an unsuitable "wild" color, in addition, the color of the fry changes - with age, the spots change size and shape. Because of this, getting the "correct" koi with the right spotting is not easy. Koi are calm fish, in the pond they show moderate activity. Centuries-old selection has left its mark on the character of these fish. First, koi, pampered by artificial breeding, do not show the fearfulness characteristic of wild fish. They prefer to stay near the surface, often in close proximity to the shore. They sometimes have to pay for this gullibility - herons and other small predators are not averse to eating fish.

A heron hunts koi in a pond.

From this scourge, the Japanese have long come up with protection. In traditional Japanese ponds, where koi usually live, sheer walls are made. Herons, which can only hunt in shallow water, cannot reach fish in deep water.

But this heron is already too tough for an adult koi.

In addition, Japanese ponds are often lined with trees. Their crown hides the surface of the pond from predators in the air.

Koi carp in a traditional Japanese pond.

Secondly, koi are very sociable fish, not without the rudiments of intelligence. Koi are able to recognize the time of feeding and beg en masse for food in feeding areas.

In search of food, koi almost crawl ashore.

They can take food from the hands and even recognize the owner. Koi show friendliness to neighbors in the "house" - they get along well with other fish, they are not averse to making friends with ducks.

A mallard goes to feed, accompanied by a flock of koi.

In Japan, these fish are very revered, here they are massively bred in the ponds of city parks and private estates.

Many Japanese come to the park specifically to feed koi (the way we feed pigeons).

From Japan, koi were exported to many countries of the world, where they were successfully acclimatized, including in natural reservoirs. Professional associations of koi breeders have long existed in the US and Western Europe, and numerous exhibitions are held. In our country, these fish are not yet well known, but they will undoubtedly gain popularity.

In China, there is a legend that those fish that can climb up the Yellow River enter the Dragon Realm and as a result of their struggle for success, the koi becomes a dragon or dragon fish. Therefore, this fish is called the king of all fish, it is considered a symbol of power and superiority. Also, the koi carp symbolizes the pursuit of ambitious goals and serves as an example of success achieved through overcoming difficulties and obstacles. In the Buddhist tradition, carp means fearlessness and courage. And since carps live for 200 years, they also symbolize longevity.Be that as it may, but the image of a goldfish is associated with koi in European countries.

A gold watch in the form of a koi carp of indescribable beauty was released at the beginning of the year by Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry House, one of the oldest in Europe.

Maybe the fault is with aquarists, among whom the breeding of goldfish is especially popular. A large role in this was played by the tradition of breeding koi in the reservoirs of Japanese gardens. Japan has an old legendabout the artist Kinko, who painted a fish but didn't eat it. For this, the Dragonfish King took him to visit his castle at the bottom of the ocean. And although neither Pushkin's goldfish nor the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm is associated with this legend, you will agree that they have something in common. In Asia, the koi symbol is believed to bring success and wealth, and its image is often used in feng shui. In Europe and in Russia, in particular, a goldfish is also perceived as a symbol of good luck, fulfillment of desires and wealth.

European jewelers also pay tribute to the symbol of the koi carp. Clock in the form of a goldfish Van Cleef & Arpels a masterpiece of its kind. The fish is made of white and yellow gold and about 800 precious stones are used to decorate it. Including diamonds, yellow sapphires, black spinels and tourmalines. The dial is in the mouth of the fish, and in order for it to open its mouth, you need to click on the tail.

When a boy was born in Japan, a koi flag was hung over the house. But, as they say, hope for luck, but don't make a mistake yourself - carps have to fight for life, overcome obstacles in order to get food and continue the race. Koi is a symbol of not only good luck, but also victory, perseverance, courage in the fight. And also a symbol of independent nature and fortitude. But at the same time, koi in Japan are a symbol of love, even the words "love" and "koi" are the same in Japanese.

In Asia and in all countries where feng shui is practiced, the image of a koi carp is very popular. It is believed that fish can bring good luck. For many Chinese, the koi fish symbolizes wealth, and depictions of one, two, or 9 fish are common in Chinese painting.

