.The Colorful Koi Fish

Koi fish are carp that have been bred by the Japanese for a long time, and are specially bred in Japan for their color. They are known to be a docile fish. Koi fish are a great hobby. They are pretty playful fish and like to hide in different things in your pond whether it is between plants or "hanging around" the pump.
These are considered valuable and live a long time; they are not goldfish, but are a different species of carp, and are found in virtually every Chinese and Japanese garden where there is a pond. They are considered some of the most beautiful ornamental fish in the world. They are also rather relaxing to watch and enjoy whether you realize it at the time or not, and are part of the ancient Chinese culture, and is where the concept of Yin and Yang comes from. Koi fish are grown for ornamental reasons.
Japanese and Chinese gardens are often found to be usually quite lifeless; paths, ponds, stones, stones, bridges, pavilions, stones... There are also some plants of course, but not as many as in Western gardens. Koi fish are considered some of the most beautiful ornamental fish in the world. Believed to have originated in Persia, they are more closely associated with China.
Koi fish are now grown in Candaba not only for its aesthetic beauty but also for its great potential as dollar earner, and are omnivorous and are not particularly picky about what kind of koi food and sometimes they even enjoy the little bit of fresh lettuce or vegetables you might have lying around. Koi fish are omnivorous, they eat a variety of animal and plant foods. Most manufactured koi foods available in todays market are nutritionally balanced in order to keep your koi healthy and happy. They are specially bred in Japan for their color. A prize example can be valued in the $100,000 range. These fish are grown for ornamental reasons. The breeding of them first became popular among rice farmers of Japan. They are typically thought to swim up stream against the current, symbolizing strength and individualism. Koi fish are actually a variety of the common carp.
They are truly living jewels in your garden pond and really make your garden pond come alive. Koi fish are considered valuable and live a long time; they are not goldfish, There are several different varieties of koi.
Bob Wright has produced more interesting and informative articles on Water Ponds. They can easily be found here>http://waterponds.net/Koi_Ponds.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Wright

6 Tips on Choosing the Right Koi For Your Pond

If you lurk around the koi chat rooms and forums as I do you pick up a lot of information from people who are just getting started in the world of koi. These soon to be koi addicts are searching for answers and yet don't have the direct experience of koi culture. The number one topic on their minds is "What kind of koi should I get?"
1) The first decision to make is to whether you want to buy from your local supplier or through the internet. If you have a local koi supplier, go and have a look at the quality of their koi as well as their facilities. Get an idea of how knowledgeable the owner is about koi in general, but more importantly, about the specific koi that he has in stock.
The time of the year to buy your koi. If you want imported Japanese koi, which are the best quality koi usually, then the harvest time in Japan in October and so will arrive in overseas countries in November or December.
2) That they're swimming smoothly and efficiently, and not with any jerking or unsmooth motions.
3) That the koi is not damaged in any way, looking carefully at their gills, all their scales, their fins, and quality of their eyes. Ensure that there are no damage, ulcerations, or discolored spots.
4) That they're not in respiratory distress and that their gills are moving evenly and rhythmically.
5) That they're interacting and socializing well. Koi that swim alone or are hiding in a corner may not be the healthiest or most robust.
6) If you need a closer look at a koi that you like, ask the owner to hold them up close for you to see.
Generally, you should have 1000 L of water for each koi, especially with the Japanese variety. Plus, your pond should be ready before you go buy the koi.
If this is your first ever koi pond and you're looking at top of the range koi, it may be wise to not buy your entire stock of expensive koi at once. If going for a $10 to $20 koi, then many will be able to afford the whole new family at once.
Dennis is a koi fish enthusiast who finds peace in tending to his koi fish pond. You can get free practical information and personal observation on caring for koi at http://didarticles.com/koi
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Francis

KOI's FROM MY GARDEN POND

I am always intrigued by the koi market participants and was prompted to write these few words following a request for information from a pond keeper who had a record "crop" of koi and was looking for possible buyers She could not seem to find anyone.
Koi are wonderful fish that genuinely make real pets. They quickly learn to feed from your hand and recognize you immediately you get close to the pond.
For 99.999% of pond keepers that's all the koi will ever be ... wonderful pets. Pets also cost money and do not make money for their owners.
Dealers are not shy to encourage the view that money can be made from koi keeping. These self same dealers are happy to sell you fish at high prices but never seem to want to buy fish back from you even at low prices. Have you even come across this phenomenon?
Build your pond to enjoy the hobby ... forget making money.

PREDATORS

Koi ponds are beautiful and relaxing. They also are a sizable investment, which means you need to keep them safe.
Here is a simple fact. People with no money at all do not own Koi ponds. The expense involved for the construction, purchase of fish, food for the Koi, and chemicals to maintain the pond can represent a serious investment of money. This does not even take into consideration the time and effort or the enjoyment that you derive from your family of fish.
The dangers to the Koi pond come in three forms. They are predators, water conditions, and disease. Predators come in all sizes and shapes. In rural areas, where most ponds are located, scavengers like raccoons will enjoy a testy meal of Koi anytime they can get near to the pond. Fish eating birds present a serious problem in many areas as well. One good suggestion for the control of predators is to make the pond as deep as possible and to provide some sort of cover for the fish. Ponds that are at least 4 feet deep tend to discourage most predators. Eight feet deep ponds are even better.
Thin bird netting can be strung over the pond to prevent birds such as Great Blue Hurons from targeting your pond as a grocery store. A full sized nesting Huron can eat as many as twenty Koi in a single meal. They are known to kill larger fish and just dump them next to the pond. A combination of netting and depth gives the fish a fighting chance. The law of survival of the fittest is going to be enforced in your pond. The healthy fish that are smart and fast are going to be the ones that survive any attack.
The dangers from disease are best controlled by keeping the fish from becoming stressed. When you speak of fish stress, you are referring to any type of condition that disrupts the harmony of the fish’s environment. This could be anything from dirty water to excessive handling. Over crowding creates stress as does sharp edges that can cause injury to the fish. Most bacterial and fungal agents attack the fish through previous injuries.
The final step is monitoring and maintaining the proper chemical levels in the water. This includes everything from acidity to temperature to the presence of contaminants. Most Koi pond owners become amateur chemists and their testing kits are one of their strongest weapons in keeping the fish healthy and happy