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What sort of equipment do you need for daily keeping koi? Although it is not possible to write down all that covers every contingency, we can take some basic equipment that every hobbyist needs to handle routine tasks and most common problems.
There is water testing
Water testing is an essential part of healthy koi-keeping and general fish-keeping. Regardless of what type of water test-kit is used, it is important that testing is undertaken regularly. It is also important to keep a record of the readings. This gives a documented history of the pond, showing up seasonal fluctuations, any anomalies and the possible causes of any problems. As well as the results of each test, record the date and time of day they were carried out. Testing should be carried out weekly and more often if the pond is new, medicated or disturbed in any way. The basic tests that all koi-keepers should carry out are for temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrite, dissolved oxygen, hardness and nitrate.
Capture and treatment of koi
It is wonderful how many hobbyist do not own a proper net. We need to catch our fish at some time. Taking a fish out of a pond is potentially possible should be done to reduce the risk of stress and damage. The wrong type (too small, flexible or of poor quality materials or design) makes catching koi a stressful exercise - for both you and your fish. Worse still, it can lead to serious physical damage if fish are knocked or fins and scales are caught. The net should be a shallow-pan type of at least 24-inch diameter, with a long, firm handle that doesn't flex when the net is moved through the water.
Koi should not be lifted out of the pond in a net - it is to be used for confining and guiding them to the side of the pond where they should be encouraged to swim into a floating bowl or basket. These can be bought from specialist koi outlets although I have seen some effective home-made ones. A floating basket confines the koi, allowing examination without having to remove it from the pond. A koi sock-net, a long narrow net with an open bottom, makes koi handling safe and easy!
If the koi has to be removed from the pond for treatment it is important to have at least two large treatment bowls. An air-pump is essential as aeration is needed with most medications.
Koi first aid
Even with the best-designed and managed pond there will be possible that some time getting problem there. It is no good waiting until the problem arises and then desperately running about trying to get hold of equipment and treatments. Every koi-keeper should have a basic first-aid kit, which should be kept out of reach of children. A baby's changing mat makes an ideal treatment surface for koi, being soft and less likely to remove mucus than a damp towel.
Commonly, you will also need cotton buds, cotton wool, towel or napkins, paper towels, a small and large pair of sharp scissors and a pair of tweezers or forceps. The first-aid kit should also contain an iodine-based topical antiseptic (eg Vetark Tamodine), a wound dressing e.g. Boots Orabase) and Marinol Blue or Roccal for cleaning out wounds. There are other products that are also suitable. It is worth considering the purchase of a good magnifying glass for close inspection of wounds. Last but not least is the good old stand-by, a big bag (usually 25 kg) of cooking salt.
Go to KoiFishInfo.Com for more information...
Monday, December 24, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Four kinds foods for your beautiful koi
Current time, koi fish foods sold by some type, starting from dry foods, cold foods, life foods and others.
1. Dry foods
More than 90% of hobbies feed koi fish using dry foods (pellet) that can float on the water surface, and surely it can look to see koi fish details. Beside that, pellet will be easier to remove from water pond.
There are 2 pellets that commonly sold in the market:
- Foods made from by animal’s protein (staple) purposed to koi fish growth and as energy supply. The color is usually chocolate.
- Foods made from vegetable’s protein purposed for koi fish pond with have lower temperature. The color is usually green.
Pellets usually contain vitamins and minerals as labeled. This concentration will release when box often to be opened that caused hit by air and sunlight directly.
Below are some tips how to buy dry foods (pellet):
- Buy pellet with small box as enough for 30 days. It is not suggested to buy foods by bigger box, although it is more economies.
- It is better to buy foods with not transparent box to avoid sunlight contaminations.
2. Life foods
Life foods like worm and prawn are the best choose for keeping koi fish with better growth and color development quality. But, it has serious risk when life foods come from river or other place that already contaminated with heavy metal or diseases. Please consider to take life foods from natural foods that be cultured. The best foods is prawn that can make light red color.
3. Cold foods
Although already cooled, but some dangerous element on the foods usually still staying there. Cold foods like worm, prawn commonly sold without trade mark that not guarantee.
4. Other foods
As an omnivore, koi fish will eat most of the kind of foods that can be eaten by people. So, from kitchen, excess foods are useful for koi fish. But, there are some foods that suggested not to give more due to will cause growth problems, like bread, watermelon, and banana.
