White Koi and Koi Pond Algae By Max Lara Platinum Quality Author

A koi is a carp that is being bred because of its color. The whole breeding craze started in Japan during the 1800's. Back then only two colors were bred. A century later, more colors became available and continue to increase up to the present day. Koi eventually won the title for being the most beautiful fish in the world. The colors are red, white, black, yellow, blue, gray, and green. But the most famous of them is the white.

Growing kois is an expensive affair. The pond alone has to be wide and deep enough to cater to a certain number of koi population. Other requirements include location, security, and devices that regulate the environment of the pond to ensure the kois grow in the best way possible. Kois grow up to 3 ft so for serious growers, they need a serious pond to grow them in. A fish tank will not suffice unless it is big enough for the koi to swim and grow in. Even though kois don't school much, it's the size of each one that has to be taken into consideration. Necessary consideration with the location must be taken to avoid Koi Pond Algae from growing as well.

The white koi is known for its visibility in murky waters. It's body is attractive due to the trait of being quite reflective. Kois under this category are the: sanke, kohaku, beko, and ogon. The only kois considered to be true white kois are probably the sanke and the kohaku because of having colored markings against the white background. But the bekko and ogon are not totally white making them similar to other breeds.

As for kohakus, 50 to 70 percent of their bodies are covered in red markings while the sanke is covered in black and red markings against a white background. There is a set of standards that koi enthusiasts follow in order to determine the kind of koi and these are the criteria.

The markings have to be of a particular color. In the case of a kohaku, red. The sanke has to be red and black.

Again in case of a kohaku, its body has to have markings and these markings must cover at least half to 70% of its body. The rest should be pure white.
The colors must follow a symmetrical pattern. When being observed, the colors on one side should reflect at the opposite side.

The color should be as deep as possible. A light color hue means the fish has a defect.
Color edges have to be clear especially on edges where the colors meet with the white background.
Since it's a fish, it should be covered in scales.

A koi that does not meet these standards for a white koi is disqualified. They are considered defective and not pure in breed. Only a few breeders know this fact and this had resulted to the breeding of unqualified white kois. Since kois are popular, these fishes are expensive but they make excellent pets to decorate the yard. These also make as excellent food source as well as income source for fish farmers.

Want to discover more about koi pond algae? Go here to download your FREE course that reveals how you can take care of your koi fish at www.kiofish.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Lara

Koi Pond Construction - Upgrade To Concrete or Fiberglass By Marshall Crum Platinum Quality Author

A recent comment on my website asked my opinion on making a liner koi pond a more permanent structure. That question started me thinking about the different materials and techniques available to upgrade a pond. I have a pond with about five years on the liner and it is a good possibility that it may have to be replaced eventually. That leads to a decision about what to replace it with. There are basically three choices in an upgrade. Replace the vinyl liner, or replace it with concrete or fiberglass.

Putting in another vinyl liner is by far the cheapest and the fastest. The downside is that the liner will not be permanent. Concrete or fiberglass is by far a more permanent solution but this type of upgrade is more suited to the DIY enthusiast.

Having worked in the construction industry for many years, I have had an opportunity to observe construction with the two most popular materials, concrete and fiberglass. There are advantages to both and some disadvantages as well.

Before you start an upgrade that significantly changes the construction of your pool, it might be a good idea to check with your local zoning board to get the current requirements for installing a pool. Hopefully, your in-ground pool was installed with all the required permits in place, but rules have a way of changing.

The cost of the upgrade is an important consideration. People who want to upgrade a liner pool need to decide how much money they want to spend on the project. It's important to take some time to think through this project, since upgrading to concrete or fiberglass will be a permanent change and not easily undone.

Making a realistic budget will help determine the type of materials to be used in the construction of the pool upgrade. If you are changing the liner material, you will have the opportunity to make changes in the pool size, shape and design extras. After doing all the preparation you can to upgrade your pond, do not forget the final rule of thumb. Any project you start will take more time and money than you thought. Plan on it and you might avoid sticker shock.

Concrete can come as a dry mix called gunite, or pre-mixed (sometimes called shotcrete). The terms Gunite and Shotcrete are sometimes used interchangeably but there is a significant technical difference between the two. Gunite is a dry-mix process while shotcrete refers to the wet-mix process that most people are familiar with.

Both types of concrete can be sprayed on to make a seamless finish. The big difference between the two is that the gunite mixture has water added to it at the construction site by the nozzle operator while it is being sprayed while premixed concrete has the water added at the plant before it is delivered to the pool site.