Painting by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

A koi pond in a Japanese garden. According to tradition, koi often swim in Japanese rock gardens, colorful fish look like real gems. .

Nagoya carp - a symbol of Nagoya, a fish with a dragon's head, installed on the roof of Nagoya Castle (Japan)

Kinko riding a giant carp, Satsuma pottery, Meiji period, 1870-1880. Polychrome painting, gilded enamel. Satsuma pottery was very popular in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The figurine depicts a carp at the moment when he jumps out of the water, on his back is an old man in a scientist's hat with a scroll in his hand. Satsuma products often used scenes from folk legends. This figurine illustrates the story of Kinko, an artist who painted a fish but refused to eat it. To thank him, the Dragon King invited the artist to visit his underwater palace. Our hero is depicted on the way back, at the moment when he emerged from the ocean.

Netsuke Carp

Hair clip "Royal koi fish in seaweed", China, Qing Dynasty. Gilded silver, inlay.

Edo tortoiseshell comb with koi carp, black lacquer

The Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan from 1637 to 1867. During this period, Japan was closed to foreigners and Japanese arts and crafts remained unknown to the Western world, only porcelain was supplied from Japan. In the Meiji era (since 1868), Japan slowly begins to emerge from isolation. At the Paris Exhibition of 1878, Japanese art lovers first saw Japanese Edo combs. From that moment on, a real Japanese mania began in Europe. This comb was one of three exhibited at the Paris exhibition.

Koi fish themselves resemble jewelry or gems floating in the water. However, jewelry in our understanding in Japan was not widespread - a kimono and a Japanese woman's hairstyle would still hide them. Therefore, from ancient jewelry, mainly hair ornaments and various accessories have survived to our time. The carp symbol has been very popular since the last century in Europe and it is often used in jewelry.

Koi, keeping and breeding, Koi ponds - 4.5 out of 5 based on 39 votes

You can see photos of our koi carps, as well as find out their prices.

Brocade carp (or koi carp) is a decorative variety of common carp. Moreover, only those fish that have passed 6 selection selections can be considered koi. There are approximately 80 koi breeds in the world. They are divided into 16 groups, which are combined according to several or one common characteristics:

1. Utsurimono,
2. Showa Sanshoku,
3. Taisho Sanshoku,
4. Kohaku,
5. Tancho,
6. asagi,
7. backko,
8. fire,
9. Kawarimono,
10. hikari moyomono,
11. Koromo,
12. Kinginrin,
13. Shusui,
14. gosiki,
15. doitsu-goyi,
16. Kumonryu.

Each koi carp is evaluated on the following parameters:
-body structure: body composition in general, that is, the shape of the body, fins and head and their relative proportions;
- pattern and color: texture and appearance of the skin; quality of patterns, their edges, colors and pattern balance;
-quality: species requirements defined for each breed, posture of the fish (i.e. how it holds itself in water, swims), overall impression (i.e. an indicator that summarizes all evaluation parameters).
Once judged, the koi receives a certain category.

To be highly rated for its parameters, a koi carp must have the following characteristics:

1. the shape and size of the fins are proportional to the body;
2. the shape of the head is not too long, short or curved in any direction;
3. the body, when viewed from above, should be proportionate and even on both sides;
4. the skin should have a healthy glow;
5. a certain combination and brightness of skin colors;
6. colored spots are clearly limited;
7. colors are balanced;
8. there should be no "heavy" areas in the middle, in the tail or in front of the fish;
9. the pattern is proportional to the body (for example, a large pattern on a large individual).

The color of koi carp can be very different. Primary colors: white, red, yellow, cream, black, blue and orange.

The color of the fish may depend on the dyes used, the color of the sun and the quality of the water.
The length of this type of carp can reach from 45cm to 90cm.

The lifespan of a koi is approximately 27-30 years under artificial conditions. Old fish, as a rule, die from improper conditions of detention, and not from old age.

