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Caring for your japanese koi fish. |
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Caring for your japanese koi fish.
Change the color of your Japanese Koi fish by feeding it special foods. Treats, water maintenance and symptoms of illnesses in Koi etc.
The Koi fish is one of the most unusual fish in the world. It can be tamed to allow you to hand-feed it and also to stroke it. It is a docile fish and will swim to you for feeding or stroking. Its natural habitat is in the pond but the majority of Koi owners keep their Koi in large glass tanks as they can't afford the luxury of having ponds in their gardens. When you buy a Koi from your breeder, get advice regarding the type of water to keep your Koi in. There are chemicals to add into the water to make it conducive for the Koi to live.
The Koi is sensitive to chemicals in its food. The color of Koi will change depending on the food chemicals present. If you want your Koi to become red or pink in color, you can fed it with food containing carotene. If you wish your Koi to maintain a multi-colored body, you can use an algae called spirulina. This feed will bring out the red patches of your Koi but will not disturb its other colorations. Breeders are professionals at changing the color of their Koi by controlling the diet.
For the rest of us who keep Koi as pets, it is sufficient to feed our Koi commercially available Koi food. These have been tested and made with the right proportions of nourishment for the Koi. You can get advice from your breeder or pet shop on the type of snacks or goodies to give your Koi. The usual supplementary foods are small prawns and worms. These are usually given as treats to your Koi to encourage it to feed from your hand. This trains the fish to swim to you as it may expect such treats from your hand.
Another surprising fact about the Koi is that it eats tiny pieces of fresh lettuce. You may be tempted to overfeed your Koi as it lovingly " pecks " at your hand. be forewarned that the more your Koi eats, the more it excretes. Its wastes are mainly ammonia which pollutes the water. This is unhealthy for your Koi. You then have to do a great deal of work in changing the water in your tank, cleaning your tank etc. A fat Koi does not look beautiful. It will move sluggishly as its body is heavy. When the fish lacks exercise, it will get sick.
Polluted water does not have enough oxygen for your Koi to breathe. Dirty water also supports bacteria and other disease causing organisms. Common illnesses in Koi are white spot disease, Dropsy disease, Anchor worms, fish lice and ulcers. You may need a Koi fish expert or your vet to diagnose the illness and prescribe treatment. Generally, the symptoms of sick fish include lethargy, loss of appetite, rubbing its body against other objects in the tank, jumping behavior or red on its body. Don't feel discouraged with a sick Koi. With timely proper treatment, it will recover nicely.
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