Compiled and Edited by Clarence

Chan Hean Huay

Copyright © All Rights Reserved

This report may be reproduced

and distributed PROVIDED no part

of it is changed in any way.

HOW TO KEEP KOI

Page 2 of 27

ABOUT THIS REPORT

Welcome to ‘How To Keep Koi’, your no-nonsense, content-packed guide to start you off in

your koi keeping hobby the RIGHT way. This report will save you lots of time and money in

starting your hobby of keeping koi. You see, there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way of

keeping koi. Unfortunately, many people do not know much about koi aquaculture and so end

up doing things the wrong way. By doing so, they actually waste more money and time and

never get to enjoy this spectacular fish called koi to the max.

Let me give you a sneak peak on what’s inside this report:

• What is the ‘bug eye’ syndrome for koi and how you can overcome it. Many people

(including pet shop owners) are not even aware of this dangerous condition that

severely affects koi.

• My 6 ‘S’ method in choosing the best koi. Knowing how to spot a winner means you can

potentially sell your koi for a heap of profit, should you choose to, thus making your

hobby a money-spinner for you.

• The two filtrations systems that are a MUST for happy, healthy and contented koi.

Have you seen koi in a pond with nothing but a small waterfall or fountain? Those koi

are headed for an early death. I will show you how to make your koi live for decades.

• How to avoid overcrowding your koi pond. Too many koi in one pond distresses your

koi and affects their health. Many fall sick easily and some die. I will show you how to

avoid that.

• How to breed koi effectively. I show you how to help koi spawn and just as

importantly, how to know which baby koi to cull and which to raise. If you make a

mistake in this, you might end up killing your most prized koi.

• The simple way to make your own koi fry food NATURALLY. Buying artificial koi fry food

from the pet shop is a no-no. I will show you why.

and lots more.

Are you ready? Let’s dive in…

Page 3 of 27

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Topic Details Page

1 Koi – An Introduction An Introduction to the Koi Keeping Hobby 4

2 Koi – Buying and Selling How to Look for the Best Koi to Buy and Sell 10

3 Koi Pond How to Set Up Your Koi Pond 12

4 Koi Filter Setting Up your Filter Systems 15

5 Koi Care How to Care for Your Koi 19

6 Koi Breeding How to Breed Your Koi and Look After Koi Fry 21

7 Koi Club Benefits of Joining a Koi Club 25

8 Koi Symbolism What Koi Symbolizes 26

9 Koi – Conclusion Closing Comments about Your Koi 27

Page 4 of 27

KOI – AN INTRODUCTION

This report is a helpful resource on basic koi aquaculture for you to start your own hobby of

keeping koi. Here you will find information about this beautiful fish and a simple system that I

use to keep my koi healthy, happy and strong. In fact, my system is so simple you can put it to

good use straight away even if you have never kept fishes before in your life.

Koi is the colorful ornamental fishes you find in homes of koi enthusiasts (like me) and in certain

classy establishments like hotels and holiday resorts. This is simply because the koi fish

epitomizes beauty and grace like no other fish. In fact, koi have been bred for over a hundred

years for their color, pattern, size and personality. Did you know you can easily get koi fish to

eat food from your palm?

The name 'koi' means 'domesticated carp'. This name was given because the koi is a

freshwater fish descended from the wild carp of the Caspian Sea region. Over the centuries,

humans have transported the koi to other parts of the world for food. As these wild carps were

kept captive, spontaneous breeding occured. Their human owners also conducted selective

breeding among specially chosen koi to produce certain desired colors. Over time, koi began to

display unique color patterns on their bodies. They became so beautiful that eventually people

started breeding them as pets rather than for food.

Today, koi comes in many varieties depending on their color and patterns. The most beautiful

and purebred ones are found in Japan, where they are known as nishikigoi (a term that means

'colored or brocaded carp'). This is why the names of the different varieties of koi (such as

Kohaku, Bekko, Asagi etc) are Japanese words. Turn the page to see what they look like.

