koi fish turning into dragon This is my diorama video telling the
story of the legend of the koi fish transforming into a dragon
Once upon a time, there was a little Kohaku koi fish who lives in a beautiful small pond.
One day He decided to go in the dragon’s gate because he wanted to
become a dragon as what he heard his grandfather told him that
whenever you will succeed in reaching the dragon’s gate you will
turn into a beautiful dragon,
so the little kohaku koi fish jump out of his pond and swim towards
the dragons gate when He was about to reach the summit of the
water fall the Gods test him they make large waves to prevent the
koi fish from reaching
the dragon’s gate but the little koi fish is determined to reach the
top He keeps on swimming even if he was already tired and
exausted and then the Gods throw him ball of fires and even lighting
but this did not stop the little kohaku koi fish he continues to swim
upward the water fall and then successfully reach the dragon’s gate. The Gods were very pleased with the little koi fish that they turn the little koi fish into a beautiful dragon.
My story is based on Fish in Chinese mythology
Here is also a story from this site http://www.egreenway.com/dragonsrealms/DT3.htm
The Threshold of the Dragon’s Gate
“Beneath the serene quiet of the water lilies a young carp senses a calling . . . swelling up in her heart
like the swirling waters at the base of a great waterfall,
Somehow summoned to go beyond the barrier of crashing water and veiled mist
The churning waters of the waterfall’s bottom matches that of the young carp’s desires
Finally with a burst of enthusiasm the carp has launched herself up
the wall of rushing water cresting the first fall with a surge of effort
only to be met with relentless rushing water.
Persevering from one cataract to the next the carp make it to the summit’s last falls.
Regrouping her energies in a pocket of scouring effervescence
every essence of strength, courage, and spirit is consumed in the launching over the fall’s summit.
And the dragon’s gate accepts her efforts a transforming gate of fire Revealing the birth of a new Dragon
born of the seed of desire planted in the heart of a small carp that once hid in the shallows.”
– Howard Schroeder, Threshold of the Dragon’s Gate
koi fish turning into dragon tattoo
Photo from http://nextluxury.com
Koi Fish Turning Into Dragon Koi Turning Into a Dragon. … Coy
Tattoo, Fish Tattoos, Koi Fish Tattoo, Lotus Tattoo, Tattoo Time,
Animal Tattoos, Tatoos, Japanese
legend of carp turning into a dragon
A long time ago, in the distant past, the water of the
blue river that flowed from the sky, and the golden river
that flowed from the land were separated by the legendary
Dragon’s Gate.
The golden river, so-called because of the golden colour
of its water, was the last place where the inhabitants of
the sea could swim freely, after the gods that walked on
the earth had destroyed their massive home, believing
themselves to be the owners of everything they laid their
eyes on.
Amongst all the inhabitants of their water, the Koi family were the
most beautiful of all, gleaming in the sunlight like brilliant stars.
The black one was father Koi, the red one was mother Koi, and their little son was a remarkable deep blue colour.
What the little Koi fish wanted more than anything was to reach the
waters of the blue river after hearing from his father how there was
a time where there were no barriers between one place and the other.
The bravest fish, the dragon fish, flew across the sky like pearls lighting up the darkness.
The entrance was upstream, through the Dragon’s Gate to the Great Waterfall of the blue river. Every fish that got that far sprouted golden wings and so became a dragon fish. learn more here
koi dragon dragon story
The Story of the Koi Dragon
The legend says that a certain koi had the strength and courage to climb a certain waterfall.
When the koi reached the top exhausted, yet having reached its goal, the koi was transformed into a dragon.
The koi dragon is one of the mythical characters in the Japanese culture which is not actually a dragon.
It is a Japanese fish (Koi fish), which has the power to turn into a dragon.
The koi dragon starts to swim off as a fish up a river and then when it reaches a certain waterfall, tries to cross it.
If it is able to cross the waterfall, then it transforms itself into a dragon and thus it is known as the koi dragon.
The tattoo stands for overcoming obstacles through courage and perseverance.
As the koi fish swims up the waterfall and transforms itself to a
dragon, it symbolizes that nothing is impossible when you believe.
If you work hard and put yourself to tests, you will eventually rise
above your fears and become the ruler of your destiny.
The Daffodils (which are a year old) represents my sisters and their
unconditional and unselfish support and encouragement they provide through each journey.
I love this tattoo as it is something I feel everyone can relate to
throughout their own journey through life. read more here
legend of the dragon gate
LEAPING THE DRAGON GATE
On the Yellow River at Hunan is a waterfall called the Dragon Gate. It is said that if certain carp called Yulong can climb the cataract
they will transform into dragons.
Every year in the third month of spring they swim up from the sea
and gather in vast numbers in the pool at the foot of the falls.
It used to be said that only seventy one could make the climb in any year. When the first succeeded, then the rains would begin to fall.
This Dragon Gate was said to have been created after the Flood by
the god-emperor Yu who split a mountain blocking the path of the Yellow River.
It was so famous that throughout China there was a common
saying that: ‘a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate.’
Hunan is not the only place where this happens. Many other waterfalls in China also have the name Dragon Gate and much the same is said about them.
Other famous Dragon Gates are on the Wei River where it passes
through the Lung Sheu Mountains and at Tsin in Shanxi Province. learn more here
The gods recognized the koi for its perseverance and determination and turned it into a golden dragon, the image of power and strength.
STORY OF THE KOI FISH AND THE DRAGON. An ancient tale tells of a school of koi swimming upstream. Gaining strength by fighting against the current
The Koi Dragon tattoo is one of the most beautiful and deeply symbolic tattoos that you can think of. … The Dragon Koi fish is said to be able to swim against powerful currents. … Of course, the koi dragon tattoo does not always mean that something has been conquered.
Explore Tattoomaze’s board “Koi Dragon Tattoo Drawings” on Pinterest. | See more ideas about Fish tattoos, Koi dragon tattoo and Dragon tattoo drawing.
Explore Tattoomaze’s board “Dragon Koi Fish Tattoos” on Pinterest. | See more ideas about Coy tattoo, Fish tattoos and Dragon koi fish.
koi dragon
What is a koi dragon?
The Story of the Koi Dragon. The legend says that a certain koi had the strength and courage to climb a certain waterfall. … The koi dragon is one of the mythical characters in the Japanese culture which is not actually a dragon. It is a Japanese fish (Koi fish), which has the power to turn into a dragon
What is the meaning of a koi dragon tattoo?
Koi is a Japanese word for Carp. Japanese people have, for years, used Koi fish tattoo designs as a cultural symbol for overcoming adversity. Stories are told of how they climb waterfalls that have strong currents. It is said Koi was determined to reach the top of the waterfall so it persevered and succeeded.
How the koi became a dragon?
After a hundred years of jumping, one koi finally reached the top of the waterfall. The gods recognized the koi for its perseverance and determination and turned it into a golden dragon, the image of power and strength. Undeterred koi are legend to have swam upstream China’s Yellow River
What is the legend of the koi fish?
The term “living jewels” has been applied to koi. Koi are known to symbolize friend and romantic love, as well as strength and courage. One Japanese or Chinese legend tells the story of a koi climbing a waterfall on the Yellow River toward the Dragon’s Gate at the top of the falls
The top 10 reason is why salt in koi pond can be dangerous to your koi fish
To salt or not to salt? It’s a question hotly debated by koi hobbyists. When used in low doses, salt has many health benefits for your fish – but when used in too-high doses, it can do more harm than good. Here’s what you need to know about adding salt to your pond.
salt in koi pond Many people who keep Koi fish insist on adding salt in koi pond
1.salt in koi pond can be a good idea in quarantine ponds, as it can help those fish that are suffering from stress.
2. However, salt in koi pond may cause more trouble than it is worth in a pond for breeders or young Koi.
3.When a sufficient quantity of salt is placed in the pond water, the skin of the Koi gets slightly irritated.
4.This causes them to have to produce an extra thick slime coat.
5.That slime coat helps to protect them from parasites and bacteria, which sounds good.
6.The reality is that salt kept in a pond all year can cause the parasites that plague your Koi fish to slowly but surely build up a resistance to the salt.
7.This will make it harder than ever to kill off the parasites and rid your fish of them once and for all.
8.A little salt in koi pond is fine in the Spring to boost the immune system of your breeders, but make sure to do your regular water changes in order to clean all the salt out of your pond when this “spring tonic” is used.
9.don’t add salt to your koi pond unless for medical purposes for a specific, diagnosed issue (such as Whitespot or Nitrite). And then, if possible, remove the koi fish to quarantine and treat them there.You can also use it very effectively as a bath at high concentrations.
10.Salt has very few and very limited purposes which is why so few use it in a pond-wide application. If the water is salted it can cause some medications (if any are needed) to become toxic.
Conclusion it is NOT a good idea to leave salt in your koi pond all year long. … Such drastic measures can often times be dangerous to your koi fish
Bottom line, if you don’t have a thorough understanding of “why” anything should be added to your pond, what is the point? Would you put a band aid on your hand if there was no wound?
Is salt good for koi pond?
Pond salt is something every fish or koi owner should have on hand at all times. Adding pond salt will help boost your koi’s natural defences to disease and add beneficial electrolytes to the water.
Should I put salt in my koi pond?
If you’re adding low doses of salt to your pond and have no aquatic plants, use 2½ cups of salt per 100 gallons of water and disperse the pond salt evenly around the shoreline. Salt will not evaporate or get filtered out, so the only time you need to add more salt is when you do water changes
How much salt should be in a koi pond?
A minimum for one pound (2 cups) of Salt to a maximum of 2.5 pounds (5 Cups) per 100 Gallons (.1 to .25%) of water should be added to your pond. Salt is essential for fish health.
Will Salt kill algae in a pond?
Using Rock Salt. Other than placing your pond in a shady area where it does not receive ample sunlight, you can use rock salt to kill algae. Laguna Koi Ponds recommends 1 lb. of rock per 1,000 gallons of water to kill the string-like algae. Use caution when using salt as it can kill plants and fish in the pond.