Several considerations about concrete could be called disadvantages:

1. The concrete has to be sprayed in thickness of six to eight inches over steel rebar to get the structural strength needed for the pool. This increases the total cost and time to construct the pool and you might end up with a pool that is smaller than you start with.

2. Concrete is subject to cracking while it is curing. The only way around this is to keep the surface wet while it is curing. This puts an extra step in the process.

3. It is more difficult to make a non-porous surface that algae and other materials will not cling to. The surface may have to be polished or troweled until it is smooth to apply a finish coat of plaster.

Fiberglass is a plastic resin sprayed with what is called a chopper gun that also applies small fiberglass strands to add structural strength to the liner. The fiberglass surface is non-porous and a gel coat of any color can be applied.

The big advantage that fiberglass that there appears to be less prep work required. Fiberglass can be sprayed on the existing pool wall that is smooth and the cure time is much shorter. The finished liner will be on the order of one to two inches thick.

In my (non-expert) opinion, there is not much difference in the durability of concrete and fiberglass pools. Which one is better and how long either will last depends upon whom you are asking, so the choice comes down to one of price and availability of contractors to do the work. Both concrete and fiberglass require some expertise and experience to get it done right.

NO-ONE should have to go to a lot of trouble alone just to build or upgrade a simple koi pond. There are tons of information available online through forums and commercial websites. Just ask and you will receive, I have learned that anyone with a koi pond or aquarium is more than willing to talk about it.

The hard part of any change to your koi pond is making the decision. Do your research, make your budget and a plan and enjoy your new pond.

The author has spent many hours trying to figure out how to build a koi pond without going broke. After conducting a lot of research and doing a lot of talking at fish shops, I have decided that the only limitations are time and money. Visit my koi fish website where I have put what I have learned out there for other people to learn from and avoid some common mistakes. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marshall_Crum

Koi Food For The Different Seasons By RC Moore

There has been a lot of discussion about koi food - how much to feed, how often to feed and what type to feed. A lot of time and energy is spent creating an artificial environment for Japanese koi. Some may try to create a natural environment in a koi watergarden with plants and even a gravel bottom. The koi watergarden uses both mechanical and biological filtration as well as plants to keep the water quality high. A koi only pond relies totally on mechanical and biological filtration to keep the water quality high. So what does koi food have to do with water quality? Why feed an easy to digest food in cooler water temperatures and high protein in the summer months? Why is it best not to feed koi when the water temperature is below 50°F? To answer these questions we have to consider the natural environment of koi and where they originated.

Japanese Koi Natural Environment
Koi are basically colored carp that originated from mutated carp in the Niigata prefecture in Japan. This is a mountainous region that receives substantial snow fall in the winter months. In Niigata the carp were originally raised in earthen ponds as a food source until mutated colors were discovered in the early 1800s. Selective breeding has given way to the colorful varieties we have today. Koi are omnivorous, meaning that they eat vegetable and meat matter in the form of aquatic plants, algae, crustaceans, worms, larvae and silt. The protein content in their natural environment is much higher than the koi foods that we provide today. The whiskers on koi, like catfish, are like taste buds that help them forage for foods on the bottom. Since koi do not have stomachs, whatever they eat is not stored but instead digested for the purpose of growth, color and energy. Whatever is not utilized is excreted as waste. Japanese koi are cold blooded and their metabolism is dependant on the water temperature. This metabolism peaks at just over 70°F when most of their growth takes place. At this time most of the proteins are utilized for growth and there is little waste excreted. When the water temperature falls below 70°F they are not using the proteins for growth and there is more waste excreted in the form of ammonia. This matters little in their natural environment where population densities are much less than in a modern koi pond or koi watergarden.

The Metabolism of a Koi Pond or Koi Watergarden

Just as the metabolism of koi is dependant on water temperature, so is the metabolism of the koi pond or koi watergarden. They both tend to peak and go into a dormant state at the same time. In the winter months every thing seems to come to a stand still including biological activity. It is the biological activity of denitrifying bacteria that keeps the water quality high. Plants that would utilize and remove waste are also at a dormant state. Even though the mechanical filtration is doing its job of removing debris before it has a chance to break down, there is little if anything to deal with ammonia or nitrates that can build up. This is especially true in the transition months in the spring and fall. In the fall season plants are dying back and leaves are blowing into the pond as mechanical filters struggle to keep up. Feeding a high protein food at this time could very easily cause water quality that was in balance to degrade to an ammonia soup in a very short time. Likewise in the spring when the water temperature is below 70°F feeding a high protein diet would wreak havoc on water quality. Leaves and other debris that were not caught by mechanical filtration are starting to break down as the water temperature warms. Denitrifying bacteria lags behind in the metabolism peak which is why there is often an algae outbreak in the spring that tends to go away when water temperatures go up to over 70°F.