Koi are mostly kept outdoors in ponds, but they also do well in large aquariums.

They are unpretentious to feed, good-natured, not shy, they quickly get used to people, and some can even be touched. Koi do well in ponds/garden pools all year round, but in winter they are recommended to be transplanted to a place protected from frost, or to cover the reservoir with a plastic shelter.

These carps are undemanding, but still, their biological characteristics should be taken into account when keeping them: they are large, their color is bright, they live a long time, and they easily get used to people. If the necessary conditions are met in the reservoir, then the fish are not afraid of frost. Koi can live in both large and small ponds. But if they are not provided with a pond of sufficient size, then the growth and development of fish will be very slow, which will eventually lead to irreparable consequences: which will grow full, short and dim. And even if you then move them to a pond with the necessary conditions, the appearance of the fish will not change. Therefore, if you decide to seriously start a koi carp, then you need a specially equipped reservoir - with a drainage system and a filter.

The main optimal characteristics of water:

• water temperature 15-30? C, but they also easily tolerate temperatures from 2? C to 35? C;
• pH 7-7.5, but can tolerate the alkalinity of the environment in the range of 5.5-9;
• oxygen 4-5 mg/l, but are also able to carry oxygen up to 0.5 mg/l.

As you can see, the conditions of detention are quite affordable and uncomplicated, that is, they are typical of our open-air reservoirs.

The following fish can be suitable as neighbors for koi carps: platy, golden carp, minnows (minnows), mustard, goldfish, trout, mollies, catfish.

Koi ponds

For the construction of the pond, two materials can be used: with a concrete base and with soft waterproofing. As the latter, synthetic rubber (EPDM) is used. With it, you can create reservoirs of any shape and size. If there are sharp stones in the soil, it is also necessary to use a fleece (special backing), which will prevent damage to the EPDM film used. A pond with a concrete base is more expensive, but the most durable. A concrete pond allows you to create steep vertical banks, which saves space by increasing the water volume of the pond.

Recommended minimum pond dimensions:
- depth from 1.4m,
-volume 8t (3m x 2.46m x 1.23m).
It should be remembered that koi are quite active fish, they need to swim, and therefore they need a spacious pond. Naturally, there is no specific data on how deep and how large the pond should be, since it all depends on how many koi you want to put in the pond.

Optimum location of the pond:

• a quiet, calm corner of the garden (as far as possible from noisy places, such as sports fields or highways), but close to home (to admire koi in any weather without leaving home);
• the rays of the sun should illuminate the pond / pond all day with a "lunch break" for 1.5-2 hours (there may be longer breaks, but this may affect some aquatic plants, for example, nymphea);
• during the melting of snow or rain, water from the territories adjacent to it should not drain into the pond / reservoir (for this, storm drainage is built around the pond or the pond is created elevated).

It is important to equip the pond with a two-stage filtration system: biological and mechanical. It must guarantee the effective removal of dissolved fish metabolites and suspended particles (fish excrement, plant remains and food) from the water, as well as maintain a normal gas regime.

In a flowing large pond with a large number of aquatic plants, the filtration system can, in principle, not be used. But there is a good chance that koi will start eating underwater vegetation or burrowing in search of food (all plants can be dug up soon). Optimal options: 1) build an additional regeneration pond / reservoir with aquatic plants or 2) create a bioplato - a stream or a small pond, completely covered with pebbles with aquatic plants planted in it, through which water will circulate from the pond.

Most of the factors that affect the biological balance depend on the volume of the pond: the amount of dissolved oxygen, temperature. Thus, the larger the pond, the easier it is to maintain biological balance.

Koi food

Koi are omnivores, so their diet can be quite varied: pellets, soaked barley or bread, vegetables (e.g. carrots, lettuce), fruits (e.g. papaya, watermelon, oranges), pre-cooked frozen shrimp, pathogen-free live food (e.g. , insects, worms, undercooked shrimp).