Can you put salt in koi pond?
Adding Pond Salt to Your Koi Pond. … If used in correct doses, pond salt can offer many benefits to koi carp and pond water.
Can koi fish survive in saltwater?
koi fish can live only in a freshwater environment. Some fish species can live in both freshwater and saltwater. … However, most fish species can only survive in one or the other based on their salinity tolerance, or how much salt their bodies can handle.
Is Pond salt the same as aquarium salt?
Basic Aquarium Salt is not the same as the formulated mixes used to make a brackish or saltwater aquarium. Aquarium Salt is simply Sodium Chloride, and does not contain minerals and trace elements like calcium and iodine like sea water mixes.
What is Pond salt made of?
All-natural API® Pond Salt is made from evaporated sea water, and provides essential electrolytes that fish need to survive. Salt improves gill function, protects against nitrite toxicity, and reduces stress by helping to maintain a natural balance of electrolytes in the body fluids of pond fish.
The standard for koi fish judging used to be 50 for the figure, 50 for the color, 20 for the pattern.
Recently quality elegance and atmosphere are added to them. When the writer judges a koi, he marks it in the ratio of 30 for the figure, 20 for the color, 20 for the pattern, 10 for the quality, 10 for the elegance and 10 for the imposing appearance.
Since the Writer’s book of Nishikigoi explained how to judge them it has been the way of judging to subtract demerit marks from full marks.
However, it seems to be opposed to keepers, love for their Nishikigoi, so now the way of adding marks for the koi’s merits is used.
For example, a koi with Hi on its fin or jaw used to get demerit marks or to be neglected, but in present koi fish judging quality, it might be a champion, if it had an attractive point which makes up for its demerits.
The ranking is apt to be decided by judges’ first impression. To master powers of appreciation, it is easy to give or subtract marks according to the koi’s merits and demerits.
For example, Hi on the jaw, over the eyes or on the pectoral fin gets minus 2. If a koi gets minus 4 for its two demerits but has a very attractive point, it can have 96 which is sufficient to be a winner.
In short, if only subtraction is always done for demerits, there is a danger that a koi without any merit should be chosen as a champion.
It is more desirable to choose a koi with a charming point in spite of some of its weak points.
1.Figure 30 Marks in koi fish judging
The most important point koi fish judging os the figure including the style of swimming. Even if a koi has has beautiful colors and patterns, it cannot win, if its figure is bad.
Both sides should be symmetrical, but not strictly so. As mens’s faces are not perfectly symmetrical, koi’s bodies are not, either.
The female abdomen with eggs is naturally swollen, so it should not be regarded as an abnormal figure.
There is two kinds of abnormal figure a lack and a deficiency. A koi without an eye or a fin is truly abnormal and should be excepted from judging.
However, a koi with a swollen part of the abdomen or a caved part of the head can be included in the koi fish judging .
Some important points about the figure are as follows
1. Straight line of the back bone and proper curves
It is important that the koi’s line of the backbone is straight, seen from above. The top and the bottom lines should draw proper curves seen from the side. The top line must not curve sharply and the bottom line must not be straight.
The koi which twists itself when swimming is not worthy of being appreciated.
2. Beautiful fins
Beautiful and slightly large fins compared to the size of the body make a koi look beautiful. Pectoral fins are the most important of all. They are apt to be deformed either congenitally or by diseases or wounds. Some Ogons have dwarfed pectoral fins which are definitely their weak points.
Some caudal and dorsal fins are also deformed. Especially dorsal fins of which center are caved are often found. Some pelvic fins or anal fins are deformed, too.
3. A well-shaped head
Some face of koi are good looking and some are not, just like ours. One koi has a nose which leans forward and another has a turned-up nose, Depending on the degree, they may be weak points.
The most conspicuous deformation is that of the jaw most of the deformation are after-effects of gill rot which attacks fry of koi.
The deformed jaws are big.
Their heads are large and square. Gill rot effects deformation of the mouth and the gill.
Eyes, mouths, jaws are better to be well-shaped.
4. Well-balanced height, length and breadth
The ratio of height to length of a koi can tell in general whether is figure is good or not.
The bigger the number of length to height 1 is, the better the figure is. Most well-balanced koi have a ratio of 1 to 2.6 to 1 to 3.0
2. Colors 20 Marks
All the colors of koi should be clear. White should be pure white in every koi. It must not be brownish or milky white.
Especially the head tends to become brownish white. The white texture should not have dirty spots or small Hi spots, either.
It is important that the edge of a Hi marking is clear. Hi must be uniform, that is uneven Hi is worthless.
A Hi marking must not lack a red scale or have white spots on it, either. Thick Layer of Hi is preferable.
Bright Hi with an yellowish brown tint is that best. Hi with a purple tint is regarded less elegant.
Roundish Sumi markings are better than square or triangle-shaped markings. The color should be pitch-dark.
Sumi must not be uneven Bright luster over Sumi markings is indispensable
When they are covered with white membrane. The koi has a cold.
3. Pattern 20 Marks
All the markings on the body of a koi should be well-balanced. A white part either on the mouth and on the tail region is necessary.
U-shaped head Hi used to be ideal, but recently more unique shapes are preferred.
Two points for judging the pattern are on the head and shoulders and on the tail region.
The former is more important. A Hi patch should spread widely on the head. A white cut on the neck is desirable for a Kohaku and a Sumi marking for a Sanke.
On the tail region a white part is needed. A heavy looking pattern is not suitable on it. Many Sumi marking of the tail region or a plain red tail region red trousers is disliked.
4. Quality 10 Marks
The quality of koi cannot be explained in a word. How to tell good quality from bad is mastered only through experience.
The quality is a synthesis of the white texture, Hi, Sumi and the figure. A predisposition to become a large koi without losing Hi or Sumi is also important.
A koi with such a predisposition is generally round and large headed.
The quality is relevant to every item for judging.
The figure, the color, the pattern and the elegance are all related to the quality. Having a good quality is truly indispensable for a good koi
. It must be valued highly in judging. It is wrong to attach great importance only to the pattern which appeals to judges at first glance.
5. Elegance 10 Marks
A koi which a well-shaped head Hi is regarded good looking. A koi with Hi spreading over the eyes or the nose is thought to be worthless.
Though the shape of the pattern is valued highly, it must be also elegant.
A white part on the tail joint influences koi’s elegance, too.
It is important for the Kohaku as well as for the Taisho-Sanke and the Showa-Sanshoku.
A fat koi or a bad-figured koi is not regarded elegant. Even if it has good luster and pattern.
The shape and the size of the pectoral fins affect the elegance. Large roundish pectoral fins are elegant.
In a word a koi of good quality with an excellent figure and a beautiful pattern is thought to be elegant.
6. Imposing appearance 10 Marks
Generally it concers large koi. Their volume an imposingness are important elements in judging ghtem.
If a Niishikigoi lacked an excellent pattern and clear colors, its imposing appearance would make up for them.
In case two koi take the same marks for other items the larger koi will win.
Since the imposing appearance was included in the necessary points for judging, ample, jumbo female koi have been valued greatly.
However, the imposingness is not necessarily the heavyweight. A large but bad-figured koi is valueless.
A pot-bellied or double-bellied koi is disliked, either. A koi with an imposing and elegant appearance is the best. Sucha a koi can be found among male koi as well as female koi
Comment down below if you have more information about koi criteria for judging
Koi fish overpopulation is one of the hardest problems to deal with when it comes Koi ponds.
Once you have to many fish in your pond, severe problems can
occur, and potentially cause death among your fish.
There are a few ways to help prevent koi fish overpopulation. While you
are never guaranteed that it will never happen to you, following a
few simple steps will greatly reduce you chances.
Do Not Overstock
A common problem new Koi pond owners run into is over stocking.
When you first go to buy your Koi, it may come down to deciding
between a number of Koi that is equally beautiful and playful in the
spirit of saving your pond from over stocking.
Talk with your Koi dealer or Pet Store professional about the specifics of your pond.
You should tell them information about what type of filtration
systems you have, what total size your pond is, and where you are planning on placing your pond.
With this information, a professional will be able to adequately
predict the right amount of Koi you can have in your pond successfully.
Do not worry if this number seems small, because the professional
will also be taking into account the fact that Koi grow fast and get rather large.
Some people run into the problem of not being able to turn down Koi from others.
When accepting fish from sources such as other Koi pond owners,
take into account why they are giving you the fish.
Chances are they are giving away fish because they are having
issues with Koi fish over population as well.
Turning down fish does not mean that you are causing any damage
to those fish, it simply means that their owner will have to find a different person to take the fish.
Once Koi Fish Overpopulation Has Occurred
In the event that overpopulation has already occurred in your
pond, there are several ways of removing babies from your pond.
One way is to stop feeding your Koi the minute you realize that spawning has occurred.
You should stop feeding your Koi for no less then three weeks. Do not worry about your Koi starving, as they will focus more on natural foods if you are not feeding them daily.
This “natural” diet includes their young. Koi are not cannibalistic
animals by any means, but they will eat their young when they are
still eggs or if they are small and resemble insects.
Once the baby Koi actually resemble real fish, and the adult fish
recognize this, they will no longer see them as food, so it is
important to start this process as soon as you notice spawning or babies.
While this is a process of nature, you may still find this method to be cruel or unusual. Another way of removing unwanted babies from your pond is to give them away.
First, check with your local pet store. Many pet stores have
programs in which they will accept unwanted animals and give them good homes.
Some may even pay a certain amount for each fish since they sell them, but do not count of this. Local Zoos may also have programs.
If you know of a local Koi society, you may let them know that you have unwanted babies. Alternatively, you can find a message board or group online and post messages there. Who knows, you may even start another person on a Koi keeping hobby.
Will koi fish eat their babies?
Because koi fry have such small mouths, they need smaller sized food.
Koi fry need to eat liquid or small suspended-particle food for their first few days of life. After that, you can work on feeding your koi fry larger and larger solid foods.
Baby koi can eat food out of your refrigerator, such as hard boiled eggs.