Page 5 of 27

Here are the beautiful koi in all their varieties:

Benigoi Chagoi Gin Matsuba

Goshiki Hariwake Karasugoi

Page 6 of 27

Kigoi Kikusui Kin Ki Utsuri

Kin Showa Kohaku Koromo

Page 7 of 27

Kujaku Kumonryu Ochiba Shigure

Ogon Platinum Shiro Utsuri

Page 8 of 27

http://www.mystickoi.com/K

oi_Varieties.php

Showa Sanshoku Shusui Taisho Sanshoku

Tancho Yamato Nashiki

In the next chapter, I will show you

This is also the type of koi that will fetch the highest prices if you choose to sell your koi.

In the next chapter, I will show you my 6 ‘S’ method of selecting the best koi to buy.

This is also the type of koi that will fetch the highest prices if you choose to sell your koi.

Page 9 of 27

the best koi to buy.

This is also the type of koi that will fetch the highest prices if you choose to sell your koi.

Page 10 of 27

KOI – BUYING AND SELLING

The growth period for koi is between 15 to 20 years. People usually buy koi when they are

about 4 inches long. Once they grow to about 6 inches or more, you can sell them to either

wholesalers or retailers. Small koi is relatively cheap, costing only a few dollars. But the larger

the koi, the more expensive it gets especially if they are purebreds. A koi is considered large if

it is longer than 32 inches. Some can even grow to 50 inches if conditions are right. So buy

them when they are young and sell some of your koi to finance the buying of new ones.

Now when it comes to buying koi, size is not the most important consideration. The important

thing is to know what the characteristics of beautiful koi are. Here is my 6 'S' system for

choosing the ideal koi:

1. Symmetry - Its body should be symmetrical

2. Size - The size of the head and fins should be in proportion to the body - not too large or too

small in comparison with the body.

3. Shape - The body should be plump but not fat - if it's too fat, the fish would not swim

gracefully. If it's too thin, it is not considered beautiful. Seen from the top, it should look

somewhat like a pear from tail to head.

4. Shine - The colors should be pure (especially any white) and intense (when it comes to the

other colors on the body). Look also at the edges of the colors. They should be distinct and

clear not blurred or diffused. Needless to say, there should be no injuries on any part of the

fish.

5. Steadiness - When at rest the tail should be perfectly vertical, not tilted to one side.

Page 11 of 27

6. Swim - Good koi swim smoothly and gracefully. They will not jerk or have clumsy

movements while swimming.

These are the basic essential factors to consider when buying koi. Needless to say, it is

imperative to choose correctly so that you won’t regret making a bad buy later on. If you want

more detailed information about how to buy koi, get my latest ebook entitled, “WHAT YOUR

PET SHOP OWNER WON’T TELL YOU ABOUT KEEPING KOI” and read especially chapter 5. It’s

available from my website http://www.keepkoi.com. My ebook is jam-packed with more

information and content you need about keeping koi.

When you find a suitable koi that you wish to buy, it is called Tategoi which means keepkoi, or

a koi worth keeping.

Now that you know how to select good koi, I will show you how to set up your koi pond.

Page 12 of 27

KOI POND

How big a pond you need depends on how many koi you have and vice versa. The smallest koi

pond is usually 6 X 9 feet (i.e. 54 square feet) while the largest it should be is 9 X 14 feet so as to

be reasonably manageable.

The rule of thumb for how large your pond should be is to take the square feet and multiply by

1.5. This gives you the number of inches of koi that the pond can take. So for a 6 X 9 foot or 54

square foot pond, the number of inches of koi that it can hold is 54 X 1.5 or 81 inches. That

would amount to eight 10-inch koi fish, to avoid overcrowding.

The depth of koi ponds should be at least 3 feet deep. Generally the pool should be deep

enough for the koi to swim down to escape the attacks of other animals (like the family cat).

Besides the actual dimensions of the pond, you need to give an extra 3 to 5 feet of space

around the pond for accessibility, placement and maintenance of the filter and water pump and

doing other things like catching a sick fish.

Koi ponds are usually constructed in one of three ways. Here are the three types of koi ponds

and their pros and cons:

1. A cement pond

Pros - durable and largely maintenance-free

Page 13 of 27

Cons - Expensive

2. A preformed rigid plastic or fiberglass pond

Pros - They come in interesting shapes and some even have different levels

Cons - You have to find one deep enough (usually they are not), most are the wrong color (too

light), it may be hard to get just the right sized hole since this type of pond is rigid.