Pellets (food in the form of floating sticks) are a fairly common and safe food for fish. Tip: choose food from one specific well-known manufacturer and only feed it. For small koi, choose a small size pellet.

Some foods contain natural color enhancers (vitamin A or carotenoids): shrimp, fruit, spirulina. Small koi do not need additional food color enhancers because this can harm their young and immature liver. You need to be careful with color enhancers, because prolonged feeding of carotenoids to koi can cause the fish to turn yellow. Initially white is a signal that the fish liver cannot cope with so much vitamin A. Some koi have white spots that are next to red spots, become reddish or pinkish - a consequence of the same problem.

If you prefer to feed carps with several types of food (standard, vegetable, with the addition of dyes), then it is better to create a feeding schedule for a certain period (for example, a week) and strictly follow it.

Koi feeding rules:

• fish should eat food within 5-10 minutes,
• food should not pollute the water,
• better to underfeed than to overfeed,
• often (2-3 times a day) feed in small portions,
• fish should receive daily food in the amount of 3% of its own weight.

It is useless to give koi carps a large portion of food once a day, since they will not be able to digest everything at once - instead of a stomach, a long intestinal tract.

Initial food for fry: artemia, daphnia, infusoria, wheat yeast, spirulina. Live food is recommended, but if this is not available, then a hard-boiled egg yolk will do. After a week, the fry can be fed with crushed granules. When they reach 1.5 cm in length, they can be given small granules, which need to be increased in size as the fish grow.

In koi carps, it is impossible to determine the sex before they reach puberty. They usually enter spawning age when they reach a length of 23 cm. But sometimes even adults are difficult to determine the sex. The main signs of gender difference:
-males have sharper and visually larger (relative to the body) pectoral fins;
- females have a “heavier” body, which is associated with a greater need for nutrients (for the normal functioning of the eggs);
- during the mating season, tubercles appear on the gill covers of males (looks like semolina);
The anal openings of males and females are different.

If carp live in a pond, they will most likely spawn in late spring or early summer (that is, when temperatures rise), of course, provided that they are sexually mature, healthy and fed enough. The temperature ideal for spawning is 20?C.

If there are a lot of koi in the pond, then you can observe mass spawning. This spawning results in healthy offspring, but is avoided by many aquarists because these fry are usually much paler in color than their parents. Professional breeders select a specific pair of parents and put them in a separate pond. It will take 2-3 males and one female. If there is no special pond for spawning carps, and you do not want to dig it out, then a children's mini-pool will do just fine. More frequent water changes are made to increase the chances of spawning. You can also add more live food to the koi menu. Koi lay their eggs.

For adults, these carps are characterized by eating not only caviar, but also fry. Therefore, if you need more spawning productivity, then after spawning, the eggs should be placed in a separate pond or aquarium. The fry require large amounts of oxygen, otherwise they will not survive.

After 3-7 days (depending on the temperature), fry begin to hatch. You will learn about this by the specific brilliance of eggs. As soon as they appear, they immediately attach to the edges of the pond. The fry have a special sticky pad on their heads, which allows them to attach to any surface and hang there for 2-3 days. After these days, koi fry swim freely, only occasionally swimming up to the surface for air. Air enters the swim bladder and the koi can swim comfortably in the water for a while. Until the fry begin to swim freely (i.e. until they peel off the surface), they do not need to be fed.

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Koi carp, or brocade carp, is an ornamental domesticated fish of the Carp family, the content of which is possible both in a pond and in an aquarium. A koi carp can be considered a fish that has passed eight selection selections. All fish have a certain category. The homeland of the brocade carp is China, but most often it can be found in the ponds of urban gardens in Japan. 14 species with different colors have been bred.

On the territory of Japan, koi carp appeared in the 15th century, it was brought from China. Even 2500 years ago, these fish came to the Celestial Empire from the Caspian regions. Initially, Japanese peasants grew it in ponds, then ate it. People noticed that some fish had an unusual color, as a result, they chose them for growing in ornamental ponds.