Do big koi eat little koi?
Koi are omnivorous and they may eat Koi fry or eggs, but they will leave smaller fish alone.
Medium, large and jumbo sized Koi are priced on a per fish basis
depending on: size, body conformation, skin luster and color.
How long can koi fish go without food?
Many experienced fishkeepers routinely leave their charges for two
to three days without making any provisions for feeding.
Almost any fish can go that long without fish food (more about that later, as well).
However, if you’re going away for longer, some preparation may be needed.
overpopulation of fish effects
Fish Stocking and Overpopulation. … Fish will start fighting over food source and many fish may become stunted.
Too many fish in your pond can lead to a build up of organic
material which will lead to an excessive growth of weeds and algae.
Some signs and symptoms of fish population are water quality, fish
activity, and possible fish sores.
Fish will start fighting over food source and many fish may become stunted.
Too many fish in your pond can lead to a build up of organic
material which will lead to an excessive growth of weeds and algae.
how often do fresh water clam reproduce -Freshwater clams, or mollusks, have a very unique way of reproducing. Freshwater clams can be miles away from their mate at the time of fertilization. All clams set their eggs and sperm free in the water, but freshwater clams depend on the current to successfully create new life. read further at http://animals.mom.me/reproduction-freshwater-clams-9682.html
how to care for a fresh water clam-As these supplements dissolve, a Freshwater Clamwill begin filter feeding them out. Keep in mind it’s important to avoid overfeeding as access organic matter in aquarium water will lead to water quality issues. Use common sense and test tank water for ammonia levels often. learn more at https://www.aquariumcarebasics.com/freshwater-clams/
how often does fresh water clam reproduce-Freshwater mussels have an unusual and complex mode of reproduction, which includes a brief, obligatory stage as a parasite on a fish. … While attempting to eat the lure, the marsupial gills of the female mussel are ruptured, and the fertilized eggs come loose and attach themselves to the fish – the host fish is infected- learn more https://molluskconservation.org/MUSSELS/Reproduction.html
how does a fresh water clam breath-In the summer when mussels are ready to reproduce, the males merely release sperm into the water, and the females catch what they can. The sperm is siphoned by the female and used to fertilize her eggs internally. Obviously, if they aren’t grouped fairly closely, reproduction is hard to achieve. learn more at https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/freshwater-mussels/life-history.aspx
life cycle chart a fresh water clam- http://www.fishwild.vt.edu/mussel/research/life_history.html
Freshwater Clams for Natural Filtration-Native to temperate freshwater rivers and lakes around the world, the freshwater clam is a bivalve mollusk that acts like a living filter to help keep aquarium water clean and clear. Freshwater clams such as the Corbicual sp., which originate in Asia and have a brown shell banded in black, help filter your aquarium water by removing detritus and uneaten food from the water column; in doing so, they remove the organic material that would otherwise break down in your system. The end result is reduced nitrite levels and improved water quality. learn more at https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=2947
is a fresh water clam bite a problem-The aquarium store called it a “shark tooth clam.” I was wondering if I could place it in my freshwater 20-gallon tank. learn more at https://www.petcha.com/freshwater-clam-problems/
minnesota fresh water clam mussel with pearl-The pearls came from freshwater mussels or clams found in the Mississippi and other rivers and streams. They were most likely found while using the mussels for food and the shells for tempering pottery. Today, pearls are available in several types, natural or cultured and freshwater or marine. learn more http://www.greatriver.com/pearls.htm
do fresh water clam eat cattails-What clams do remove quite efficiently are various forms of suspended algae. A grouping of a few small heavily feeding clams can clear the water in a 5-gallon aquarium within hours. They also filter out tiny creatures from the water. In a sense, they are filterers, just not the kind many pet stores market them -learn more at https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/Introduction-Keeping-Clams-In-Aquariums
The pros and cons of adding fresh water clams in your filter media.
I’ve heard if you keep them in your pond and they die they become toxic and kill your fish?
They need cloudy green water as a food source, and hard water. They alse need a mud or sand substrate in the bottom to burrow into. They dont live long in a koi pond with clear water, and as Laura says die and rot in the water causing big problems. As filters they are pretty useless as they excrete ammonia just like your fish.
Would not even consider them in a koi pond myself.
Below is a link to my thoughts on using swan mussels as pond filters. It is easy to jump to the conclusion that, as swan mussels are filter feeders, they are useful in a koi pond because they filter water to obtain nutrients. But those who advocate that idea clearly haven’t thought the situation through and have ignored the parasitic larval stage where the mussel larvae (glochidia) that are released into the water attach themselves to fish gills to grow and develop. The injury they cause doing this makes them very unsuitable in any pond, let alone a koi pond.There are differences between clams and mussels and I don’t have time to look into the laval stages of clams but my gut feeling is that, in such closely related species, the life cycle will be the same.
Freshwater clams are edible so when you remove them from your pond they will, at least, have some use. Swan mussels
It’s my understanding that clams don’t have a parasitic larval stage, so don’t directly damage fish in the same way mussels can. But their other disadvantages and lack of efficacy at biological filtration would make it a pointless exercise anyway in my book
I don’t want to become sidetracked by the distribution of the swan mussel but, if you check, you will find that the Unionidae family of freshwater mussels have worldwide distribution.However, on the subject of clams, I fail to see the purpose of adding clams to a pond. Their natural behaviour is to bury themselves in mud or silt so, unless you intend to allow the pond to become dirty, with all the associated parasite problems that would bring; the environment would be unsuitable leading to their early death.
I also did a quick Google for the life cycle of freshwater clams and, as I suspected, I found references to a parasitic larval stage. Click this for a description:
Also an illustration from: Elizabeth Newhall (Buchsbaum) ? D.B. Dowd / Studio Notes: Writing on Illustration
freshwater clams for sale
Buy at liveaquaponics.com
Corbicula fluminea is a species of freshwater clam, also known as Asian clam, Asiatic clam, golden clam, golden freshwater clam, prosperity clam, and good luck clam.
This clam species is native to Asia, and has been introduced into many parts of the world, including South America, North America and Europe.
Asian golden clams are the more popular species of freshwater clams today, as they offer a great choice for hobbyists seeking the “unusual”.
This ornamental species introduces a delightful golden coloration to the aquarium and the opportunity to observe unusual and entertaining behavior.
They have the typical oval-triangular clam shape, with a dorsal “beak” or umbo at the peak of the shell.
The outside of the shell is olive, or yellowish to black-brown in color, with 1-3 brown/purple colored radial bands and white erosion rings near the umbo. As they age the periostracum becomes darker in color. Buy here
Freshwater clams, or mollusks, have a very unique way of reproducing. Freshwater clams can be miles away from their mate at the time of fertilization.
All clams set their eggs and sperm free in the water, but freshwater clams depend on the current to successfully create new life.
Fertilization A male clam releases his sperm upstream. The current moves his sperm downstream, until it’s drawn into a female clam’s incurrent siphon and used to fertilize hundreds, sometimes thousands, of eggs.
Glochidia Inside the female clam’s gills, the fertilized eggs develop into glochidia, or larvae capable of attaching themselves to fish’s gills. Once the glochidia are fully formed, the female clam releases them into the water through her exhalent siphon.
From there, the glochidia attach themselves to a fish, where they live as a parasite until they’re fully formed.
Life on the Bottom Once the freshwater mussel is fully formed, he detaches from the fish and drops to the lake or river’s bottom.
He begins to grow his armor, or shell. If he’s lucky, he will live a full life. Depending on the species of freshwater clam, this lifespan could be anywhere from 20 to 100 years.
freshwater clams edible
Although most species are edible, freshwater mussels are not as tasty as their saltwater relatives.
Besides, since they are long-lived filter feeders, pollutants can
settle and build up inside them, making them distasteful and unhealthy for human consumption.
Are freshwater clams poisonous?
The real problem with eating freshwater clams is that they are “filter feeders,” constantly ingesting the water around them, filtering out whatever is in it, and accumulating a variety of substances, including pollutants and toxins, in their own tissues.
A cultured pearl is mainly a mussel shell bead with a very thin pearl coating.
Although most natural pearls are found in oysters, they also are found in many different species of freshwater mussels or clams all over the world. … Big washboard mussels usually have pink pearls, as do the wartybacks.
freshwater clams aquarium
Freshwater Clams are sometimes available in pet stores. Under the right conditions, they can be an interesting conversation piece in an established tank. learn more
what do freshwater clams eat
Live aquarium plants continuously shed edible plant matter into the water column.
In most cases, feeding a Freshwater Clam naturally occurring edible material is not enough.
It may be necessary to supplement a clam’s diet with very finely ground Calcium enriched pellets or tablets, fish flakes or algae wafers.
how often do freshwater clams reproduce
Reproduction of Freshwater Clams. Freshwater clams, or mollusks, have a very unique way of reproducing. Freshwater clams can be miles away from their mate at the time of fertilization. All clams set their eggs and sperm free in the water, but freshwater clams depend on the current to successfully create new life.
How do freshwater clams reproduce?
Freshwater mussels reproduce sexually. Sperm is released by the male directly into the water and enters the female via the incurrent siphon. … They grow, break free from the host, and drop to the bottom of the water to begin an independent life.
How long do freshwater clams live?
Freshwater Clam Lifespan. With a little luck, a Freshwater Clam can live 6 months or more
Can freshwater clams be eaten?
Although most species are edible, freshwater mussels are not as tasty as their saltwater relatives. In addition, since they are long-lived filter feeders, pollutants can easily settle and build up inside them, making them distasteful and potentially unhealthy for human consumption.
Are freshwater clams good for aquariums?
The Freshwater Clam is a living filter that helps keep aquarium water clear and clean. By removing uneaten food and detritus from the water column, the Freshwater Clam helps maintain water quality and lower nitrate levels. Like many freshwater bivalves, Corbicual sp. typically buries itself in the substrate.
Do freshwater clams make pearls?
