subject: Online Koi Maintenance - 3 Crucial Things [print this page] Online Koi Maintenance - 3 Crucial Things
Koi are actually very hardy fish. Even so, koi do have some basic requirements to stay healthy and disease free. Here are three elements that are crucial in koi maintenance.
First, what you feed your koi is very important. The most common problem with koi is overfeeding. The problem is not that the koi overeat, the problem is that the excess food in the pond water becomes infected with bacteria. That bacteria is what harms the koi. What this means is that as long as you are feeding a high-quality pellet or flake food, your koi will be fine as long as you keep the feedings small. Make sure your koi eat everything put into the water within five minutes.
The five-minute rule does not apply to treats such as citrus slices which can float in the pond for up to a day. After one day, fish out whatever is left of the citrus and throw it away. Better yet, throw it into your compost pile.
Also remember that during the cold months, fish in general will eat almost nothing. Be sure the food for your koi does not stay in the pond even in the winter. Even though bacterial growth is greatly retarded during the winter, it still occurs.
Secondly, check your koi filter system regularly to make sure it is working properly. The more often the filters are cleaned, the less hard your equipment has to work and the longer it will last. As you clean your filters, make a mental note about the material in the filter. Watch for significant changes in the material caught in the filter as it could be an indicator of a problem in the making. Color changes, change in size of material or a significant smell or odor can be a significant indicator of a problem. Gravel or sand in the filter that was not there before could indicate a broken line. A strong odor could indicate that something is rotting in the pond that you can't see. Other changes can give you a heads up that will save you a lot of time and money to correct when caught early.
Third, inspect your koi daily. This just means to look at your koi watching for small problems before they become big problems. Removing the koi from the pond is very stressful for the fish. Never take koi out of the pond unless it is absolutely necessary. However, observation of the fish will show if the fish is swimming straight, if the fish is stopping frequently and allowing itself to float to the surface and if there is any suspicious growths on the fish. If you spot something strange, try to get a photograph of the problem and take it to your veterinarian or to a local expert to see if it can be diagnosed without moving the fish. As a responsible koi owner, you can also train yourself to become more knowledgeable about koi management. If you are fortunate enough to be near a koi farm, take advantage of the situation and observe how the farm manages their fish.
These three simple steps will serve you well in basic koi maintenance.
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