The hobby of carp breeding has become a national hobby. At the beginning of the 20th century, an exhibition was held in Tokyo, where carp were presented at the official level. Nowadays, there are special organizations and clubs where lovers of these fish meet and organize exhibitions.

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Description

Koi has 80 variations (breeds) that differ in several characteristics. All breeds are divided into 16 groups, which simplifies selection. To qualify as a show variant, a koi carp must pass an overall assessment of fins, head shape, body color and general proportions. Mostly females are chosen for exhibitions, as they correspond to volume and color. The fins of the show carp should be in proportion to the size of the body, the sides of the body should be equal.

The scales should be healthy, without flaws. The depth of color, the number of spots and tone should be moderately balanced. On small fish, a small pattern is evaluated, on large fish - large spots and patterns. The posture of the fish, its manner of swimming in the water is also evaluated.

Admire the koi selected for the show.

In addition to exhibitions, carps can often be seen in home aquariums. Some breeds look good in glazed ponds. Brocade carps are unpretentious fish, they are easy to grow. The length of a domesticated pet will be 16-20 cm, but the color will remain more faded. The more water in the aquarium, the longer the fish will grow. Keeping fish requires an aquarium with a volume of 800-1000 liters of water, and the larger the aquarium container, the better.

In a container from 800 liters, a 6 kilogram "giant" will grow. Keeping carp at home has several advantages:

• they are easy to care for;
• fish have a calm disposition;
• koi carp is undemanding to water parameters;
• for a beautiful ornamental fish, water from a well, lake or river is suitable, only it must be clean. Will not accept sour and rotten water;
• vegetables and fruits, dry granules, egg products, raw and boiled shrimp, etc. are suitable as feed;
• fish can be trained: they get used to the owner and to the external conditions of the room;
• can keep company, golden carps.

Conditions of detention

Keeping in an aquarium is not a hassle. Koi carp adapt perfectly to a new place and new neighbors. Clean water is desirable for them, but small pollution is tolerated. 1/3 of the water in the aquarium should be changed weekly. It is advisable to sterilize the water with a UV filter, but it is not necessary. Acceptable temperature for life: from 4 to 30 degrees, but the optimum is 20-25 degrees, i.e. average room temperature. Water conditions: fresh water with low acidity and low ammonia and nitrate content. The average level of water acidity is 7 pH, the average hardness is 3-7 dH.

At the bottom of the aquarium, you can sprinkle the soil (fine sand, non-sharp gravel, pebbles). Carp sort out the bottom, so be careful with communications.

Fish love good lighting in the space, but at night the lights must be turned off. Their sleep is funny - they sleep on their side, in the dark. Carps are not neat, so experienced hobbyists do not recommend planting a lot of plants and decorations in a container. If carps get sick, they are treated with antibiotics.

Koi breed when they grow over 23 cm in length. Spawning requires clean water, saturated with oxygen, the water temperature is not higher than 27 degrees. Temperature fluctuations cause mucus secretion.

Watch a short video about keeping koi in an aquarium.

Carp should be fed with a mass of feed of at least 1.5% of its total weight. To obtain a bright color, a food with a carotenoid content, vegetable and live food is required. The content involves regular feeding, in small portions. Specialized stores sell carp pellets and chips, daphnia and gammarius. You can feed earthworms, greens, boiled cereals and boiled egg yolk. Live food should be a treat, but not the main food.

Breeding

Full-fledged breeding of brocade carps is possible only in a pond, where they grow longer and larger. You should know that carps are aggressive towards caviar and fry, they can eat them.

In nature, fish breed in spring and summer, when the temperature rises. In an aquarium, temperature rise can be controlled artificially, but aquarium conditions are not suitable for full breeding. The optimum temperature for spawning is 20 degrees. However, spawning in aquariums is almost impossible, so they live without producing offspring. The life expectancy of carps is 70-100 years, in open water they reach a length of 90 cm.