A cultured pearl is mainly a mussel shell bead with a very thin pearl coating. Although most natural pearls are found in oysters, they also are found in many different species of freshwater mussels or clams all over the world. … Muckets produce fine pink pearls, and sand shells have salmon-pink pearls.
Can freshwater mussels survive in an aquarium?
A dead mussel will foul the water, killing other animals in the tank. Remember that the mussels may not survive well at room temperatures. They live in the substrate of streams, ponds, and lakes on all continents except Antarctica. Most live in shallow water, but some live on the bottom of deep lakes.
“ Koi pond construction guide.This Koi pond construction guide
will cover the absolute essentials of setting up your first Koi pond
for a few hundred dollars and some honest elbow grease.
In the future, you may become a very successful Koi breeder,
but for now, let’s focus on setting up a functional pond that do well
enough to keep your koi fish healthy and happy.
After you get the pond in place, functioning, and stable enough to support the Koi you buy—then,
and only then, would you be ready to sink into the investment of purchasing the Koi fish themselves.
Video Below is Philippine most common raised koi pond used by Poor Man Koi keepers
Whatever your reason for wanting to start a Koi pond; you may find the range of options to be quite overwhelming.
It is workable to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on your
Koi pond before even purchasing any fish!
If you’re starting, but, you may want to start with something a little
more budget friendly to determine if Koi ponds are right for you.
Steps for Building a Koi Pond
how to build a koi pond (koi pond construction guide)
Below is my video building a cheap koi pond called trapal pond.
how to dig a pond and install fish pond liners
Thorough planning is the key to a successful result
when building a pond, whether using a preformed
pond unit or flexible liner.
Think through all aspects of the project before you start; draw up
detailed plans of the design and planting, and consider
practical matters, such as which materials and tools
will required, and even how to dispose of the large
volumes of excavated earth that will generate
Excavation of a pond site can be demanding.
Although small ponds can be excavating, it may be
worthwhile to rent a small excavator for more extensive
works. Or, some pond suppliers may build the pond
for you.
Soil conditions can have a considerable effect on the
ease of construction.
In sandy areas, for example, the soil is loose and easy to dig, but it
can be difficult to cut clean boundaries; clay soils, by contrast,
are shaping but present much more strenuous digging conditions.
how to build a koi pond using FLEXIBLE-LINER PONDS
Flexible liners are an versatile material for pond construction,
and are ideal for informal ponds and unusual shapes.
Detailed planning of the exact dimensions of the koi pond built is crucial,
to avoid costly miscalculations of the amount of liner and underlay required
how to build a koi pond using (PREFORMED POND UNITS)
Creating a pond using a preformed unit is straightforward.
For a successful and lasting result, but, make sure the site is
well prepared and free from stones or debris,and that the unit is level when installed
Photos from Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond fish D. Alderton
koi pond construction guide Koi pond Pumps and filters
Garden ponds are often stocked with many more fish than would found in a natural pond,
and so enjoy the addition of a filtration system to improve water quality.
This is especially true for koi ponds, where crystal-clear water is desirable
to give the best view of the colors and patterns of the fish.
Filtration systems are drive by electric pumps,
which powers pond waterfall, fountain and other water features.
Pond pumps fall into two main categories: submersible units that function underwater,
and powerful surface pumps for use only in a dry location.
Submersible pumps are generally smaller and often run on a low voltage,
so are most suitable for smaller koi ponds, while external pumps for larger koi ponds
and extensive water features usually run off household electricity.
To work , a pump must have enough capacity to cycle all the water in the pond in two hours,
so calculate the volume of water in the pond before choosing a pump.
Preformed pond units often have their volume marked on the base; or,
when filling the pond, measure the volume by attaching a flow meter to the hose.
The choice of pump also depends on its intended function.
For example, when operating a fountain, the water needs to pumped under high pressure but at a low output,
whereas for the operation of a waterfall— where the water needs to
pumped uphill—a high output from the pump required.
Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and get advice from reputable retailers
to be sure that the pump you choose is suitable for your intended use.
koi pond construction guide Maintaining water quality
Most filtration systems use separate pumps to draw water from the pond
and through the filter, although pumps with an integral filter are also available.
There are two main types of pond filter: internal units, which sit underwater in the pond,
and external filters, which sited outside the pond.
All filtration systems function in a similar manner (see box, opposite),
but the filtration media they house varies.
When installing an internal filter, locate the pump as close as
possible to the filter unit, to maintain the flow rate.
By contrast, if the system uses an external filter chamber,
locate the pump as far as possible from the filter outflow,
to ensure that clean water is not pumped straight back through the system.
Ultraviolet systems, located between the pump and filter,
are a further refinement that can used to achieve very high water quality.
Ultraviolet radiation emitted by the unit causes algae
in suspension to form into clumps,
which are then strained out of solution by the filter.
koi pond construction guide how to build a pond To begin, you will need the following five items:
koi pond kits
1.)koi pond liner – put, a koi pond liner will hold the water in your pond.
If you dig a hole in the ground and put water in it, it will absorb into the soil (unless you’re talking about a LOT of water).
Furthermore, you want to separate you Koi’s environment
from outside contaminants as much as possible.
Consider either uPVC or Butyl; both are available
from your local home improvement store.
If your hole has lots of sharp rocks in it, you may want to buy some extra layers or padding to protect the liner.
Since the padding will not come in contact with the Koi,
anything resistant to shredding will work, even an old rug.
2.)koi pond filter system – You cannot have a Koi pond without a filter.
Your filtration needs will depend on the volume of your pond,
which means that if you want to save you should start will a smaller pond.
Unless your skilled in fabricating your own diy pond filter,
you would be best served by purchasing a koi pond filter system in the store.
You need a koi pond filter system to remove debris, bacteria, and toxins from the water.
If you’re working on a budget, take a good look at the filter prices
and their recommended replacement intervals making sure to
factor that cost into your calculations.
diy pond filter watch my video below
3.)Pond Pump – This will work in conjunction with the filter to clean your pond water. Must to your Koi’s survival to have a working pump at all times.
If you can afford it, you should always keep a backup pump on hand in case of a failure. Make sure to check with your aquarium supply dealer on Pond pump efficiency.
A general rule of thumb is that your pump should be able to circulate the entire pond’s volume within a couple of hours.
4.)uv pond filter– This is a special piece of equipment that fits between the pump and the filter.
It uses UV rays to help the filter remove algae from the pond water.
Algae are a special concern in Koi ponds since it is often too small to caught by most filtration systems.
The UV rays will cause algae particles to bond together so that they are large enough to filtered out of the water.
It is workable to remove algae from the pond by chemical methods,
but this considered hazardous to the Koi.
5.)A Test Kit – Even experts need test kits. The quality of your Koi’s water must check.
One of the most dangerous chemicals to your Koi is ammonia, which can detect by neither sight nor smell.
You will need two different types of test kits, one for pH,
and one for nitrate (which will or show filter performance).
Ensuring the quality of your Koi’s water is a major factor in how long they will survive.
Further information about how to build a pond below
koi pond construction guide how to build a koi pond step by step
Photos courtesy of Koi Knowledge
If you had seen any water garden, ratios are, you had seen koi fish.
The debate is how to create the perfect biological system or
the ecosystem for your little friends.
Modern koi pond design made so that it might consider
the most appropriate living demand for koi fishes.
You might find them in the yard behind the house often;
whatever, they can also place in front yards if there is a lot of available space there.
to construct koi ponds, the water & oxygen are the greatest consideration. This will resolute by the size of the fishes.
Landscape gardening plays an important role in Koi ponds. There is an efficient amount of koi pond layouts out there for you to select from.
While you might already have some pre-imagine koi pond design ideas plan on how it might design,
you have to make certain that it set the whole water garden objects completely in a faultless way.
Some of the general points of how to construct a koi pond based on koi pond design and construction
the type of landscape that you have given below.
1. Particular Place.
During you might be an incitement to put your Koi pond at the far limit of your yard,
it is very significant to remember that you must have to uninterrupted check its demand.
You will have to make sure the fishes daily. As well as, you also have to see if the plants are still flourishing or if the fish have already sensual on them.
The position of the ponds should be suitable for the changing weather condition. It would not expose during the hot and cold seasons.
You could always add some more defense for the pond in case you
aren’t confident about how it would prosper in that location. Knowing your yard would help you find out where you could place your Koi pond.
2. Area
Trying to find out the size of a koi pond isn’t like figuring out any customary ponds. This is because of the fishes would get bigger over time.
You would get be astonishing at how much they could grow
especially if you are captivating adequate care of them.
The length of the pond is significant & would, of course, depend on the size of your yard,
backyard koi pond designs direction in your yard & overhanging
trees, which would lower down the amount of available space.
That is why I won’t recommend small koi pond ideas
the small koi pond only works on goldfish and other small fishes, not koi fish
3. Plan of revenue
You required having a budget set apart for explaining a pond for your koi. Take note that some of the fishes & other things for decorations for it don’t come cheap.
You may want to limit your expenses and make sure you are not overspending for it.
Other not-so-important parts and materials adding it later on
when you have supplementary resources.
Remember, room wasn’t built in a day, and neither should your pond.
4. Preliminary koi pond design plans
above ground koi pond design
backyard koi pond designs
There are several designs of koi ponds obtainable to seen online.
There should be a considerable range of fishes, styles & plants,
with many of them varying from the traditional to the unique & good, depending on the prior the right owner.
The biggest thing about constructing a koi pond is that you could
use a preliminary plan or design it so that act likes praise not only the rest of your yard but your home.
You could have a square, curving or round & as a part of the whole landscape garden.
When you have looked at these things, it would be the time to create your koi pond. You have your choice of doing it all by yourself if you have the capability for it.
If not, there are specialists koi pond builders near me out there that
might construct the pond as stated to your personal preferences & tastes.
Professionals pond contractor services recommended that koi ponds
should installed first before the rest of the landscape.
Problems would be hinder especially if the pond required be extending or expanding.
Once you finished, you would understand that the building,
planning, and expenses are worth it all. Your koi fish would agree.
how to build a koi pond above ground
Famous Trapal Koi pond in the Philippines
This is the easy and less work koi pond since you will no longer dig the earth to build it.
