Koi carp: description with photo, breed, content in the aquarium

Koi or, as they are called, brocade carps, are ornamental fish that are bred from the Amur subspecies of carp. It is customary to refer to this type of carp fish that have passed 6 selection selections and therefore are classified in this category. To date, it is known about a large variety of koi representatives that are found on the territory of Japan. As a rule, about 14 main subspecies were taken as a basis.

Appearance Description

Koi carp are distinguished by their unique body type, head and fin shape, including their relative proportions. As a rule, preference is given to females in which a more developed body is observed. As for males, already at the genetic level they are deprived of the main advantages over females. The main emphasis is on the size and shape of the fins, which should be proportional in size. The head of a koi carp should also be proportionate. However, it should not be either short or long or not symmetrical.

The texture and coloration of the body of a koi carp is not of fundamental importance when it comes to the characteristics of the fish. It is believed that each species should have a unique coloring and combination of colors. The skin itself should have a healthy appearance and exude luster. As a rule, preference is given to species that have well-defined and perfectly balanced multi-colored spots. The presence of “heavy areas” located both in front and behind or in the middle of the body is not taken into account. As for large species, they should have sufficiently large drawings.

It is important to know! The assessment of koi carp species is based on specific requirements for appearance, as well as the ability of each particular species to move beautifully in the water column and feel confident while doing so.

natural habitats

Koi natural habitats are limited to ponds. Despite this, special attention is paid to water quality. As a rule, these types of fish, unlike their ancestors, inhabit clean and well-aerated artificial reservoirs. Koi carps feel great at a depth of about 0,5 meters and practically do not sink to a depth of 1,5 meters.

The main types of koi

It is known about more than 80 breeds of similar fish species, which are divided into 16 groups, which facilitates their identification. As a rule, all representatives of groups have common characteristics. For example:

• Kohaku fish It is distinguished by its white color, with a uniform pattern of red or orange-red tint, which has clearly defined borders. Depending on the nature of the pattern, nine subspecies of kohaku are distinguished.
• Taisho Sanshoku – This is a snow-white koi carp, on the body of which you can see numerous red or black spots.
• Showa Sanshoku represents a pure black hue, with the presence of white and red hues.
• Utsurimono – This is a unique variety of black with multi-colored spots.
• Becko – This is a koi carp that has a basic red, orange, white or yellow hue with a uniform arrangement of dark spots.
• Auntie is a type of koi carp with a red spot in the head area. Individuals that have a spot close in shape to the geometry of a circle were highly appreciated.
• Asagi are koi carp that are distinguished by bluish or gray scales on the back, as well as a red or yellow tinge to the abdomen.
• Susui – This is a unique type of mirror carp with two rows of large scales that are located from the head to the tail of the fish.
• Koromo – These are fish that can be confused with a variety of kohaku, but the red and black-red spots are enclosed in a dark edging.
• Kinginrin – These are fish that are characterized by a different body color with the presence of a mother-of-pearl or golden tint, which is associated with the specific structure of the scales.
• Kavarimono – these are representatives of species that are difficult to attribute to any species standards.
• Wake up – these are koi carps, which differ mainly in the uniform color of the body, while there are individuals with completely different colors, including red, orange, yellow, and also gray shades.
• Hikari-moyomono – This is a generalized name for ornamental fish, in the coloring of which there are metallic tones.
• Gosiks – This is a variety of koi carp, which is dominated by black interspersed with various shades.
• Kumonryu – This is a “dragon fish” of a black hue, on the body of which white spots of various sizes are dispersed.
• Doitsu-goi – this is a species of fish that does not have scales at all or is present, but in the form of several rows of fairly large scales.

Representatives of any of the varieties look quite attractive in artificial reservoirs, as well as in modern city fountains equipped with lighting.

Interesting fact! The individual, which lived to be 226 years old, belongs to an unknown species, while the largest was a specimen that grew to a length of one and a half meters and gained a weight of about 45 kg.

Keeping koi in an aquarium

Many modern, both domestic and foreign aquarists, successfully keep these fish in artificial conditions, despite the specifics of their keeping.

Choosing an aquarium

It is believed that koi carps are rather unpretentious fish that require special living conditions associated with clean water. Moreover, a complex water purification system is not required, but daily replacement of fresh clean water in the amount of 1/3 of the aquarium is required.

To keep koi carp, you will need an aquarium with a capacity of at least 500 liters and equipped with a powerful water filtration system. In this case, it is necessary to ensure the desired concentration of oxygen in the water. Water should have an acidity level equal to pH 7,0-7,5, which corresponds to the level of neutral acidity. Koi carp feel good in conditions when the water temperature is between 15 and 30 degrees.

These fish look especially interesting against a plain background, which is a fundamental condition for keeping at home.

Decor, vegetation

When arranging an aquarium, it is necessary to determine the nature of the soil, which should consist of sand of medium and fine fractions. All elements must be securely fixed with special glue and sprinkled with a layer of sand. You should not get carried away with abundant vegetation and bright decor, which is an excess, since the fish themselves are quite bright and interesting. For decoration, pots with water plants, fixed at a distance of about 15 cm from the bottom, are suitable.

It is important to know! When kept in aquariums, koi very rarely grow to impressive sizes, so their length is no more than 40 cm.

