Koi Keeping and Husbandry

The koi is a freshwater fish and like other freshwater fish, has evolved to suit its surroundings. On the other hand, the koi does have its peculiarities that make it unique. But first, let us look at the typical parts of a koi’s body that are similar with most other fish.Koi fishes have eyes, nostrils and internal ears for locating food and spotting dangerous predators. Additionally, unlike most other fish, the koi have a pair of barbels which are two protrusions on the upper lip that combine with the mouth to function as receptors in sensing food.

Besides that, koi have excellent fins and a tail that act as propeller, stabilizers and rudders when they swim. One variety of koi with unique fins and tail is the Butterfly Koi. The koi is covered with scales except for its head and breathes through a pair of gills.

But unlike some other types of fish, the koi does not have a stomach and neither does it have teeth. Food that is eaten is crushed by bony projections from its gills. It is then passed through the esophagus and its very long intestine as it is digested. For a more detailed explanation about koi anatomy and physiology, visit Koi Biology.

Like any other type of pet, some koi owners find it fun to give their pet koi treats. While this is a great bonding experience between pet and owner, some precautions should be taken.

Koi will eat pretty much anything that you put in the pond, no matter whether it is good for them or not. Since koi do not have a sense of what is bad or good for them, you must control their snack diet. Another potential problem is over feeding. Again, Koi do not know when to stop eating and overfeeding non-nutritious food may result in weight problems.

If you feel that your Koi deserves treats, stick to food that contains nutritional value. These are those that are found naturally in their pond, such as earthworms, tadpoles and bloodworms. The best way to find out what natural treats are available is just to look around the pond. Once you know what it out there, then you can either dig up the treats from the ground around the pond or buy similar products at your local store.

Prawns – Prawns are edible crustaceans which are similar to shrimp, but are usually larger. Prawns are actually very good for koi because they are high in protein. You can find prawns at a number of places including your local pet stores, department stores and feed stores. Prawns are also one of the best treats to promote hand feeding.

Lettuce – Lettuce is high in essential vitamins and minerals and it quite healthy for your Koi. There is no need to tear the lettuce in smaller pieces as the koi can find joy in doing it themselves.

Fruit – Koi will eat a wide variety of fruit. When feeding your Koi fruit, make sure to break the fruit up into small pieces. Fruit should only be fed to your koi on special occasions, as most fruit contains high amounts of natural sugar, which can be bad for koi in large amounts.

Bread – One of the cheapest treats available is Wheat Bread. Take a piece of bread, break it up, and roll it into small balls before throwing it into the pond. Be sure to avoid all types of white bread, as it may contain small amounts of bleach and other chemicals that can be potentially dangerous to your Koi.

No matter what type of treat you decide to use, it is still very important that you do not over do it. Too many treats and interference with their normal diets will cause more harm than good. Just do not get carried away and you will be alright.

You should pay special attention to the certain foods such as corn, beans, and grapes, as they contain an outer casing, which cannot be properly digested if swallowed by koi. If you must feed this type of foods to your koi, be sure to completely remove the outer casings before giving it to your koi.