You build a frame right away, some made up of woods others are bricks and hollow blocks,
Add aquatic plants as soon as possible after constructing the pond or water garden.
Many aquatic plants are great at using up the nutrients that would otherwise feed the algae.
Some of the most effective plants include Anacharis, Water
Hyacinth, Parrot’s Feather, and Bacopa.
Water lilies and other plants with surface leaves can added to
provide shade to approximately 66% of the surface area if in full sun. If less than full sun then less coverage is acceptable
As well as enhancing the look of a pond, plants help to maintain
waterquality, providing a healthy environment for the fish.
The choice of plants will partly depend on the style of pond—a
naturalistic pond looks best when planted around the edges so that
it blends into its environment, while a contemporary look may be
best achieved with more minimalist planting
A well-balanced, healthy pond must contain two types of
plant: oxygenators which release oxygen into the water, and floating
plants which provide shelter from sunlight.
Without these, or an efficient filtration system, the water in the
pond can become overgrown with algae, which not only turns the
water green, but can also affect the health of some fish species,
such as Sterlets
Plants in the body of the pond also absorb nitrate—the product of
the breakdown of fish waste—which lessens the burden on the filtration system.
Incorporating plants into a koi pond is not straightforward,
partly because of the depth of water, and also because koi
have a habit of digging up plants and browsing on the growing
shoots.
Most koi ponds, so, incorporate a few tall marginals, and some
water lilies, whose leaves help to protect the fish from sunburn in the clear water.
Planting
In a new pond, wait several days after filling before putting
the plants in place, to allow the water temperature to rise
to that of the environment.
Pot plants as necessary having first inspected them for any signs of disease or pests.
In temperate areas, spring is the best time to introduce new plants
into an existing pond, because aquatic plants start to grow now.
If the pond is large, you may need waders to put plants in place,
and special pond gloves should always worn.
These reach up to your shoulders and provide protection against
waterborne diseases, such as Weil’s disease a serious condition,
spread by rodents, which causes jaundice.
Types of koi fish pond plants
Plants for the pond can divided into four categories, based
on their growing habits and where in the pond they are to found.
Oxygenating plants,water lilies, and floating plants are aquatic,
growing in or under the water.
Marginal plants are a useful addition to the pond, not only as a
decorative element, but also to provide an excellent habitat for insects.
Oxygenating plants
grow underwater, releasing oxygen during daylight hours.
Water lilies have
attractive flowers and large leaves, which provide shade and protection for the fish.
Floating plants
can spread across a pond, and their growth may need to restricted
Marginal plants can
be cultivated in shallow water or boggy conditions around a pond’s edge.
How deep does a koi pond need to be?
A pond for goldfish or water lilies need be only about 2 feet deep for zones 5 or greater.
Ponds built in colder areas may need more depth to keep the pond from freezing solid.
Ponds built for koi should be close to three feet or deeper to allow these larger fish enough space.
What size pond do you need for Koi?
Well, at three feet deep, a six foot by eight foot pond will yield 1077 gallons.
But these are merely the minimum recommended requirements. Also, the more fish you have, the larger your pond should be.
A pond of the aforementioned size will be enough for no more than five average sized Koi.
How deep does a pond need to be for fish to survive the winter?
Koi Pond. Koi ponds should be at least 3 feet deep. The ideal depth
of a pond that supports a population of koi is 48 to 60 inches, although koi can survive with a minimum depth of 36 inches.
Do koi grow to the size of the pond?
Jumbo sized Koi grow up to 34 to 36 inches long. Does the size of the pond hinder a Koi’s growth?
The size of a pond will not stop a Koi from growing.
The size of the pond, along with other factors like health, feeding,
water temperature and water quality affect the speed of their growth.
build koi pond
A pond for goldfish or water lilies need be only about 2 feet deep for zones 5 or greater.
Ponds built in colder areas may need more depth to keep the pond from freezing solid.
Ponds built for koi should be close to three feet or deeper to allow these larger fish enough space.
How much does a koi pond cost to build?
A shallow 4′ x 6′ or 6′ x 8′ professionally-installed pond, including excavation, liner, filtration system, and simple rock border might cost $2,000 to $3,500. As a DIY project, the same pond might cost $500 to $1,000. Larger ponds, depending on features and equipment, can easily cost $5,000 to $15,000 or more.
How big does a koi pond need to be?
Well, at three feet deep, a six foot by eight foot pond will yield 1077 gallons. But these are merely the minimum recommended requirements. Also, the more fish you have, the larger your pond should be. A pond of the aforementioned size will be enough for no more than five average sized Koi.
How deep should a koi pond be winter?
Koi Pond. Koi ponds should be at least 3 feet deep. The ideal depth of a pond that supports a population of koi is 48 to 60 inches, although koi can survive with a minimum depth of 36 inches.
Daphnia are an extremely important part of aquatic food chains. They eat primary producers such as algae, yeast, and bacteria. Daphnia are the prey of tadpoles, salamanders, newts, aquatic insects, and many types of small fish.
what to feed daphnia magna
Here is my video preparing my daphnia magna food
Here is the list of my favorite food for my daphnia magna culture.
Bakers yeast you can purchase it from grocery store or bake shop store. I just mix it with warm water to dilute it and then sprinkle it to my daphnia magna culture.
Green water culture I place gunky and old water from my koi pond and place it in an empty plastic bottle container and place it under the sun this will produce green water and green water is green water or single-celled algae and Daphnia Magna will reproduce faster when eating green water.
Spirulina powder you can buy in your local pet store if there is no available spirulina powder in your local pet store you can purchase on the drug store. you can buy spirulina tablet and pond it with a pestle into powder form.
I also gave my daphnia Magna culture paprika you can buy paprica
How to create green water
mix 1/2 teaspoon urea to your 1 gallon old tank water or koi pond water then place under the sun wait for several days so that the urea will be consume by the planktoon before feeding it to your daphnia culture.
how to culture daphnia magna
Article has given free download at science.ousd This is the inspiration you need to get started with live food culturing.
Photo from Wikipedia
Daphnia are very interesting creatures, but they are also easy and fun to culture under the right condition. Daphnia (daff-NEE-ah) are small freshwater crustaceans that are found on just about every continent in the world.
From the frozen artic to vernal desert pools, daphnia occupy an important niche at the lower rungs of the food web. Most aquatic insects, amphibians, invertebrates, fish and fowl utilize daphnia as a food source.
And what an excellent food source they are! Daphnia are high in protein, vitamins A & D, and indigestible chitin (KITE-un) to aid in digestion. Daphnids have an almost bulletproof reproductive strategy.
They have the ability to rapidly clone themselves asexually when conditions are right. When conditions deteriorate, they have the ability to procreate sexually and produce resting cysts that can hatch when conditions improve.
Daphnia are truly hard to beat as a live food culture for tropical fish, mostly because they are so prolific and easy to culture.
There are as many ways to culture these little crustaceans, as there are people that culture them. It really is hard to go wrong with these critters.
Here are the steps to culturing daphnia:
1) Set up your green water cultures In a pinch you can feed your Daphnia a very, very small pinch of flour or a single grain of oatmeal.
Stir the container and the Daphnia will filter feed the dissolved food in the water. But the best food for rapid growth is green water or single-celled algae.
Take some clean plastic storage containers or old used aquariums, and place them in a spot outdoors that gets plenty of sunlight, but not too much direct sun.
Fill the containers with some gunky water vacuumed from your fish tanks, and toss in a pinch of natural fertilizer such as blood or bone meal.
Some daphnia culturists report having good luck using dissolved Miracle Grow at the rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon of water.
An old gallon milk jug is perfect for dissolving the mix. Add in some lettuces and let it rot. Set up at least two green water containers before you buy your starter culture of daphnia.
Allow the green water cultures to become emerald green in color. It’s a very good idea to have duplicate cultures going just in case one of them crashes.
What good is it to take a few weeks storing up a bunch of green water only to have it eaten by the daphnia in a few days? As a rule of thumb, set up at least three times more green water than you need to house your daphnia in.
With a couple of containers equaling twelve gallons of green water, you can safely plan on supporting four gallons of daphnia culture.
A single gallon container of water can support hundreds of daphnia.
2) Prepare for the arrival of your daphnia culture Once you have plenty of emerald green water, it is time to transfer some green water culture to the containers that will house your daphnia.
To keep a constant supply of green water going, be sure to replace any green water you transfer out of the green water container with tank water or dechlorinated tap water.
Try not to use all of your green water up, since it is much more work to start a new culture than it is to keep an existing one going.
For housing daphnia cultures indoors, plastic shoe or sweater boxes work well as does the standard ten-gallon tank. Outdoor cultures do well with 55-gallon drums, plastic tubs or kiddy wading pools.
Just about anything that holds water and isn’t toxic can hold daphnia. It is also a good idea to set up some smaller cultures with a number of different water conditions and different types of containers.
Pint-sized drinking water bottles or 2-liter soda pop bottles work well in a pinch. The idea is to hedge your bet by placing your daphnia culture in green water, spring water, treated tap water and whatever else you can think of, to assure that at least some of the daphnia will survive.
There is a remote chance that your new arrivals may not take to your green water or your containers may not be daphnia safe. It is better to be cautious by not putting all your eggs in one basket.
3) Acclimate and release the daphnia Open the shipping box immediately. A few dead daphnia in the shipping bag is normal.
If you notice a marked difference between the temperature of the shipping bag and that of your water containers, you should float the bag for 10 to 15 minutes to equalize the temperature a bit.
If both are relatively the same, you can just start divvying up the daphnia amongst the various containers at your disposal. Add a few daphnia at a time, very slowly.
Do you see any instant deaths? Don’t put any more daphnia in a container that has them sinking to the bottom to die. Keep divvying them up until they are all spread out among a number of water containers.
A dedicated fish room eyedropper works well for transferring the daphnia.
4) Check on your cultures daily So your new daphnia culture made it through the night in your green water? Good for you! You can start consolidating your mini-cultures into the green water until you have at least two cultures.