Different Koi Food For Different Seasons

High quality koi foods that are available today are formulated to the needs of koi in an artificial environment. In a totally natural koi pond we would not have to feed our koi at all. However, in this environment the waters would be turbid and enjoying the beauty of the koi greatly diminished. Having crystal clear water allows us to enjoy and interact with the beauty of these fish. It is imperative to feed a high quality koi food that is correct for the season and water temperature. A high quality all season koi food should be high in vegetable matter, lower in protein and easy to digest. It should also include vital nutrients and minerals that koi need for color and health. This will create less waste to foul the water in the cooler months. The best koi foods meeting this criteria are Dainichi All-Season and Saki-Hikari Multiseason. A high quality summer food should contain at least 40% protein to provide for high growth. It should also have nutrients and minerals for good color and health. The best koi foods in this category are Dainichi Growth and Saki-Hikari Growth. The recommendations are as follows. Never feed koi when the water temperature is below 50°F. From 50°F - 60°F feed an all season koi food 2-3 times a week. From 60°F - 70°F feed an all season food 1 - 2 times a day. From 70°F - 85°F feed a summer koi food 3 - 5 times a day. Slow the feeding when water temperature rises above 85°F to 1 - 2 times per day. Koi tend to lose their appetite when the water gets this warm. During the fall, when the water temperature starts to fall and the daylight hours are less, koi stop growing. This is also the time when their colors become richer. Many koi keepers at this time supplement the koi diet with a color intensifier. Koi naturally put on color at this time and it is important to provide a koi food with sufficient nutrients to help this process. The main ingredients in koi food for color enhancement is spirulina algae and krill. Dainichi Premium has color enhancers along with proteins for high growth. The Dainichi color Intensifier is loaded with krill and spirulina. Saki-Hikari Color Enhancer is loaded with Spirulina. Both Dainichi and Hikari koi foods have many years of research and development built into their koi food formulas. They also have a proven track record of creating champion koi. Feeding a high quality koi food may seem a little pricey, but the benefits far out weigh the cost, resulting in better growth and color with fewer outbreaks of disease and mortalities.

For more information visit KoiPondFever.com. RC Moore Owner of KoiPondFever.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=RC_Moore

Tips About White Koi By Max Lara Platinum Quality Author

The koi is a carp that has been bred for many years for color. Its breeding can be traced to Japan during the 1800s. Only two colors were bred. During the early 1900s, koi was bred with more color varieties which have increased up to today. This makes it one of the most beautiful fish on earth. There are many color variations in koi. These include, white, black, red, yellow, blue, gray and green. The most popular among the koi varieties is the white koi.

The popularity of the white koi can be attributed to its easy visibility even in murky water. Also, the fish is quite attractive due to its reflective body. Types of white koi include the kohaku, sanke, ogon and bekko.

The kohaku and sanke can perhaps be termed as the only white koi. This is because they have color markings on a white background. The ogon and bekko are not totally white koi as there are members of these varieties which have other colors.

The kohaku has red markings on a white background. These red markings cover between 50% and 70% of the body. Sanke on the other hand has red and black markings on a white background.

The ogon koi has only one color. The colors range from metallic silver to yellow. Bekko koi can be white, red or yellow with ebony black spots scattered all over its body. Therefore only those members of these types of koi with white coloration can be called white koi.

This koi fish has standards set to determine if it is a kohaku or sanke. Some of the things that these standards outline are as follows:

• The markings on the body of the fish have to be a particular color. For the kohaku it has to be red and for the sanke, the color has to be red and black.
• The red color markings for the kohaku have to cover between 50% and 70% of the body. The remainder should be white only.
• The color markings should be symmetrical. That is, when observed, the amount of color on one side of the dorsal line should be equal to the amount of color on the other side. This applies for the colors when viewed individually or together.
• The colors should be deep in hue. Light colors indicate defects and poor health.
• The edges where the colors meet the white should be clear. This is for attractiveness as well as purity of the breed.
• The body should be covered in scales.

Any koi that is bred and found to be lacking in these standards is considered defective and not a pure white koi. However, very few koi breeders know about distinguishing pure white koi and defective white koi. This has resulted in the breeding of many defective light koi.

Because of their popularity, this kind of koi can be quite expensive to purchase. They make excellent pets and a good earner for fish farmers.