Character, behavior

Koi carp are exceptionally peaceful fish, the maintenance of which in artificial conditions is not accompanied by any difficulties. Those people who keep such fish note that the presence of intelligence is characteristic of the fish, as they quickly get used to their master and recognize his voice.

They are also amenable to training: if each feeding procedure is accompanied by some sounds, then koi quickly get used to this sound and react to it instantly.

Diet, diet

Koi carps that are kept at home feed on both animal and plant foods. Earthworms, frog eggs, small tadpoles, bloodworms, etc. are suitable as food objects of animal origin. This food contains the right amount of nutrients that are so necessary for the normal growth and development of these varieties of fish.

It is not recommended to feed them in large doses: it is better to feed them often and in small quantities. If the fish does not eat enough food, then it begins to decompose in the water, which leads to a number of serious diseases that are difficult to treat. Many point to the fact that koi carp can not be fed for 1 week.

Interesting to know! When fish starve, but not too often, it has a positive effect on their health. The daily diet should correspond to about 3 percent of their own weight, but no more.

Compatibility

Koi carps are primarily distinguished by their colorful outfit, so ordinary aquarium or pond fish look rather simple and inconspicuous against their background. When individuals are transplanted from a pond to an aquarium, at first the fish behave quite cautiously. At the same time, young individuals get used much faster. To make the adaptation process much faster, other species of fish, such as mustard, catfish, trout, goldfish, minnows, etc., can be planted with koi carps.

Reproduction and offspring

It is quite difficult to determine which sex certain individuals belong to until they reach sexual maturity. Having reached a length of about 25 cm, individuals are ready for reproduction. To determine which individual is female and which is male, you should pay attention to the pectoral fins, which are visually larger in males, and females have a more heavy body. In other words, females are more plump, which is explained by the need to stock up on a large amount of nutrients that ensure the normal functioning of the eggs.

Before the start of mating games, growths appear on the gill covers in males. Koi carp that inhabit natural water bodies begin to lay their eggs in late spring or early summer. In this case, the water temperature should not be lower than +20 degrees. In order to get high-quality offspring with an elegant color, at least 3 males are planted with one female. Before starting spawning, you should increase the amount of food ration by increasing the percentage of live food.

Adults can easily eat eggs and fry, so after spawning they should be assigned to another aquarium. Somewhere, after a week, fry appear from the eggs, which are immediately fixed with an adhesive pad located on the head to the edges of the aquarium. After a couple of days, they become independent and swim freely on the surface, as well as in the water column. At the same time, from time to time they rise to the surface and swallow a portion of air.

Koi diseases

If you do not take care of the fish properly, then their immunity begins to decline, which leads to a number of diseases. For example:

• Carp pox. This disease is caused by the herpes virus. As a result of the disease, waxy growths appear on the body and on the fins, the number of which is constantly increasing.
• Spring viremic cyprinids (SVC). This disease is caused by ascites. As a result of the disease, the body of the fish swells and the swim bladder is affected, which becomes inflamed and begins to bleed.

Often, koi carp develop protozoan parasites such as:

• Gopherella.
• Cryptobiosis.
• Costiosis.
• Hylodonnellosis.
• Ichthyophthiriosis.

Quite often, koi carp are attacked by various bacteria, such as pseudomocos, aeromocos, and also epitheliocystosis. Such lesions of the fish are accompanied by the appearance of ulcers and difficulty in breathing, which leads to their sudden death.

Owner feedback

Many koi owners have come to the conclusion that the proper care of these original fish contributes to the fact that they are able to live up to 2 or 3 decades. At the same time, it was noticed that some individuals generally feel great up to 50 years.

These ornamental fish do not have a stomach, but instead have a long intestine. Therefore, it is impossible to fill this intestine completely at once. Their metabolism is quite fast, so wild carp are constantly in search of food. Domestic koi should not be overfed in any case, as this leads to obesity and subsequent death of pets.

Japan is considered the birthplace of these carps, but the fish quickly adapt to other, more extreme conditions. In order for the fish to successfully winter, the depth of the reservoir should be at least 2 meters.

The cost of ornamental koi depends on many factors, such as body color, body shape, skin and scale quality. In this regard, the breeding of koi carp today is carried out by a limited circle of aquarists.

Interesting Koi Facts

It is believed that carps were brought to China about 2 years ago from the territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea. After that, immigrants from China brought carps to Japan, after which the Japanese began to call carps “black” carps. It is not known exactly when the carps appeared in Japan, but the first written records of this appeared in the 14th-15th centuries AD. The peasants began to grow carp artificially in special reservoirs in order to have food. This was especially true for residents of remote mountainous regions, who were often cut off from civilization for a long time. In this case, carp served as the only source of protein food.

Over a long period of time, natural mutations began to appear, which led to the appearance of fish with non-standard body color. The Japanese did not eat such fish, but kept them purely “for the soul”, as they say. After some time, the peasants began to get involved in breeding colored carps. As a result of crossing fish of different hosts, individuals unique in color began to appear. This hobby quickly spread throughout Japan and occupied the minds of not only ordinary peasants, but also merchants, as well as other nobility.

In conclusion

Since koi are quite big fish, they are best bred in ponds. In Japan, almost every body of water is inhabited by these unique fish, which the Japanese get a lot of pleasure from watching. This is especially true in relation to the places of rest of the Japanese. Koi are the national symbol and pride of Japan.