Again, multiple cultures will help hedge your bet should one of the cultures crash. You will have learned whether daphnia can live in your treated tap water, which is good to know.
Daphnia are so sensitive to toxic water that they are used in industry to test for water pollution, sort of like canaries in a coal mine.
Check daily to make sure they have enough green water. Add more as needed, and remember to replenish any outdoor green water containers accordingly if you have them.
5) Care and feeding If the daphnia eat your green water too fast you may need to set up another green water culture.
Daphnia will also eat powdered fish food flakes, bacteria-laden water, and even infusoria from snail droppings. Hikari “First Bites”, “Liquifry”, “Spiralina Powder” and “Cyclop-Eeze” are great foods to supplement your green water as well.
Care must be taken not to over feed or pollute the daphnia culture water. Daphnia populations are known to pulse (rise and fall).
A lot depends on water quality, available oxygen, light duration, and available food sources. Some trial and error and experimentation is in order with regard to light duration, added air bubblers and amount of food to offer.
By and large, leaving the light on all the time will help promote algae and bacteria in the culture, and an air bubbler (no airstone!) will keep water circulating.
The ambient temperature should be kept in a range that is comfortable for people. Outdoor cultures can be pretty much left to their own devices.
If you fear your culture is crashing (you start to see a lot of dead daphnia), remove 10% of your culture water. Then add fresh conditioned water and some food to the container.
Also, harvest some of the daphnia to start a new culture, and/or provide a heavy feeding for your fish. Is Daphnia magna a vertebrate?
Hemoglobin is an important protein found in all vertebrates and some invertebrates. … Simple invertebrates, such as Daphnia, do not have lungs or red blood cells.
Because Daphnia do not have a complex respiratory system, they generally obtain oxygen for respiration through diffusion.
What is a common name for Daphnia magna? Waterflea – Daphnia magna – Common names – Encyclopedia of Life. Is Daphnia a plankton? Daphnia, a genus of small planktonic crustaceans, are 0.2–5 millimetres (0.01–0.20 in) in length.
Daphnia are members of the order Cladocera, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because their saltatory (Wiktionary) swimming style resembles the movements of fleas.
How long do Daphnia live for? Daphnia usually live about ten to thirty days and can live up to one hundred days if their environment is free of predators.
An individual will generally have ten to twenty instars, or periods of growth, during their lifetime. How do Daphnia magna reproduce?
As most of the other species of the genus Daphnia, D. magna reproduces by cyclical parthenogenesis.
This form of reproduction is characterised by the alternating production of asexual offspring (clonal reproduction) and at certain time sexual reproduction through haploid eggs that need to be fertilised.
Is Daphnia magna a vertebrate?
Hemoglobin is an important protein found in all vertebrates and some invertebrates. … Simple invertebrates, such as Daphnia, do not have lungs or red blood cells.
Because Daphnia do not have a complex respiratory system, they generally obtain oxygen for respiration through diffusion.
What is a common name for Daphnia magna?
Daphnia live in various aquatic environments ranging from acidic swamps to freshwater lakes and ponds. The two most readily available species of Daphnia are D. pulex (small and most common) and D. magna (large).
Is Daphnia a zooplankton?
Is Daphnia magna an ecologically representative zooplankton species in toxicity tests? … D. magna is a relatively large zooplankton species which makes it so vulnerable to fish predation that it is excluded from fish-inhabiting lakes.
Why are Daphnia magna important?
They serve as an important source of food for fish and other aquatic organisms. Daphnia are excellent organisms to use in bioassays because they are sensitive to changes in water chemistry and are simple and inexpensive to raise in an aquarium.
Do Daphnia have blood?
Simple invertebrates, such as Daphnia, do not have lungs or red blood cells. Because Daphnia do not have a complex respiratory system, they generally obtain oxygen for respiration through diffusion. Oxygen molecules along with water are carried in and out through the outer carapace of the Daphnia.
Where are Daphnia magna found?
Daphnia are extremely small and range in size from 0.5mm to 1cm. Daphnia can be found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers all over the world.
Does Daphnia have a brain?
The Daphnia’s nervous system consists of a brain that has two or three pairs of ganglia. Ganglia are nerve cells that tend to cluster up. The nervous system also has nerve rings that go round the oesophagus. Last of all, it has a paired ventral nerve cord.
What type of organism is Daphnia?
Daphnia pulex is the most common species of the group of organisms known as water fleas. Their common name was given because of their general appearance and jerky swimming motions which resembles that of the land flea. They are, in reality, a type of small crustacean and are generally 0.2-3.0 mm long.
Are Daphnia asexual?
Most Daphnia species have a life cycle based on “cyclical parthenogenesis”, alternating between parthenogenetic (asexual) reproduction and sexual reproduction. For most of the growth season, females reproduce asexually. … In species without males, resting eggs are also produced asexually and are diploid.
There are fourteen different varieties of Koi, with a fifteenth variety that is used as a sort of a catchall variety for all of the different types of koi that do not quite fit into one of the other fourteen slots.
This last variety is known as the Kawarimono, and a large percentage of Koi are placed in this category.
Inclusion in this variety has no bearing on the quality of the Koi.
Placement in the fifteenth variety simply means that there is something not quite right about the fish.
It may be attractive and healthy, but it does not fit the “breed standard” for any of the individual varieties.
All Koi have a unique beauty, but those who are entered in shows must resemble this standard.
Crossbreeding For Different Varieties
The many different color varieties that you will see were brought to fruition by crossbreeding fish that are closely related to each other.
Crossbreeding tends to make a genetic line more stable, bringing out the good qualities while pushing back the bad.
Those who are preparing to be Koi breeders are advised to learn about the different types of koiv arieties so that they will know which ones they are interested in breeding and raising.
Asagi
Photo from hanoverkoifarms.com
The Asagi Koi is one of the initial varieties of Koi. The body of the Asagi is a blue color, with the lighter shades of blue most preferred.
The scales on the skin of the Asagi are given high importance. The edges of these scales must all be equal in length, and must be on the entire body of the koi from its tail to its head.
The red (Hi) color that appears on the sides of the Asagi, on the head, and on the fins sometimes looks more orange than red.
The Hi needs to be symmetrical on both sides of the Koi’s cheeks all the way to its eyes.
Utsurimono
Three varieties of the Utsurimono have been painstakingly developed. These are the –
Ki Utsuri, which is a yellow and black Koi
Photo from www.usakoi.com
Hi Utsuri, a red and black Koi
Photos from cachepkoi.com.vn
Shiro Utsuri Shiro, a white and black koi
Photo from www.aquariumdomain.com
The Utsurimono should be heavily marked with black (Sumi) in order to display a prominent contrast with the yellow, red, or white.
All colored need to be somewhat balanced, as this helps to call attention to the pattern on the Koi.
The Utsurimono is sometimes mistaken for the Bekko koi. There are two differences to look for that will allow the observer to tell the two varieties of Koi apart.
The main variation is that the Utsurimono is a black Koi with red, white, or yellow markings, while the Bekko Koi are either white, yellow, or red Koi that have black markings.
The Utsurimono also feature black markings on their heads that run all the way down to their noses. The Bekko Koi do not have black markings in this area.
Bekko
The Bekko variety is a white, yellow or red Koi that can be identified by the unique black markings.
This assortment has small and very simple black markings that are not included on the head of the Koi.
The Shiro Bekko is white with black markings. The Aka Bekko is red with black markings The Ki Bekko is yellow with black markings, and is considered to be rare.
Shusui koi
Photo from thefishdoctor.co.uk
The Shusui is the result of a crossbreeding that took place in 1910. One Yoshigoro Akiyama crossed an Asagi Koi with a Doitsu Mirror carp.
He ended up with a fish he called the Shusui. The color of this Koi is comparable to that of the Asagi.
The Shusui has a head that is a bluish gray color, with red on the jaws of the Koi.
The skin is a lovely sky blue, with darker fish scales outlining the lateral and dorsal lines.
Lines of red run down the back from the gills to the tail. There are several types of Shusui, including –
Hi Shusui Hana Shusui Ki Shusui Pearl Shusui
Koromo
The Koromo koi is a relatively new type of Koi that appeared around 1950.
The Koromo came into existence by crossing the Kohaku with the Naruni Asagi.
The Koromo has a lovely pattern of deep red edged with black on a white background/body.
The red is described as being in a lace pattern, and the markings of the Koromo are prone to variations, depending on which variety you are looking at.
The most commonly seen varieties include –
Budo Sanke Koromo Sanke Koromo Showa Budo Goromo
Photo from Inland koi channel
Budo Goromo are a Goromo with shading that completely covers the Hi, creating a purple color. Budo means grape in Japanese.
Look for a Budo Goromo with a Kohaku pattern on it’s back. What makes an Budo Goromo? Goromos were created by accident.
How? A breeder was breeding Goshikis and a goshiki with a white background and a net pattern on the Hi appeared. This Koi was carefully bred and now we have the Goromo variety. Ai-Goromo Sumi-Goromo
Goshiki
In Japan, the word “goshiki” means five colors, which are red, white, black, dark blue and blue.
All of these colors can be mixed on the body of one fish. The result of this is a Koi that has a rather purplish tint.
Originally created by crossing the Asgai Koi with the Sanke Koi, the Goshiki has patterns that are quite striking.
These surprisingly lovely fish are very popular with those who keep Koi as a hobby.
Kawarimono
The Kawarimono classification is given to many non-metallic fish who do not seem to fit in any other variety of Koi.
This classification should in no way be considered as a variety in which to dump the oddly marked Koi! Many gorgeous crossbred Koi come from the Kawarimono variety.
Often, these are not bred on purpose, but appear in a spawning as a “sport” koi.
Generally, the Kawarimono are divided into three groups –
Single-colored Koi Black Koi Other colors of Koi Ochiba Shigure
Photo from https://mpks.org/
Have you ever seen a soft gray colored koi with gold patterning? If you have, you likely would not forget, because it is very different looking than the brightly colored koi we are used to seeing.