Want to discover more about white koi?

Go here to download your FREE course that reveals how you can take care of your koi fish at www.kiofish.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Lara

The 15 Types of Koi By Max Lara Platinum Quality Author

Koi is an ornamental carp that is quite attractive. They come in many different color patterns. The first koi were first koi were bred for color in the 1800s in Japan, since then different color variations have come up. There are many different types of koi. The following are 15 of the most common.

1. The kohaku which is red on a white background. The red should be a uniform shade with well defined edges where it meets the white. In addition it should be well balanced and cover between 50% and 70% of the body.

2. Sanke is a white koi which has red and black markings. The hue of the markings should be deep with well defined edges. Also, they should be balanced when observed together or individually.

3. The showa is also white, red and black in color. The black and red are dominant and should be deep.

4. The asagi is gray or blue on the back and red or orange on the underside. The scales should be darker blue or gray at the center and become lighter or white at the edges. The red or orange should also extend to the pectoral fins' base.

5. The ogon has only one color. This should be even without any markings.

6. The chagoi has a color that varies from light tan to a dark green. The edges of their scales are black.

7. Tancho koi has a red mark on its head. It is a variety of the other types.

8. The utsurimomo koi is black with white, yellow or red markings on the body. The black on the head should extend to its nose.

9. The bekko koi is white, red or yellow with ebony black spots scattered all over its body. The edges of the black markings should be well defined.

10. The shusui koi has a blue or gray marking along its dorsal line and red or orange extending from the underside to the lateral line. The blue or gray scales should be evenly aligned along the dorsal line. The shusui is also partially scaled.

11. Doitsu koi are either partially scaled or not scaled. The partially scaled doitsu have large scales along their dorsal and lateral lines.

12. Koromo are kohaku with red markings. What makes them different from the kohaku is an indigo along the edges of the scales on the red markings.

13. The goshiki koi is white, red, black, blue and dark blue in color. This often gives them a purplish appearance.

14. The ochiba shigure is green or gray with a filigree reticulation of brown.

15. Midori goi koi is yellow green in color and is either partially scaled or non-scaled.

Koi types are distinguished through their color and escalation. However, there are certain standards a fish has to meet for it to be termed a true koi. The main consideration is the balance in color and for the mixed color types, the definition of the edges where the colors meet.

For more information on the koi types, visit our website at www.kiofish.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Lara

Buying Koi - Six Questions To Ask By Marshall Crum Platinum Quality Author

Koi fish ponds have become one of the most popular features for home-owners today. Japanese koi fish are colorful, vibrant and make great pets. But there is a little more necessary to take care of koi than just buying a tank and getting some fish. It takes more to create a habitat than most people are aware of. You can't simply dig a hole and fill up a pond with your garden hose and just toss the fish in. When you select your fish, you should not buy just any old fish from a pet store.

If you take care and start your habitat correctly then all your future work will be cut in half. It is absolutely necessary to wait until your water is ready for fish before you go and buy them. What this means is that the pond construction must be done and the water must be the right temperature and conditioned before you put the koi into the pond. Check your water's temperature and chemical levels and make sure that the habitat is suitable before you put new fish in the water.

When the pond water conditions are right and you head out the door to buy your koi, it is a good idea to avoid the pet stores and focus on cultivated farm-raised koi to beautify your pond. Good quality fish from a dealer or breeder will cost more than you will pay in a pet store, but the extra quality is worth it.

Buying koi can put strain on even the most experienced of koi owners. If you're new to this buying ritual, it can be a downright nerve-racking experience filled with uncertainty. It is important to consider everything from the conditions of the tanks the breeder keeps the fish in to the health of the individual fish.

That's why a checklist is important to keep your mind focused on getting good quality healthy fish with vibrant colors. There are five distinct things to look for to determine the health and quality of the koi you buy. Keep these six questions in mind the next time your buy fish:

1. Are the display tanks clean?
2. Are the display tanks bio-filtered to maintain water quality?
3. Does each tank have its own filter?
4. Does this dealer quarantine new fish?
5. How long are new fish quarantined?
6. Can you obtain background information on the koi you want to buy?

Getting this information is important. Koi with good backgrounds (pedigrees if you will) cost more, sometimes lots more, than your average pet store koi. Sometimes you may find a dealer who swears that he's selling you "Japanese koi", and use that to justify a higher price. But unless you can get and confirm the background information on that fish, don't believe it.

Of course, if it really is a special fish and you have the money, then by all means consider purchasing it. These fish, to be blunt about it, are usually of a higher quality. It is your money, so buy the best quality koi fish you can and get the most for it.