3. A pond using a flexible pond liner

Pros - cheapest in terms of purchase and maintenance, easy to maintain

Cons - They eventually leak and can get punctured easily so you have to buy a liner patch or

repair kit. They are also not a good idea in areas where the land is prone to subsidence because

the liner will adjust to the change in countour of the land as it slips. In some cases the liner will

tear.

No matter which type of pond you opt for, you will have to apply for the permit and adhere to

all the regulations set by your local municipality for setting up a koi pond. For example, koi

pond protectors (such as fencing) are mandatory safety precautions for having a koi pond

outdoors. Other considerations for your koi pond such as location, shape, aeration, water

quality and maintenance are beyond the scope of this report. You can learn about all these

important factors from my ebook, “WHAT YOUR PET SHOP OWNER WON’T TELL YOU ABOUT

KEEPING KOI”. Grab it now at my website http://www.keepkoi.com.

Having your koi in an indoor pond or an aquarium is only feasible for small koi or if you do not

intend to have more than only a few koi fishes. The reason is that koi can grow and multiply

quickly and if carefully kept, they can live for decades. For this reason, koi ponds should largely

be outdoors.

Page 14 of 27

Your koi pond cannot do without the proper filtrations systems. That is the next part of this

report.

Page 15 of 27

KOI FILTER

If you think that koi can survive in a pond with lots of freshwater plants and perhaps a little

man-made waterfall without filtration, think again! You are putting your koi in grave danger.

Generally, there are two types of filters. They are the mechanical and the biological filters.

The mechanical filters get rid of solid matter and waste from the pond while the biological

filters eliminate biological and chemical threats in the pond.

THE MECHANICAL FILTERS

Mechanical Koi filter systems nowadays usually employ a vortex. It works via a simple

mechanical process of channeling the water into a cylindrical conical chamber that tapers into a

cone at the bottom. The pond water begins to spin very slowly. In the process, the larger solid

particles come into contact with the vortex wall thus slowing it down. This causes these solids

to sink downwards into the collection point at the Settlement Chamber at the bottom. Smaller

solid particles are spun towards a revolving central column of water. This also causes the

smaller particles to be drawn to the bottom.

This process eliminates about 80% of solid materials from the pond water. The solids-free

water is now taken into the next chamber of the filter system. Do bear in mind that it is

important to choose the correct size of Vortex for your pond. Consult an experienced

professional for advice.

Page 16 of 27

THE BIOLOGICAL FILTERS

One of the biggest chemical dangers to your koi is high nitrate (and other nitrogen compounds)

levels in the water. If your koi fishes develop what is known as bug eyes, where there is a bluish

tinge at the top of the eyes, it means that the nitrate level in your pond is too high. Biological

filters are required to overcome this problem. The most efficient biological filter today is the

Trickle tower filter. Pond water is pumped to the top and released through a perforated pipe

onto a layer of biological filter medium. One of the best filter media is known as Japanese

matting, which is a blue polyester material 3cm thick. Another recommended choice of

medium is the honeycomb matting.

The water filters through this medium and eventually trickles down (hence the name) onto

another layer of medium and the process repeats several times. These media are not

submerged but are wet due to the water coming from the perforated pipe. This causes

nitrifying bacteria to form in abundance on the media. These bacteria will bond with the

nitrate and nitrogen compounds (such as nitrite and ammonia) in the water, thus eliminating

them. The nitrifying bacteria tend to multiply so quickly under these conditions that trickle

media can accumulate 'floc' at a fast rate. The only remedy for this is frequent cleaning of the

media.

Turn the page for a diagram of the Mechanical and Biological Filter Systems.

Page 17 of 27

(adapted from Mark Richman at koi forum http://www.koi.com.my)

Some other dangerous chemicals present in our processed tap water are chlorine and other

metals such as iron oxide from old pipes. Thus all koi ponds should have a water purifier

installed to eliminate these chemicals. Even though the water may be at 'safe' levels of

chlorine for human consumption, it may not be suitable for fish. The removal of chlorine and

other metals by the water purifier is usually achieved through granules of activated carbon.