This quietly refined and elegant koi is called an Ochiba Shigure, which aptly translates to “autumn leaves on water”. The delicately reticulated scales do indeed give an impression of leaves floating on a calm pond, with the golden-leaved trees reflected on the surface.
A relative newcomer on the koi scene, having been around only since about the mid-90s, the Ochiba is actually a cross between a gray Soragoi and a golden brown chagoi.
These two ancestors have a reputation of being the friendliest of koi, and the Ochiba has happily inherited that trait.
Many hobbyists will have one of these types koi in their collection for the purpose of encouraging other, shyer koi to “come out of their shells” and be more sociable.
They will be the first to come up to greet you as you approach your pond, and will readily eat from your hand. learn more here kumonryu koi
Photos from Koiphen.com
Kumonryu. The Kumonryu is a Doitsu (German) koi that has a jet black pattern that emerges like billowing black clouds against a white background. beni kumonryu koi
Photo from http://www.no1koi.com
Beni Kumonryu came from Kumonryu and Doitsu Kohaku. Since Doitsu varieties have no scales, their colors can be very bright and bold.
Beni Kumonryu are a rare form of Kumonryu, they have red along with the black and white. They are scaless and their pattern actually changes throughout the year.
No one is absolutely sure what causes the color change, but the two best theories are a change in temperature or a change in pH. Beni Kumonryu are usually black in the winter.
The white and red usually appears in the spring and summer. Chagoi koi
Photo from Helmy Iskandar
The Chagoi is known as the “gentle giant”. They are not the most colorful or fanciest of Koi varieties, but make of for that in other fabulous ways! Chagoi are the friendliest and most docile Koi breed to the point that most actually like interaction with people. In as such they tend to make all of your other fish more friendly and trusting. They are also known to grow large and grow quickly. They come in various shades from brown, reddish brown, beige,copper/rootbeer, and even shades of green. learn more about chagoi at hanoverkoifarms.comSoragoi Koi
Photos from Tuấn Huỳnh Ngọc
Soragoi, similar to Chagoi, are koi of a solid grey or silver color, combined with a subtle net pattern. Also like Chagoi, mature Soragoi are very docile and will be among the first koi in your pond to learn to hand feed. … Soragoi belong to the Ogon group of koi, which appeared in the Showa Period (1926-1989).
Ochiba-Shigure
Ochiba-Shigure is an interesting name for a Koi. The words translate to mean “dead leaves on the water”.
These fish are clothed in the basic colors of gray and green with a network of brown lines, rather like the stems of a dead leaf.
Hikarimono (Ogon)
The word “Hikari” translates from the Japanese to mean “metallic”.
“Mono” means one particular single color. This means that the ogon koi is classified as a highly metallic-colored variety of Koi. There are –
Metallic silver, or Platinum ogon koi,
Platinun- Ogons are metallic white and are one of the most popular Ogons.
The color should be as white as fresh mountain snow. As with other Ogons
Photo from http://cacanhthaihoa.com
Metallic yellow, or Yamabuki ogon koi.
photo from http://splendorkoi.com
These two colors are the most common, and the easiest shades of ogon koi to purchase.
There is also the –
Fuji ogon koi, where only the head of the Koi is metallic Orenji ogon koi, which is all orange like a common goldfish, with a red splotch on its back. Goldfish lovers are usually quite fond og the Orenji.
Except for the Fuji, the metallic color of the ogon koi must be the same from the head to the tail, and even flow down to the ends of each fin to be considered “correct”.
The size of the fins also matters a great deal. Everyone wants to see long fins on the ogon koi, as they help to counterbalance the plain Koi body.
Ogon koi are a single solid colour with a metallic appearance. This variety is very popular, particularly with those new to keeping koi.
These fish can be a variety of attractive colours. Cream specimens are rare and the most popular choices are bright yellow (Yamabuki ogon koi) and Platinum (Purachina ogon koi).
Any Koi that are metallic and have several colors, but do not come from Utsuri lineage are in this group.
The Hikarimoyo-mono was created by crossing a Platinum Ogon with several other varieties, none of which had any Utsuri genes at all. This cross resulted in the
The Kujaku is a metallic or Ogon koi with the reticulated net-like pattern of the Asagi on its back. …
The development of high quality Kujaku has led to their being judged in a category of their own at recent koi shows.
Kujaku are koi with a solid white base, accented by a black net pattern along with patterns of red/orange/yellow.
The net pattern is created by a black edging on each individual scale.
Variations of Kujaku include Doitsu Kujaku, Tancho Kujaku and Maruten Kujaku.
There is another group in this classification, which has fish of two colors, either gold, orange, or platinum.
These Koi are called Hariwake. The Orenji Hariwake and the Hariwake matsuba koi are two examples of this variety. Hariwake koi
Photo from http://www.koiphen.comPhoto from hanoverkoifarms.com
The matsuba koi is basically an Ogon with reticulation. It is a one colored metallic koi with dark pigment on the scales.
This variety is in the Hikari Muji class, and is considered one color regardless of the contrasting scales.
KIN matsuba koi are orange-red metallic skin, GIN matsuba koi are platinum based. kikusui koi
Photo from Koi des Tages
Kikusui – Kikusui. Although technically they are the Doitsu version of Hariwake, scaleless white koi with patterns of orange or yellow
goshiki koi
Photo from http://cachepkoi.com.vn
goshiki koi pronounced (gosh-key or Go-she-key by some) are an interesting breed of Koi. The name means ‘five colors” in Japanese, but frankly it is not a fitting name in my opinion with today’s goshiki koi. You do not readily see five colors at a glance and it is a stretch to do so no matter. This is one breed I feel the Japanese creators misnamed.
Most times the Japanese names are right on the money as for descriptive names that tell a story of what the Koi breed looks like.
The name was probably created because of the look of some of the first goshiki koi created when they crossed a Sanke to and Asagi. Today yet I don’t see the “:five colors) easily. Anyway, enough about that.
The goshiki koi basically a white based Koi that has a fishnet black pattern on top of the white base that covers the entire back and runs from the top of the back down to the lateral line (center line of the side of the fish that runs from gill plate to tail base).
On top of the fishnet pattern there is a red or orange pattern like the Kohaku.
This pattern is called the Hi (hee) plate. One difference in this Hi plate from Goshiki to Kohaku is that the Goshiki Hi tends to be much thicker, bolder and more neon in color intensity as compared to the Kohaku Hi plate which can be a glossy red/orange but not neon.
The Goshiki Hi plate actually glows and gives the impression of thickness to the point that the Hi plate can look like a sticker stuck on top of the fishes fishnet pattern.
There are also offshoot breeds from Goshiki called Goshiki Sanke and Goshiki Showa. We won’t get into those details now though.
The term peacock koi refers to the five colors on the body of the koi.
The base color of this variety is white and the fins are generally white and free of any pigment.
The pattern markings on Goshiki are red, or Hi. … Kloubec Koi Farm is a breeder of Japanese Goshiki variety koi. Good read from http://nishikigoi.life article written by Author Mark Gardner Goshiki, a five coloured fish, created in the early 1900s have developed tremendously in recent years to the point where some consider them the 4th Gosanke, in place of Shiro Utsuri.
In this article we’ll look at the history of the variety, some of the most prominent breeders and the huge array of different styles that exist.
HISTORY According to Dr. Takeo Kuroki’s book ‘Modern Nishikigoi’ Goshiki were produced by crossing Asagi with Aka Sanke or Aka Bekko in 1918.
According to Shuji Fujita’s ‘Nishikigoi Mondo’ a primitive Goshiki existed from the mutation of Narumi Asagi and were known as Goshiki Asagi. Masayuki Amano’s 1968 ‘General Survey of Fancy Carp’ gives almost no mention to Goshiki, indeed the only references appear in reproductions of Masamoto Kataoka’s gene trees.
The first shows Goshiki Asagi being produced from Narumi Asagi and Aka Bekko, to then be bred with Kohaku to produce Koromo. The other shows Goshiki coming from Narumi Asagi. learn more
Kohaku
The Kohaku is a White koi with red, or Hi markings. The color white should look as if it is freshly fallen snow,
and there should be no superfluous marks on the white to distract the eye from the pristine color.
The clarity between the Hi color and the white is called the Kiwa.
The pattern on the Kohaku should have depth and should be as well balanced as possible.
There are several different pattern types, including the –
Inazuma, which means lightning strike in Japanese.
Nidan is the name for two red or Hi markings on the white background of the fish.
Sandan is the name for three red or Hi markings on the white fish.
Yondan is the name for four red or Hi markings on the Kohaku.
The Taisho Sanke is a Koi carp with three different colors. In this instance, the colors are red, or Hi, black, or Sumi, and white.
The color depth and the balance of the pattern on the fish is important, just as it is on the Kohaku.
The Taisho Sanke should not have any black (sumi) on the head.
Black (Sumi) is welcome on the fins, and most particularly on the pectoral and the caudal fins. T
his is taken as a sign that the Sumi color should stay even over the entire body of the fish.
The red (Hi) patterns may be on just a part of the body, or can extend back over the entire length of the body.
Showa Sanshoku
The Showa Sanshoku Koi has much more black (Sumi) included in its patterns than does the Taisho Sanke.
In fact, this classification is mostly black with a foreground of red and white markings.
Color depth is very important in this variety. The black (Sumi)should be deep and dark, the color of an object made of the dense and dark black wood known as ebony.
The red (Hi) markings need to be a blood red color, and the white should be as crisp and clean in appearance as a freshly washed and starched white shirt.
The white color on the Showa Sanshoku should be even and uniform on the base of the pectoral fins.
There are several different varieties of the Showa Sanshoku that can pop up in other Koi classifications, such as the –
Chagoi Koi – Mr. Personality (Chah’-goy) … You’ll discover this pet is probably more intelligent than other koi in your pond too.
It is almost universally agreed to be the friendliest of the koi classifications because it is the most aggressive at feeding time and almost always the first fish to become hand-tame
The Cha-goi is a part of the catchall class known as Kawarimono. “Cha” is the word for a tea-colored Koi that is a very fast grower.