Buying and raising good quality healthy fish with vibrant colors is an important part of owning a koi pond or aquarium that you can be proud of. Visit my website to get more information about raising healthy koi and a copy of the best guide to keeping koi fish that I have found. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marshall_Crum

White Koi in Your Fishpond By Robert Cartledge Platinum Quality Author

The Japanese began breeding koi from carp mutations; they solely got here in one or two colours. As the popularity of koi grew and more and more people began breeding them through the years, koi started to come in larger coloration varieties and mixtures of patterns. Right now koi fish may be seen in many alternative colours including crimson, black, inexperienced, yellow and white.

With the ability to recognize the completely different sorts of koi carp is easier when you have an understanding of the varied classifications that koi are grouped into. Every variety has sure requirements but pattern diversity is suitable in most varieties. There are a few very talked-about koi varieties. One popular selection is Kahaku koi. These are white koi with crimson markings. Another widespread koi carp selection is the Hirarimono or Ogon variety.

The first part of the phrase "Hikari" means metallic. The second a part of the word "Mono" means single colour. These koi are all one colour. Ogon koi are also very metallic in appearance. They're most commonly available and seen in yellow often called Yamabuki Ogon and within the colour white or silver which are generally known as Platinum Ogon. Regardless of the color or the range, the coloration of Ogon koi should be the identical hue from their heads to their tails and right down to the guidelines of the fins. Giant fins are desirable on the Ogon koi fish as a result of they offset the plain body.

White koi or Platinum Ogon is very unique and widespread fish on the earth of koi. Their bodies appear to shine with the same luster as treasured metal. These distinctive and lovely koi fish first appeared again in 1963, most likely from crossing Kigoi with the greyish-silver Nezu (quick for the Japanese phrase for rat, nezumi) Ogon. These kinds of koi fish are very hardy and grow rapidly. They're also common in poorly filtered ponds as a result of they stand out within the murky water. Other Ogon koi embody the Nezu, Orenji and the Fuji koi.

Most Platinum Ogon koi are bred with the Ginrin scales to make them appear even shinier. Ginrin scales are very totally different from these which can be seen on metallic koi. As a substitute of a total gleam caused by the reflective pigment of the scales, Ginrin scales have a reflective sheen over all or part of their floor making a glimmering effect that may be very similar to minimize diamonds. To qualify as Ginrin, the koi fish ought to have extra of these scales than it's possible to count because it swims previous the observer. About 20 scales is the accepted minimum.

One factor that really attracts pond house owners to fill their ponds with koi carp is the massive number of colours that koi fish come in. When viewed from the top, koi fish are in a position to present their greatest colour. Nearly all of the fish's pigments are on the highest facet of the fish. When koi fish are shown in events in Asia, they're always shown in round swimming pools and are always considered from the top.

Robert Cartledge is a koi fish expert. For more great tips on white-koi, visit http://www.koifishpondssecrets.com/white-koi/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Cartledge

Japanese Koi Fish Breeding By Simon Church

Koi are domesticated ornamental varieties of the common carp Cyprinus carpio. They are not goldfish, just very closely related to goldfish, and the style of breeding and ornamentation has become very similar, probably through the efforts of Japanese breeders to emulate goldfish.

If you travel to Japan and tell friends that you like koi, your friends might invite you to eat the dull grey fish that inhabits the waters of the islands, as in Japanese, the word koi simply means 'carp'. If you tell them you appreciate Koi, they may lead you and your camera to the pond in the garden. This article is about Nishikigoi, and uses the English word koi to refer to the colourful fish.

While a Chinese book of the Western Jin Dynasty mentions carp with various colours, Koi breeding is generally thought to have begun during the 19th century in the Niigata prefecture of Japan. Farmers working the rice fields noticed that some carp were more brightly coloured than others, they would capture them, and raise them. This would have invariably saved their lives as normally the brighter coloured fish would be more likely eaten by birds and other predators.

By the 20th century, a number of colour patterns had been established, most notably the red-and-white Kohaku. The outside world did not become aware of the degree of development until 1914, when the Niigata Koi were exhibited in Tokyo. Some of them were also presented to Crown Prince Hirohito. At that point, interest in Koi exploded throughout Japan.

Nishikigoi have been called the national fish of Japan. Today, Nishikigoi are bred not only in their place of origin, Niigata, but all over Japan, and are exported all over the world. Nishikigoi continue to gain worldwide popularity as the ultimate pond or garden fish.