Remember to replace the pre-filter cartridges at the recommended time frames, if not earlier.

The life of the cartridges does not depend on the volume of pond water alone but also on the

concentration of contaminants.

Page 18 of 27

These are the main types of filters that are essential for your koi pond. Other optional filters

that perform different functions (such as protein skimmers) are beyond the scope of this

report. But you can find out about these additional filters in my ebook, “WHAT YOUR PET

SHOP OWNER WON’T TELL YOU ABOUT KEEPING KOI” at http://www.keepkoi.com.

Now I shall show you how to properly care for your koi in the next chapter. Read it carefully. It

will ensure your koi remains happy, healthy and strong.

Page 19 of 27

KOI CARE

Here are the most important things to do to care for your koi:

1. Take notice of your koi constantly - notice any peculiarity in their behavior, any ulcers on

their skin or tiny parasites hanging from their bodies etc.

2. Ensure a suitably sized pond for the number and size of your koi fish (refer to the Koi Pond

chapter). Also have an adequate filter for the size of your pond.

3. Adjust the temperature and conditions of your pond according to the weather - for example

when temperature falls during winter, your koi will not be able to function as normal; even

their digestion grinds to a halt. So you need to ensure your pond is covered and if possible, the

water heated.

4. Ensure a peaceful environment for your koi - koi can get agitated by changes in water

temperature, moving to a new pond, introduction of new fishes into the pond etc. Your job is

to minimize all of these.

5. Always quarantine new fish into a separate tub or pond - it is important to ensure that new

koi are infection and parasite-free before you put them into the koi pond. You will need at

least 21 days of observation and treatment of new koi before putting them into the main pond.

Treatment of koi diseases and disinfecting new or potentially infected koi should be done under

consultation with a qualified practitioner. This topic is beyond the scope of this report

therefore please seek the advice of a professional.

Koi need a minimum of 3-5 mg oxygen per liter of water otherwise they suffocate. However

the level of dissolved oxygen in water falls as the water gets warmer. A water temperature of

Page 20 of 27

about 5 C or 41 F can hold about 12mg/liter of oxygen. This falls to about 7.5 mg/liter in waters

of about 30 C or 86 F. Since the amount of oxygen is closely dependent upon water

temperature, koi should be kept at a water temperature of above 52 F, even during winter.

To ensure sufficient oxygen supply for your koi, it is important to aerate your koi pond by

installing a pump that runs a waterfall or fountain in the pond.

Page 21 of 27

KOI BREEDING

The best time of the year to breed koi is when the difference in temperature is the smallest

during the day. When ready to spawn, females generally become more rounded while the

males stay slim. Koi breeding is most likely during a full moon as this helps the koi to breed.

If you want to intentionally breed your koi, always breed those of the same variety together

(i.e. kohaku with kohaku, asagi with asagi etc), especially if you are new at breeding. To ensure

successful breeding, only choose adult koi. The ideal age for a spawning koi is 4-5 years old.

Select the pairs that you want to spawn and separate them into another pond or if you don't,

use a spawning net in your pond. Take them out at least 4 weeks before breeding season

during which time keep them well fed.

Keep the pond aerated with a pump. It is also important to cover the pond with a net to

protect the fry from predators. Some fry also may have a tendency to jump so a net keeps

them from jumping out of the pond.

During breeding, the male will push the female against the wall of the pond or other objects to

force the eggs out. Once released, the eggs will stick to anything they touch. The male will

then fertilize the eggs. It is recommended to use a spawning rope to catch the eggs. This

makes it easier to collect the eggs.

On the next page you will see what eggs and a spawning rope look like.

Page 22 of 27

Tiny koi eggs in a spawning rope:

http://www.chilternkoi.baxx.net/spawning.htm

The parent kois will eat the eggs and fry so once the eggs have been fertilized, take the parents

out or move the eggs (using spawning ropes, it’s easy). But separate the male and female koi

because the female would still emit her spawning smell for the next day or so. The male will

continue to spawn her and this might cause injury to the female.