Prohibit foods for koi fish
Caterpillar from bad place is not allowed for koi fish, it will disease to koi fish. Corns, legumes are also not good for koi fish due to can not be digested.
Visit also Koi Fish Website for more koi tips and information…
1. Dry foods
More than 90% of hobbies feed koi fish using dry foods (pellet) that can float on the water surface, and surely it can look to see koi fish details. Beside that, pellet will be easier to remove from water pond.
There are 2 pellets that commonly sold in the market:
- Foods made from by animal’s protein (staple) purposed to koi fish growth and as energy supply. The color is usually chocolate.
- Foods made from vegetable’s protein purposed for koi fish pond with have lower temperature. The color is usually green.
Pellets usually contain vitamins and minerals as labeled. This concentration will release when box often to be opened that caused hit by air and sunlight directly.
Below are some tips how to buy dry foods (pellet):
- Buy pellet with small box as enough for 30 days. It is not suggested to buy foods by bigger box, although it is more economies.
- It is better to buy foods with not transparent box to avoid sunlight contaminations.
2. Life foods
Life foods like worm and prawn are the best choose for keeping koi fish with better growth and color development quality. But, it has serious risk when life foods come from river or other place that already contaminated with heavy metal or diseases. Please consider to take life foods from natural foods that be cultured. The best foods is prawn that can make light red color.
3. Cold foods
Although already cooled, but some dangerous element on the foods usually still staying there. Cold foods like worm, prawn commonly sold without trade mark that not guarantee.
4. Other foods
As an omnivore, koi fish will eat most of the kind of foods that can be eaten by people. So, from kitchen, excess foods are useful for koi fish. But, there are some foods that suggested not to give more due to will cause growth problems, like bread, watermelon, and banana.
Prohibit foods for koi fish
Caterpillar from bad place is not allowed for koi fish, it will disease to koi fish. Corns, legumes are also not good for koi fish due to can not be digested.
Visit also Koi Fish Website for more koi tips and information…
A way how to reduce nitrate rate in the water pond
1. Change water pond 25% from total water pond volume regularly (eg. once or twice a week). How many times interval for water exchange depends on any factors, water pond volume, age of pond, koi fish quantity, foods gave, and others. As well as filter quality, water pond must be changed by new one because as we know that pond is closed system that not changed automatically like river. It usually followed by filter cleaning.
2. Use water crop to reduce nitrate rate in the water, because nitrate will ba absorbed by water crop as their nutrition. But, as known that koi fish are omnivore that can eat vegetable, so water crop can not plan in the pond, but placed in the water filter system before water falling to the pond. we can take Eichornia crassipes I and Pista stratiotes that can do both functions, reducing nitrate rate and keep from moss growth.
Visit Koi Fish Tips site for more information about koi fish
2. Use water crop to reduce nitrate rate in the water, because nitrate will ba absorbed by water crop as their nutrition. But, as known that koi fish are omnivore that can eat vegetable, so water crop can not plan in the pond, but placed in the water filter system before water falling to the pond. we can take Eichornia crassipes I and Pista stratiotes that can do both functions, reducing nitrate rate and keep from moss growth.
Visit Koi Fish Tips site for more information about koi fish
What can change color pattern of koi?
Feeding to enhance color koi fish are highly valued for their color and certain additives can be included in the diet to maintain and enhance the fish's natural coloration.
=Carotene affects the red pigmentation, but if used at too high a concentration, even the white pigment on the koi fish will turn pink.
=Spirulina platensis also enhances and fixes the red pigment, but does not turn the white to pink to the same extent. It is a type of algae found and cultured in Mexico and eaten by the people, since it contains a high level of protein.
Strong red and yellow pigments develop well in waters rich in green phytoplankton. Black pigment is enriched in hard water with a pH level of 7.5-8.5. Remember, however, that changing the pH and hardness of the water can affect the toxicity of ammonia and nitrite.
Good coloration is not only enhanced by good feeding, however. Healthy fish tend to have much brighter colors than diseased ones. To bring out the color in koi fish, particularly the white, you must provide good living conditions.
Please also visit our Koi Fish Tips for more information
=Carotene affects the red pigmentation, but if used at too high a concentration, even the white pigment on the koi fish will turn pink.
=Spirulina platensis also enhances and fixes the red pigment, but does not turn the white to pink to the same extent. It is a type of algae found and cultured in Mexico and eaten by the people, since it contains a high level of protein.