As Nishikigoi were developed in Japan, the language of Nishikigoi is Japanese. Japanese is used not only to name the varieties, but also for many of the terms used to describe their colours and traits.

Koi varieties are distinguished by colouration, patterning, and scalation.

Kohaku are white koi with red markings. Probably the most common variety. The hi should be deep red with well defined edges (kiwa) where it meets the white which should be pure and bright. A tancho kohaku is a white koi with a red spot on its head. An inazuma kohaku has a continuous red marking from the head to the tail, but with variation (inazuma means 'lightning strike'). A nidan (two) kohaku has two red markings, a sandan (three) kohaku has three red markings, and a yondan (four) kohaku has four red markings.

Taisho sanke (known as sanke), hi (red) and sumi (black) on a white background. A maruten sanke has a separate red spot on the head with normal markings on the body. A tancho sanke has a red spot on the head and a white body with black markings.

Showa sanshoku (known as showa), red and white markings on a black background. A hi showa is a predominantly red showa. A kindai showa has a predominantly white pattern. A tancho showa has a red spot on the head and a black body with white markings.

Bekko are white, red or yellow koi with black (sumi) markings. Shiro bekko is a white koi with black markings. Aka bekko is a red koi with black markings (aka is another word for red). Ki bekko is a yellow koi with black markings (rare variety).

Utsurimono are often confused with bekko but are mostly black with white, red or yellow markings. Shiro utsuri is a black koi with white markings. Hi utsuri is black with red markings. Ki utsuri is black with yellow markings (rare variety).

Asagi are blue-grey koi with red along the sides and belly and in the fins.

Koromo literally means 'robed'. This describes the hi pattern, outlined in a darker colour, which varies with the variety. Ai goromo is a kohaku whose scales have blue borders. Sumi goromo have solid black on the hi markings. Budo goromo have sumi overlaying the hi giving a purple/maroon colour.

Kawarimono accomodates all non-metallic koi that do not fall into the above groups:

Karasugoi is a black koi with white or orange belly. Hajiro is a black koi with white tips to its tail and pectoral fins. Hageshiro is a black koi with white tips to its fins and white head and nose. Kumonryu is a doitsu koi which is black with white markings on its head, fins and body. Aka matsuba is a red koi with black centres to its scales, creating a pine cone effect. Goshiki are white, red, black, blue and dark blue, giving a purplish appearance. Kigoi is a yellow koi. Chagoi is a light brown/olive koi. Soragoi is a blue-grey koi. Midorigoi is a green koi. Benigoi is a deep red koi. Shiro muji is a white koi, aka muji is a red koi. Ochiba shigure is blue-grey with a brown pattern.

The Hobby of keeping Koi spread worldwide after shipping of Koi became both fast and safe for the fish. Koi are now commonly sold in most pet stores, with higher-quality fish available from specialist dealers.

This article was produced by Simon Church for Asia Dragon. Visit us at http://www.asiadragon.co.uk where you will find Oriental furniture, traditional and contemporary Indian furniture, Chinese furniture plus Oriental rugs, and soft furnishings. We also have a vast range of beautiful Chinese dresses, fashion accessories and Japanese kimonos as well as calligraphy, intricate Chinese artwork and ornaments plus much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Church

Japanese Koi Fish - A Brief History By Kenneth L. White

I know a lot of people will tell me that I have my information wrong, but yes the Japanese Koi can be traced back to China. Apparently because of their survivability, the koi were bred for food. And from China they eventually made their way to Japan.

Because of the various colors that the Japanese saw from the fish, the koi were eventually cross-breeded to increase and to take advantage of their colors. This in turn led to the first time that Japan and the world discovered the many varieties of the colored fish at a Japanese expo. That was in 1914.

After that, first Japan and then the world became hypnotized by this fish and the hobby exploded.

There are numerous varieties of koi, arguably the most beautiful, in my opinion, is the Longfin Koi. This particular koi fish is known by it's long flowing fins, long barbells and pompom nostrils. These particular fish are interbred with the wild Indonesian Longfin river carp and the traditional koi. Believe it or not, there is a increasing majority of hardcore koi owners that do not like the Butterfly Koi or Dragon Koi, as it is commonly referred.

They feel like that this particular breed is inferior to traditional Koi. When it comes time to judge them in the annual competitions, Butterfly koi are not allowed. Matter of fact, the Butterfly Koi is not a very popular fish outside of the United States. But in America, they are very popular. Hence their other nickname, the "American Koi." They even have their own club, the AKCA. The American Koi Club Association.