The fry, on the other hand need to be fed with infusoria (minute aquatic creatures and single-

celled algae) or daphnia (a freshwater crustacean found in ponds) 4-5 times a day from the 3rd

day after they hatch. In due course, the fry can be fed newly-hatched brine shrimp and

eventually regular koi pellets as the fry grow. That’s how to look after koi fry.

But you may be wondering, “How do I get infusoria or daphnia?” Turn the page to find out!

Page 23 of 27

Here’s how to grow your own infusoria:

Try to avoid feeding the fry with artificial food until they are at least 6 weeks old as these foods

can damage their gills and pollute the pond. Now, we come to culling…

Usually you cull the fries at about 6-8 weeks (more experienced breeders do it as early as 4

weeks). This is so that you can see clearly enough to distinguish certain unwanted

characteristics in the koi. That’s when the fry reach about 1-1.5 inches (the size of the koi you

see in the photo below).

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Pond, Koi.htm

Fill a jar either with water from a filter that has been in a tank going for at least a year,

or gather some water from a canal or pond. Be sure it is 'clean' pond water by skimming

off the top to get rid of any organic particles. Peel a turnip and cut the white inside part

into small 1/2 inch squares. Take the water and drop two of these squares into the

water. They will float in the water. After 5-6 days the turnip pieces start to decompose

and will be filled with visible infusoria.

Take a three cc syringe and put the open tip onto a floating turnip cube and push it

gently just under the surface drawing water into the syringe from the side of the turnip.

If you take a clear shot glass or similar vessel and fill it with the water you just gathered

from the turnip cube you will see thousands of tiny one celled creatures moving about.

These are infusoria. Simply feed this to your fry a few times a day.

(Provided by Bill ‘thatmagicguy’ from http://forums.about.com)

Page 24 of 27

Clearly, if you find any quirks of nature such as deformities or missing fins in the koi, these ones

should be culled. Also, if you breed Kin Showa with Shiro Utsuri, you will expect black fry with

white and red patches. So any that are not black at all should be culled. If you breed Kohaku

with Goshiki, you should get orange, red and white fry. Any pure white or black fry should be

culled. Generally, if you breed patterned koi, you should cull any plain colored fry.

Page 25 of 27

KOI CLUB

There are many benefits in joining a local koi club:

1. Learn more about koi, discover information you did not know from those more experienced.

2. Insider information - who's doing what, maybe someone upgrading their pond and wants to

sell their filter which is now too small, who has baby koi they would like to give away etc.

3. Keep abreast with breaking news and developments e.g. an outbreak of a new koi disease or

when the next koi show is in town.

4. Be part of the community that speaks out for koi owners when necessary e.g. if the

government hikes up the prices for koi related products.

So look out for an active koi club to join.

Page 26 of 27

KOI SYMBOLISM

What do koi fish symbolize? There is a story told in ancient Japan and China about The Dragon

Gate situated at the Yellow River. In this story, a mythical koi fish swims up river against the

strong current and eventually reaches the waterfall. Undeterred, it continues to climb to the

top of the waterfall where it transforms into a dragon.

From this story and others like it, the koi has come to symbolize perseverance, determination

and strength in adversity. It also stands for non-conformism towards the status quo and a

sense of independence. Since the koi does not flap or wriggle very much when taken out of the

water, it is also a symbol of courage and bravery.

Generally, the koi has come to symbolize good fortune. It is today an honored symbol

representing one of the most beautiful species of fish alive.

Page 27 of 27

KOI – CONCLUSION

The koi is one of the most magnificently beautiful fish in the world. They are very graceful,

intelligent and friendly fish.

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Pond, Koi.htm

Keeping koi is a tremendously gratifying hobby. However at the same time, it is a cost and

labor intensive one. It is important to count the cost not only of starting this hobby but

maintaining it. My ebook, “WHAT YOUR PET SHOP OWNER WON’T TELL YOU ABOUT KEEPING

KOI” makes it easy to start and maintain your koi hobby. It comprises 101 pages of meaty

content you cannot do without. Get it from http://www.keepkoi.com today.

Thank you for taking time to read my report.