What Makes Koi Very Charming?
Koi are very popular fish bred and cared for by hobbyists the world over. Koi is a Japanese word that means "carp" and covers the dull gray wild carp found in rivers and also lakes for food, along with the brightly colored varieties. It is the colorful koi fish which are bred for their beauty. Although the proper term for these "living jewels" is nishikigoi, many people, especially those in the United States, call them simply as koi.
A Very Koi Story
The carp came from Central Europe and also Asia where it was merely a food fish. It was the Chinese that began propagating specific species of carp until they developed the gold fish more than a thousand years ago. The Chinese first introduced koi as food to Japan in 200 AD. Seeing the beautiful color mutations, Japanese farmers in Niigata, a prefecture in Honshu, bred them for aesthetic applications and produced several color designs. The first variety to be popular is the kohaku, the red-and-white koi.
The Niigata koi was first seen by the public in 1914 during the annual exposition in Tokyo. The charming, colorful fish mesmerized all of Japan and some kept koi because they looked perfect for their water gardens. It didn't take long before the rest of the world caught up on the hobby. Today, Niigata remains to be the home of the finest koi breeders though you can buy koi from almost all pet stores. Then again, you have to go to specialized dealers if you want the higher-quality fish. Prices of koi differ according to the very koi-like quality of the fish.
Koi Characteristics
You can find koi with different colors and designs. The typical colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue and cream. Female koi are usually plump while the males are a lot more streamlined with torpedo shapes. A fully-grown koi can grow as long as 36 inches and weigh more than 17 pounds. The koi are hardy and durable, and can live for decades based on their genetics and also living conditions. The oldest koi ever reported was "Hanako" that supposedly lived up to 226 years.
The Koi are omnivores which means they eat almost anything including vegetables. It is very koi of the fish to forage at the bottom of the pond for food. Although koi fish are basically shy and will dash away when disturbed, they often know the person frequently feeding your koi fish. It is ordinary to see koi gathering around their keeper during feeding times with several eating directly from the hand.
Varieties of Koi
There are several varieties of koi that are distinguished by the color, pattern and scales. There are a few hybrids like the Ghost koi or the Butterfly koi that have also acquired popularity but are not regarded as true Nishikigoi. Among the prominent kinds of the true Nishikigoi are the following:
- Kohaku - white koi with large red markings on top
- Taisho Sanshoku - looks like the Kohaku but has more small black marks
- Showa Sanshoku - black koi having red and white marks
- Tancho - any koi with a lone red patch on top of its head
- Asagi - is colored light blue on top and red below
- Utsurimono - black with very koi markings of red, white or yellow
- Bekko - base color of red, white or even yellow with small black marks
- Goshiki - black koi accented with red, white, brown and also blue markings
- Shusui - does not have scales other than a single row of large mirror scales running along the dorsal area, from head to tail
Salt Water Aquariums - Many Shapes And Sizes
Salt Water Aquariums come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. The number of fish you can keep will depend on the size of the tank that you buy.
Customizable Fish Tanks - Mistakes
People with custom aquariums tend to make the same mistakes as any other novice fish owner. The most common of these is overfeeding.
Diverse Places Suitable For A Fish Aquarium In Your House
Knowing where to locate your salt water tank is half the battle to providing a good home for your new fish. You do not want to put the tank too near sunlight.
The Different Characteristics Of Salt Water Fish For Your Latest Tank
If you are interested in buying salt water fish tanks, it goes without saying that you are fascinated by fish.
The Things You Want To Completely Develop Your Aquarium
Decorating your salt water fish tanks with rocks and pieces of coral is imperative in order to make the fish feel at home.
Understand More About How You Can Care For Aquariums Through Tropical Fish Guides
Tropical fish guides can help you decide on how to populate your new aquarium. These books will describe the different varieties of fish available.
Learn How To Refrain From New Aquarium Disorder Associated With Saltwater Fish Tanks
If you are interested in salt water fish tanks you have probably heard of new tank syndrome. This is where people who buy a load of new fish find that they all die very quickly.