The Japanese Koi is an amazing and beautiful fish. But just like any other fish, they require care. Care that I cannot offer you here. But I can direct you to a website that will give you the most comprehensive information on koi fish. This website can help you with all of your koi fish needs. It can give you the answers to this hobbies most asked questions. Questions about koi fish care, filtration, quarantine, and pond maintenance. These and other questions can be answered when you visit http://koifishcare.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_L._White

History of Koifish By Nikoletta Benko

The word 'Koi' comes from Japan, but Koi fish originated from China. The koi word means carp, the exact term is the Cyprinus carpio. You probably heard that word: Nishikigoi, this is a more specific term for colorful carp.
Koi has a lot of color varieties and they are related to goldfish. Koi caring and breeding is very simple.

Koi keeping become popular in the 19th century. Farmers working the rice fields noticed that some colored carp, captured them, and raised them. By the 20th century, a number of color patterns had been established. Niigata Koi were exhibited in an exposition in Tokyo in 1914. After that the hobby of keeping Koi spread worldwide. Koi are now commonly sold in most of the pet stores.

You can differentiate the varieties by color and pattern. Koi pond have many different colors: white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. The variations are limitless, breeders determined different categories. The most popular category is Gosanke.

Some example from the koi varieties:

Kohaku: a white-skinned Koi, with a red pattern

Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke): a white-skinned Koi with a red and black pattern

Showa Sanshoku (Showa): a black-skinned Koi with a red and white pattern

Bekko: a white, red, or yellow-skinned Koi with a black pattern

Ghost koi: "Hybrid" of Ogon and wild carp. Not Nishikigoi.

Butterfly koi: Long-finned version of all others. Not Nishikigoi.

Kois live in the wild in every continent except Antarctica. Some places in the world Koi keeping is illegal, and some other places people tried to eradicate them. Koi increase the turbidity of the water and it can cause damage to the environment.

This beautiful fish has place in the world and a lot of people has passion for these ponds.

You can find some additional information on Koi Fish at koi fish picture site. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nikoletta_Benko

The Colorful Koi Fish By Bob Wright Platinum Quality Author

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

The Japanese Koi Carp Lived Through a Remarkable Transformation By Jessica Arons

Japanese Koi carp have a very remarkable history. People from all over the world keep Koi fish in their ponds because these fish are beautiful and bring color and excitement to it. Their history is however quite a mystery. The migration stages of the Koi are baffling to say the least, and not many facts seem to be known. How did they evolve is a question many pose today. The gaps that appear in their timeline of evolution keep the world wondering where they originally came from. What happened that made the Koi into one of the worlds most desired pond fish?

Koi is Japanese for carp. That is a fact that is readily available. The Latin Cyprinus Carpio means the same thing. The waters around china and the Caspian Sea seem to be the more likely original habitats of the Japanese Koi carp than the waters in Japan, regardless of the name. Twenty million years ago china must have had Koi because the fossils that were found testify of that. Chinese bred Koi introduced the first types of color mutations. The goldfish is a result of selective breeding of the Prussian carp. There were no goldfish in Europe until the sixteen hundredths, so Japan was ahead in time with introducing them in the fifteen hundredths.

The facts about Koi are not as clear. Some reports of the past talk about Koi fish in the possession of a Japanese emperor as early as 200 AD. Chinese invaders could have brought Koi fish to Japan very early. Even today nobody has figured out the real history of the Japanese Koi carp from the second to the seventeenth century.

The agricultural farmers of the Ojiva in the Niigata province seemed to have had Koi. According to historical records they were breeding them and selling them for food until irregularities in the colorful pigmentation made them decide to keep those that were different as pets. They started to breed them with the Koi of their neighbors and the famous Japanese hobby was born. The Tokyo Taisho expedition in the nineteen twenties was the official introduction site of this hobby in Japan. The Japanese immediately loved the vibrant patterns and colors of these Koi fish. This hobby of the farmers and of the lower working class became the pastime of the upper class and status symbol overnight. Japanese Koi carp owners were suddenly all over the country and the hobby became very widespread. The result was more and more color mutations. The mutations became more and more exciting. The Koi fish one sees today is a result of that sudden emergence. Today the Japanese Koi are magnificent and the whole world knows about it.

Many garden ponds around the entire world now have Koi fish. The grace of the Koi is remarkable. The evolution history of these pets is quite a myth, and still today nobody seems to know the truth about the origin of the Koi fish.