Koi carp is one of the most beautiful ornamental fish in the pond and aquarium. Popular to this day due to its peaceful disposition, love for its owners and unpretentiousness in content.

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Koi are most often kept in ponds, but can also thrive in aquariums if they have sufficient volume. Bred in Japan, these brightly colored large fish are known for their good health and unpretentiousness. Sometimes, the fish is also called Chinese or brocade carp. Breeding koi is one of the most popular hobbies in their homeland today. Most often, the species is kept in large artificial or natural reservoirs. With an experienced breeder, koi carps can live in an aquarium, but only if its volume is more than 500 liters. In nature, these fish do not exist. They are bred artificially for decorative purposes.

History of appearance

For the first time about carp in Japan learned in the 14th century. It was grown for food. It was noticed that some of the individuals have an interesting color, and they began to be left to decorate the reservoirs. Gradually, the cultivation of ornamental fish grew into a hobby, and various varieties of them with more unusual colors began to be bred. Officially, the decorative Japanese carp was introduced to Tokyo in 1914.

Koi Standards

Koi carp standards are set precisely. To obtain high exhibition marks, the fish must meet the following requirements:

• proportionality of fins;
• head of the correct form without curvature, wide with a blunt nose;
• a clear border of spots;
• shiny body without matte coating;
• the color is bright;
• absence of large spots near the head and on the caudal fin.

Photo from the koi carp exhibition.

If an individual does not meet the standards, it should not be entered into elite breeding, so as not to violate the approved conformation of the fish. The length of decorative carps grown in a pond, depending on the breed, can be from 45 cm to 90 cm.

Lifespan

Carps are long-lived fish. In an aquarium, with proper care, they can live for about 35 years.. In ponds where there are not very many fish, and the volume of water is large and the conditions are as close as possible to natural ones, the life expectancy of koi increases to 100 years. There is information that some individuals live up to 220 years, but there is no documentary evidence of these data.

Primary colors in painting

More than 80 koi breeds have been bred. They are quite similar in their characteristics. Differences are only in the form of spots, their location and color. The main colors that prevail in the color of fish are as follows:

• red;
• blue;
• white;
• black;
• cream;
• gold.

Types of koi with their names.

Sometimes gold-colored fish are called golden fleece by amateurs, but this is not the official name.

Features of pond content

Carps are kept in the pond all year round. The reservoir in the place where the fish will be in winter should have a depth of at least 250 cm and there should be no ice on the surface of the water. Breaking ice is highly discouraged, its formation should be prevented. With a pond depth of 250 cm or more, the water at the bottom will not cool below +4 degrees even in severe frost. If the reservoir is covered with ice, then a sufficient amount of oxygen does not enter it and harmful gases accumulate. As a result, fish die from oxygen starvation and poisoning. For normal wintering, it is enough that a small area of ​​the water surface remains clear of ice.

If the pond is shallow, then koi will not be able to winter in it. For the cold season, they should be transferred to an aquarium that stands in a cool place.

Video: Koi wintering in the pond

The size of the pond needs to be significant, as the fish are active and need an area for swimming. Trout, minnow and some types of catfish are suitable as neighbors for carps. Aggressive neighbors are unacceptable as they may eat or injure young koi.

Features of aquarium maintenance

Whether it is possible to keep koi in an aquarium is well known, thanks to many years of experience. This is possible, although fish develop fully only in ponds. Carp are unpretentious inhabitants who mainly require only clean water for life. The fish are large and emit a large amount of waste, which is why more than one aquarium filter is needed for cleaning. A couple of carps will require at least 500 liters of water in the aquarium, which is why such inhabitants are rarely brought up. It also complicates the maintenance of fish somewhat and the fact that in winter koi carps in the aquarium require a mandatory decrease in water temperature.

An aquarium for permanent keeping of koi should have an impressive size.