Strong red and yellow pigments develop well in waters rich in green phytoplankton. Black pigment is enriched in hard water with a pH level of 7.5-8.5. Remember, however, that changing the pH and hardness of the water can affect the toxicity of ammonia and nitrite.
Good coloration is not only enhanced by good feeding, however. Healthy fish tend to have much brighter colors than diseased ones. To bring out the color in koi fish, particularly the white, you must provide good living conditions.
Please also visit our Koi Fish Tips for more information
What nutrition should contain of koi fish food?
It is very important when you will arrange food for koi fish. Foods should contains various elements that needed by koi fish, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are essential for koi fish to maintain healthy bodies, grow and reproduce. What these elements are and why they are important components of food to koi fish?
1. Proteins, are made up of amino acids. Thirteen essential amino acids should be included in any fish diet, although there are about 20 found in natural proteins. An adequate diet contains sufficient quantities of both essential and nonessential amino acids to allow the koi fish to grow, repair damaged tissue and produce either eggs or sperm. Deficiency of protein or any of the essential amino acids causes koi fish to grow more slowly. Proteins in corn, soy or wheat are very different from proteins in a feed ingredient like shrimp or blood meal. Corn protein may be VERY heavy in Leucine or Lysine. While shrimp meal may be heavy in sulfur containing amino acids and very low in Lysine. Therefore, the best way is use both foods to make protein content balance and complete. At the same time, plant proteins can contribute needed energy in the form of carbohydrates. They may also bring fiber to the equation.
2. Fats, provide a source of energy to koi fish; their important role is in providing fattyacids, such as triglyceride and phospholipids; vital components of membranes surrounding all cell walls. koi fish can make almost all of the fatty acids they need with the exceptions of linoleic and linolenic acids, which are essential and must be provided in the food. Linolenic acids are required for growth.
3. Carbohydrates, also form a source of energy for koi fish but fish metabolize them less readily than omnivorous birds or mammals. Too much carbohydrate is very bad for koi fish health, resulting in either degeneration of the liver or an excessive storage of these substances as glycogen, leading ultimately to heart failure.
4. Vitamins, are essential for the normal metabolism and growth of koi fish, and requirements of some are increased during spawning. Vitamins are complex-structured substances, needed in only small amounts in the diet, but deficiencies can cause clinical disorders.
5. Minerals, aid basic metabolic functions, as well as performing their own duties, which include building skeletal structures, osmoregulation, building of nerves, and maintaining the efficiency of gaseous exchange in the blood system. Normally 12 percent of the diet is made up of minerals, being contained in fish food in the form of ash.
See also Koi Fish Tips for more information...
1. Proteins, are made up of amino acids. Thirteen essential amino acids should be included in any fish diet, although there are about 20 found in natural proteins. An adequate diet contains sufficient quantities of both essential and nonessential amino acids to allow the koi fish to grow, repair damaged tissue and produce either eggs or sperm. Deficiency of protein or any of the essential amino acids causes koi fish to grow more slowly. Proteins in corn, soy or wheat are very different from proteins in a feed ingredient like shrimp or blood meal. Corn protein may be VERY heavy in Leucine or Lysine. While shrimp meal may be heavy in sulfur containing amino acids and very low in Lysine. Therefore, the best way is use both foods to make protein content balance and complete. At the same time, plant proteins can contribute needed energy in the form of carbohydrates. They may also bring fiber to the equation.
2. Fats, provide a source of energy to koi fish; their important role is in providing fattyacids, such as triglyceride and phospholipids; vital components of membranes surrounding all cell walls. koi fish can make almost all of the fatty acids they need with the exceptions of linoleic and linolenic acids, which are essential and must be provided in the food. Linolenic acids are required for growth.
3. Carbohydrates, also form a source of energy for koi fish but fish metabolize them less readily than omnivorous birds or mammals. Too much carbohydrate is very bad for koi fish health, resulting in either degeneration of the liver or an excessive storage of these substances as glycogen, leading ultimately to heart failure.
4. Vitamins, are essential for the normal metabolism and growth of koi fish, and requirements of some are increased during spawning. Vitamins are complex-structured substances, needed in only small amounts in the diet, but deficiencies can cause clinical disorders.
5. Minerals, aid basic metabolic functions, as well as performing their own duties, which include building skeletal structures, osmoregulation, building of nerves, and maintaining the efficiency of gaseous exchange in the blood system. Normally 12 percent of the diet is made up of minerals, being contained in fish food in the form of ash.
See also Koi Fish Tips for more information...
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