Jessica Arons specializes in Koi fish care and is currently working with the Koi Fish School team. For more great tips on Japanese Koi Carp visit The Koi Fish School today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Arons

What Are Koi Fish? By Kao Lee Platinum Quality Author

Have you ever heard of a Koi fish? A Koi is a descendant of the carp, although the Koi is more colorful than its more common ancestor is. Japanese people bred the Koi some 200 years ago and named the fish Nishikigoi. Some people who see Koi fish have the mistaken belief that a Koi is nothing more than a large goldfish. Actually, goldfish are only distantly related to the Koi.

Koi fish were bred to display and enjoy. What can be better for your personal relaxation and enjoyment than fantastically colored Koi, swimming gracefully in your personally designed water garden which is teeming with colorful and gorgeous aquatic plants.

Not only are Koi fish great for your own personal Koi pond, you can also breed and raise them to compete in Koi shows throughout the world if you wish. Another option is to breed and raise Koi to sell in a commercial enterprise. One Koi can sell for hundreds of dollars. They may very well be worth the time and expense your are willing to expend on them.

Koi are most often found in outdoor fishponds, which are designed to be as gorgeous as the Koi themselves. Many Koi fishponds sport elaborate water gardens that add greatly to the beauty of the surrounding landscape. But the plants do more than add color and variety to the pond. They actually provide protection to the fish from predators such as cats and other prowling carnivores. However, Koi water gardens are of necessity distinct from other outdoor fish water gardens because Koi eat some of the typical plants found therein.

You must know how to care for a Koi pond. Any Koi pond, whether indoor or outdoor, should be sufficiently oxygenated, pH balanced, and filtered with recirculated freshwater to keep the fish healthy. The fish should be fed more often in the summer than in the winter. Once a day is usually sufficient in the winter, but they should be fed twice per day in the summer.

An average sized Koi might grow to be 24 to 36 inches long. Most Koi live 25 or 30 years. However, on rare occasion, a well cared for Koi can live more than 200 years.

You should know many more things about raising Koi for a home fishpond or competition. There is also much to learn before creating a proper Koi pond and water garden. There is insufficient room in this small space to provide all the facts you need for such an enterprise. Check out all available literature so you can raise the healthiest, prettiest Koi fish and keep them in the most exultant pond you can imagine.

Koa Lee is a major importer of Japanese Koi Fish. You can find out for information about KOI at Koi.

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Types of Japanese Koi Fish By: Mary Murtha

Types of Japanese Koi Fish

By: Mary Murtha

Koi fish are a form of carp fish originally from Japan. They are very similar to goldfish, and some experts believe kois were an attempt by Japanese breeders to imitate goldfish. Raising koi fish was not introduced worldwide until 1914, and before that date it was solely a Japanese affair. During this time period, shipping became faster and safer and so the threat of fish death was very low. The hobby of raising koi exploded.

Different types of koi fish are classified by their patterning, scalations and coloration. Koi fish come in many different colors. A few of the main ones are blue, yellow, purple, white, and black. On the scales of a koi, it is possible to see a metallic gleam. This is what's called Gin Rin. Also, there are types of koi that have no scales. Scaleless kois are usually called Doitsu. Doitsu fish were made by crossbreeding Nishikigoi and German mirrored carp.

Although there are endless variations of koi fish, there are some varieties in specific categories. An example of a popular type of koi is the Gosanke. Fish that fall into this group are Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku and Showa Sanshoku varieties. The main groups of named koi are Kohaku, a white and red striped fish; Taisho Sanshoku, a white fish with red and black design; Showa Sanshoku, a black fish with a red and white design; Asagi, a fish with blue scales on top and red scales on the bottom; Shusui, a similar fish to Asagi with less scales; Bekko, a white, yellow and red fish with a black design; Utsurimono, a black fish with a yellow, red and white design; Goshiki, a black fish with touches of brown, blue, white and red; Ogon, a fish that's all one color ( can be red, orange, platinum and yellow); and KinGinRin, a fish with shiny scales.

Today, there are fourteen types of koi and they have been bred especially to draw attention to their visual appearance. A lot of koi are bred in the US, but some koi come from Japan, China and Israel. There is a wide range of prices for purchasing koi, starting at $3 for baby koi and skyrocketing up to $20,000 for a prize fish.

Really, to pick a good fish you want to start with a good koi dealer. They can give you advice on color and sizes that will fit how much you can spend and how much experience you already have with koi. Usually dealers will sell inexperienced owners fish that range between three and five dollars. Then they can trade in for bigger fish once they have more experience.

About the Author

For more information about Koi, Koi Pond or koi Fish, please visit Azlan and Irda website at http://www.myownkoipond.com