Due to the love of fish to eat plants, it is difficult to create complex live plant compositions in an aquarium, so artificial plants are most often used. Of the living, it is recommended to plant cheap, fast-growing species that tolerate plucking and quickly recover in a reserve aquarium. Keeping koi in an aquarium is not the best idea, as a home pond with small fish will be much more interesting.

Feeding

Koi are not picky about food. They do not need complex nutritional formulations. Pets must eat a single serving of food within 10 minutes. Overfeeding is extremely dangerous for koi. It is better not to feed these inhabitants of the pond than to overfeed, because due to obesity they quickly develop diseases and the fish die. You need to feed three times a day in small portions. The following food is recommended for fish:

• cereals;
• small crustaceans;
• hard-boiled chicken eggs;
• shrimps;
• dandelion leaves, pre-chopped;
• lettuce leaves;
• earthworms;
• bloodworm;
• bread (in a small amount);
• shredded vegetables.

Video: Koi Feeding

On sale there is food for pond fish. They should be bought only from reliable brands and without any stimulants. Any additives that affect the growth rate of fish adversely affect its health and cannot be used for ornamental pond inhabitants.

reproduction

In an aquarium, koi breeding cases can be called an exception. In the ponds, the fish spawn quite successfully, and if the right conditions are created for them, then the young growth grows into full-fledged fish. The breeding season for fish is spring and summer, when the water temperature is around 20 degrees. For breeding, you should choose the most beautiful fish. Carps reach sexual maturity when they grow to a length of 23 cm.

You can distinguish a male from a female by a more elegant body, large pectoral fins, growths on the gills and a narrow head. Feeding fish at the time of spawning requires live food.

The male has a more slender body than the female.

Adult fish eat fry and caviar, and therefore they must be transplanted after spawning.. The fry hatch after 7 days, immediately attach to the soil and plants and remain in this state until the contents of the yolk sac are empty. After that, they begin to swim, periodically rising to the surface of the water. From this point on, they need to be fed with special starter food. The water in the young stock tank needs to be clean and with sufficient oxygen content. As the fish grow, their food changes, and by the size of 15 cm, the fish can eat fully adult food. Young growth is settled with large individuals only after it grows to a size when it cannot be eaten by large neighbors.

Video: Koi breeding

Diseases and their prevention

Because of the mobility of carps, injuries can occur and bacterial diseases can occur against their background. When they are minor, no action is required. In case of serious damage to the pet, it is necessary to show the ichthyologist veterinarian. If such a specialist is not available, then the injured area is treated with an antiseptic. Fish are under constant control. If the condition of the carp worsens, it is deposited. In case of extensive injury, which will definitely lead to the death of the fish, it is recommended to kill the carp to end its torment.

When buying koi carp, you should pay attention to some features of the fish in order to buy only quality inhabitants for the pond. Unscrupulous sellers quite often offer especially bright individuals that resemble a herring with an elongated body shape. You should not buy such fish, as they are grown on hormones and stimulants. Behind the primary external attractiveness of these individuals, further problems of growth and health are hidden. Rarely, such fish grow to a normal size and live a full life. In most cases, these artificial fish live no more than 1 year, but their cost is often higher than that of full-fledged decorative carps.

Be wise in choosing future pets.

Sometimes koi carp, until they have grown to a significant size, are sold in pet stores as ordinary aquarium fish. For a standard home aquarium, they should not be purchased.

Exhibitions and competitions

The popularity of ornamental carps in Japan and the USA is as high as possible. In these countries, competitions are held annually among hobbyists and koi farms. Based on the results of these exhibitions-competitions, awards and titles are distributed. In Europe, the first koi show was held in 2011 in Holland. In Russia, because of the harsh climate, decorative carp is not so common, and there are no clubs for lovers of the species. Koi are sometimes kept in ponds, but the number of breeders is not large.

Video from exhibitions

Koi carps are beautiful inhabitants of ponds that easily get used to people and willingly make contact. These fish are enjoyable for people of all ages, as they can be hand-fed and stroked, unlike most aquatic pets. Simple cultivation and attractive external description make the fish more and more popular.