How to Care for Koi in your Outdoor Garden Pond
How to Care for Koi in your Outdoor Garden Pond
Unlike many species of tropical fish, koi are hardy as well as beautiful, and can grow more than a foot long in outdoor ponds. They also live for a very, very long time; usually 25 to 35 years and sometimes much longer.
Koi fish grow to be more than 18 inches long in the first three or four years of life. Keeping them in an indoor tank is out of the question for most people because koi need more space than most people can allocate for a fish tank. Keeping them outdoors in a pond in colder climates will require transferring them to an indoor tank or providing a heat source during cold winter months. Another option is to build a small pond with a small pond liner that can be taken up and brought inside during the coldest part of the year. However, you will need to make sure that the indoor location for your liner doesnt get too hot and is away from areas where it could pose problems or temptations for pets and children.
Setting up a koi fish pond doesnt have to be overly expensive. Pre-made ponds are available at reasonable cost, or you can buy a pond liner and dig the space for it yourself in an afternoon. Place some rocks and low level solar lights around your pond for emphasis and to set it off from the rest of your landscape. Your Koi pond should have a filter, and if your area mandates installing a pond heater be certain to double check the size with a knowledgeable pond person because you can only heat ponds up to a certain size.
Though koi can go for a week without food, its best to feed them at least once a day, twice if you can manage it: Simply throw koi pellets purchased from a pet store or other reliable source into the pond and the fish will do the rest! When you go on vacation, arrange for someone to take over the feeding duty and keep an eye on your koi.
The cost of stocking your koi pond depends on how big the fish you buy are, their coloration and the availability of KOI in your area. If you want to purchase larger koi or you want specific colors, check out eBay as well as the aquarium and pet stores in your area. Youll probably spend a bit more because of shipping, but koi selection is often much bigger online.
It is best to check with an aquarium or pet store to decide how many koi can live comfortably in your outdoor pond depending on your pond size. Koi are not aggressive fish and live harmoniously in schools, but they can die from overcrowding.
Koi can lend a graceful and Asian flair to your garden. They are an expensive investment initially, but if you care for them properly they will last a very long time and offer you years of visual enjoyment in your garden.
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