Koi carps: types and recommendations for keeping

Keeping aquarium fish is a fascinating and popular activity that has found its admirers among people of all ages around the world. That is why today there are a large number of breeds and types of fish that can be successfully bred in aquariums. Among the available variety, the koi carp, remarkable for its appearance, is especially popular.

Among the ornamental fish raised in the aquarium, koi carp are in great demand among hobbyists and professional aquarists. The breeding of this breed was carried out by Japanese breeders, with the goal of creating interesting individuals for keeping in artificial reservoirs. However, the results of their labors attracted the interest of aquarists specializing in fish breeding at home, and brocade carp began to be used in closed tanks. The difference between such a breed and its congeners is its size, which differs in the smaller direction from individuals living in open water bodies.

Since the breed was bred artificially, special requirements are imposed on the appearance of koi carps. The proportions of the fish are evaluated, as well as their color. Such fish cannot be found in the wild. The color of representatives of the Carp family is distinguished by the saturation of shades, most often in closed reservoirs and reservoirs one can find individuals of red color. In addition to red fish, blue, yellow and white carps are also popular.

The basic color of the scales is usually complemented by rather large spots, which are distinguished by the unevenness of their shapes and sizes.There are species that have unique patterns on their bodies, concentrated on the sides and on the head.

The head of the fish will be crowned with a blunt nose, in which there is a slight sexual dimorphism, therefore, females from the general school are always distinguished by a wider head and voluminous cheeks. The body of the fish is folded in such a way that the maximum thickening is concentrated in the region of the dorsal fin. Further, towards the tail, it will taper. This structural feature allows the fish to look massive even with a small length.

The smallest brocade carp will have a body length of about 20 centimeters, large individuals can reach a length of 1 meter... The fins of koi carp are distinguished by their large size and range, so that individuals can move without problems even in the presence of a current. The weight of the fish, like the size, has a large gradation; you can find brocade carp in an aquarium with a mass of about 4 kilograms, as well as relatives whose mass will be close to 10 kilograms.

The average life expectancy of representatives of this family is 20-25 years.however, fish can live much more in large artificial reservoirs.

Today, many species of fish can be distinguished, which belong to this family, all of them are divided into 14 groups, where there are about 8 dozen subspecies. The most popular individuals are carps from the gosanke group, it includes the following subspecies:

• tanté - carp, for which a different color is acceptable, but a feature will be a reddish spot located near the head;
• kohaku - white fish with red and orange spots on the back;
• Taise Sanseku - a popular subspecies, the color of which should be white, as in the previous case, but the spots will be black and scarlet;
• asagi - fish with scales on the back close to blue, on the sides its color should be red-orange.

Also, the Cavarimono class deserves no less attention, in which the following breeds are present:

• sumi nagashi - individuals with black scales, on which there is a light border;
• hajiro - black carp, which will have white blotches at the ends of the fins;
• ki matsuba - yellow fish with a characteristic dark mesh spot on the back;
• goshiki - carps, a feature of which is the coloring, which includes 5 different colors;
• midorogo-goi - a rare species of fish, artificially bred as a result of crossing of two other species, is distinguished by a green color of the scales;
• ochibachigure - an individual with an interesting color, reminiscent of the autumn composition of yellow-red foliage on a gray background.

Ornamental koi carps, like mirror carps, thrive in large aquariums and ponds, however, special requirements in this case are imposed on the purity of the water and its quantity. To create the most favorable conditions for keeping fish in glass tanks, it is worth knowing that at least 4-5 liters of liquid will be required per 1 centimeter of the length of an aquatic inhabitant. For medium-sized individuals, a 500 liter aquarium is acceptable. Also, the following nuances deserve special attention.

• Filtration and aeration of liquid. For aquarium ornamental carp to thrive in closed containers, the most powerful filters should be installed in them. It would be more correct to use several devices so that they cope with the purification of a large volume of water.
• Aeration of the aquarium. Another factor that will affect the life expectancy and health of the koi. Fish require an aquatic environment that is saturated with oxygen to the maximum.That is why, in addition to the filter, it is worth placing an aerator in tanks with carp.
• Sterilization of water. Since these aquarium fish are usually kept in schools, they will need a water disinfection device. In this way, it will be possible to avoid the risk of spreading various kinds of viral diseases among individuals.
• Backlight... To maintain the attractive appearance of ornamental fish at the proper level, it is recommended to use high-quality and bright lighting for the container. For home breeding, metal halide lamps are commonly used. In addition, aquariums with fish are recommended to be placed near natural light sources - windows, balconies, etc. The lighting should be turned off at night.
• Water quality. The optimal temperature indicators for the breed will be + 15-30 C, with a hardness of no more than 6, acidity at 7 pH. In addition, the aquarist will need to change one third of the total volume of the liquid in the aquarium every day. When the temperature drops to +10 koi can hibernate.
• Soil type. The bottom of the aquarium should be covered with fine sand. The breed is characterized by an active exploration of the bottom, therefore, all available additional decorative components must be well strengthened.
• Nutrition. In aquarium conditions, fish can be offered a variety of food options. However, carps can feed on one selected species without any problems. To determine the optimal amount of food needed for fish, it is worth weighing it.

The daily ration can consist of 2-3 meals.however, food should be introduced at intervals and in such a way that the koi do not swallow it all at once. It is recommended to promptly remove the remains of food from the aquarium.

This is due to the peculiarities of the digestive system of fish. Therefore, this breed is absolutely not suitable for home breeding for aquarists who have a minimum of free time. The use of larvae, worms, moths is allowed as live food. As an alternative that allows feeding carp with a balanced diet, it is possible to consider introduction to the diet of vegetables, boiled eggs, as well as fruits and shrimp.

Exotic individuals stand out not only for their attractive color, but also for their calm and peaceful disposition in relation to other inhabitants of the aquarium. Koi get along well in the same tank or pond with the rest of the Karpov family, in addition, brocade carp very often they start together with catfish and other medium-sized ornamental fish.

but a peaceful disposition is not always inherent in koi carps; during the spawning period, males can demonstrate pronounced aggression towards other inhabitants of the aquarium, this behavior also applies to females of this breed.

Since fish of this breed are decorative representatives, bred as a result of natural selection, most of them are engaged in breeding in specialized nurseries. The complexity of this process is due to the fact that up to a certain age it is extremely difficult to establish the sex of fish with accuracy. However, in general for koi, there is no need to create any specific conditions for spawning. As a rule, this process occurs in them in the spring months, sometimes stretching to summer. This is due to the rise in water temperature in reservoirs. Males are considered ready to breed when their body length reaches 23-24 centimeters.

In closed tanks to stimulate the process of laying eggs, it is recommended to slightly increase the daily feeding rate of carp with the arrival of warm days, focusing on the live version during this period.

Some experienced breeders for spawning specially select the best individuals from the whole flock, placing them for a while in a separate aquarium or pond. Such a measure increases the chances of obtaining healthy offspring, but is not required for the breed. Usually, after spawning, males are transplanted from females and eggs, since there is a chance that they will regard the fry as food. After the female has laid eggs, the fry should hatch in 4-7 days, during this period it is worth paying special attention to aeration of the water so that the future generation develops normally.

When the koi fry hatch, they will self-attach to the tank walls, staying in this state for 2-3 days. They need this period of time to adapt to new conditions. As a rule, on the 4th day they will be able to move and swim on their own.

For breeding koi carp, see the next video.