The Cha-goi is very easy to tame, and most people thoroughly enjoy having this variety in their pond.
How many types of koi are there?
Types of Koi Varieties. There are over a 100 different types of koi (Nishikigoi).
To find the proper koi classification you will need to look at their colors, patterns, and body confirmation.
Each type of koi fish variety has it’s own specific details for identification and can described based off another classification of Japanese Koi type.
For example, a Showa Sanke is a koi with calligraphic Sumi pattern on Kohaku and the Goshiki created by breeding Asagi with Kohaku. View popular koi varieties below and click to learn about each type of koi.
What type of fish is a butterfly koi?
Butterfly koi, longfin koi, or dragon carp are a type of ornamental fish notable for their elongated finnage.
The fish are a breed of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, which includes many wild carp races as well as domesticated koi (“Nishikigoi”). … They are also sometimes referred to as Dragon Koi.
Onagaoi
Also known as American koi, Butterfly koi, Longfin koi, and Dragon koi, the Onagaoi has beautiful long fins reminiscent of a butterfly’s wings.
The Japanese bred these koi, hoping to improve the hardiness of all koi by doing so.
A type of wild fish called Indonesian Longfin river carp were captured by these breeders to use in breeding experiments.
These carp were bred with koi that were more traditional in appearance.
The fish that resulted from this breeding had the long fins and the resiliency that hoped for.
Koi Purists Dislike the Butterfly
Other breeding experiments carried out in the hopes of setting the different patterns of traditional koi onto the long finned.
This attempt at crossbreeding was mostly successful. Many koi purists are adamantly against the Onagaoi.
This is the reason why many of the people who sell koi do not offer this variety.
Famous breeders in Japan would not think of breeding the Onagaoi.
These koi are not popular anywhere in the world except for the United States.
What is a ghost koi?
Ghost Koi. … The Ghost Koi that surfaced in the early ’80s are a hybrid mix of wild carp and single-colored metallic Ogon koi.
They are also referred to as Ghost Carp—one of the reasons that koi purists don’t recognize them as true Nishikigoi at all.
Tancho koi
Photo and description from simikoi.com
Koi with a red head patch are called “Tancho.” Most common are “Tancho Kohaku (all-white Koi with Tancho),” “Tancho Sanshoku (white Koi with Sumi similar to Shiro Bekko, and with Tancho),” and “Tancho Showa (Showa Sanshoku without red markings except for Tancho),” etc. However, “Tancho Goshiki (Koi of five colors with Tancho),” and “Tancho Hariwake” are rare.
Tancho do not form a single, independent kind of Nishikigoi; they all can be bred from Kohaku, Taisho Sankshoku or Showa Sanshoku.
Their red patch happen to show up only in the head region. Tancho, therefore, can not be produced in bulk even if you so wish.
The essential point for appreciation is the red patch in the head region, of course.
The red head patch sitting right at the center of the head region is the best.
The white skin is also important as it is the milky white color that sets the red head patch off to advantage.
The Sumi of Tancho Sanshoku and Tancho Showa are the same as Bekko and Shiro Utsuri respectively.
kikokuryu koi
Photo from cakoi.vn
A Kikokuryu (pronounced Key-Ko-Koo-Roo)is always a metallic and always a doitsu (scaless or partially scaled) variety of Koi or Butterfly Koi
Kin Kikokuryu
Kin Kikokuryu was first created in 1998 by crossing Kin Showa with Kumonryu by Mr Seiki Igarashi. This metallic koi have changing patterns and can change
Over the years the Kikokuryu has been developed into some other breeds like Beni Kikokuryu, Kin Kikokuryu, and the Pastel Kin Kiko developed By Hanover Koi
Kin Kikokuryu combine orange or yellow with the black and white patterns of Kikokuryu to form the newest variety of koi in the industry
Hikari-Utsurimono
Definition-It is a hybrid of koi of the Utsuri family and the Ogon
Kind
Kin-Showa, Gin-Showa
They are bred by mating the Showa-Sanshoku with the Ogon. Those which have strong golden luster are “Kin-Showa” and those which have platinum luster are “Gin-Showa”
Ginshiro
(Kinshiro-Utsuri) It is the Hikarimono of the Shiro-Utusri with much platinum luster.
Kin-Ki-Utusri It is the HIkarimono of the Shiro-Utsuri with much platinum luster.
Kin-Ki-Utsuri It is a hybrid of the Ki-Utsuri or the Hi-Utusuri
When planning your back garden a koi fish pond might not always be the first thing that springs to mind but even if you are not particularly excited by the idea of owning fish,
having a pond or other water feature, can bring surprising health and wellness benefits.
Ponds can bring the family together – they are a great reason to spend time outside with your children, learning about nature,
life cycles and just enjoying watching the water creature activities while soaking up the sunshine.
You can also all work together to look after and maintain the pond, including feeding the fish, dredging out weeds and algae,
and any other routine tasks which your children can help with so they feel involved.
A koi fish pond can really enhance your garden – if you are not much of a gardener but don’t want a concrete slab for a backyard,
a pond is a great way to make your garden attractive and come to life, without having to spend hours weeding every weekend.
If you like to spend time outside but hate weeding and planting, then having a pond installed will really help to make your garden an attractive outdoor space in which to sit and relax, without the stress of worrying about the weeds.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even source the pond supplies you need and install your own.
Having a pond can reduce stress – water has long been recognized as having positive therapeutic effects for anyone suffering from stress.
Sitting next to a water feature can help to lower blood pressure and calm an overstimulated mind.
Studies have proven that watching fish swimming and listening to the sounds of a water feature, can actively help to lower stress and anxiety in patients, so installing a pond could have a calming effect on the whole family.
Sitting by the water can enhance creativity – as well as helping with relaxation, sitting by a pond and watching the world go by has been proven to help with creativity so if you are staring at a blank page,
or looking for inspiration, taking your coffee out by the pond could really help to fire up the creative juices again.
Illness recovery – the proximity of water, with all of its living, breathing movement, has been proven to help people recover quicker from illnesses or operations,
so if anyone in the family is recuperating, time spent by the pond, with a book could help speed up the process.
A pond improves the environment – having a pond in your garden will enhance the environment you are living in, attracting nature and creating a miniature ecosystem so you can feel good that you are helping to support nature.
It’s also a great way to spend time teaching your children all sorts of life lessons as they watch the frog spawn become frogs and all of the other cycles of life and nature which your pond will create.
Creating the koi fish pond can become a family project – actually deciding where the pond will go, what shape it will be, how big it should be and then what kind of plants to include, are all elements which can become a family project,
bringing everyone together with key jobs each. Digging the pond and building up the landscape area around it are all jobs which the whole family can take part in.
Choosing the koi fish – this can help teach children responsibility by allowing them to choose which koi fish to buy, what to call them,
and taking charge of their food regime etc.… so it is a great introduction to looking after pets, without too much hassle.
Add a water feature for movement – while sitting by a pond is relaxing in itself, studies have shown that listening to
the sound of falling water has incredible therapeutic and soothing properties so once you have your pond in place, try adding a small water feature.
Water has long been recognized for its therapeutic properties, helping to calm and quiet a busy mind,
supporting healing and generally helping us to relax and rejuvenate,
so why not bring all of those benefits into your own backyard with a pond?
From working together to create the perfect pond and choosing your ideal fish, through to helping to maintain it,
the pond will really bring the family together and create a focal point for relaxing activities and learning.
Or if you need to recharge the batteries and reignite your creative spark, simply sitting quietly and watching the fish and insects hard at work,
will help to de-stress your mind and let the positive ideas and energies flow again.
The great thing about koi fish ponds is that they can fit into any size of garden and will really enhance the space so if you hate gardening,
but want something eye-catching, minimal fuss which brings your garden to life, then you really can’t go wrong with a pond.
Why are koi fish so special?
Why are koi fish so popular – What do they signify? … Koi fish are always at ease in the water, flowing as the tide runs deep under water.
Feng shui, a spiritual form of organization and placement of
objects, says that having the spirit of the koi near you will attract
good luck, fortune, and spiritual benefits.
Can you touch koi fish?
Koi are truly friendly and will not eat other fish or fight with each other.
If you are mixing species, make sure the same can be said for the other types of fish in your pond before adding koi.
Some koi even like to be pet and will come to the surface for a little pat on the head.
Do koi fish bite people?
So, your koi carp cannot bite you, and you are perfectly safe to
hand-feed your fish without the risk of losing a finger!
That said, the mouth and gums of the koi are actually fairly strong
and muscular, and it is possible that they might grasp onto your
finger with their mouths, mistaking it for food.
above ground koi ponds
Build this simple, above ground pond ideas in a weekend. It features a … Just made our koi pond on front porch using a plastic pond insert. Home Design Gallery.
There are two kinds of the show; one is the show held by Nishikigoi dealers and the other is by amateur koi keepers.
Either show has purpose to have a Nishikigoi contest and to cultivate powers of appreciation.
Morever, the dealers can take advantage of the show to sell their fish and the amateur keepers can learn various techniques of breeding Nishikigoi.
The history of the show
It is said that the first Nishikogoi show was held by professional breeders of Niigata around 1912.
The main Nishikigoi producing center is old Yamakoshi including Higashiyama, Takezawa & Ota.
The Nishikigoi Breeders Association was organized in every village.
Then they were united into one Yamakoshi Nishikigoi Breeders Association. From 1919 a show has been opened once a year, sponsored by each village in turn.
In 1951 Ojiya Nishikigoi Breeder’s Association was established and it heald a show once in a year.
In September, 1956, the first Nishikigoi show was held with the Agricultural Festival and the price of the Agriculture and Forestry Minister was established. The first prize of the Agriculture and Forestry was awarded to the writers Kohaku at present Niigata Nishikigoi show is opened every ear, sponsored by the Higashiyama District and teh Takezawa District alternately.
In December, 1968, all Japan Nishikigoi Promoters Association was organized for both breeders and dealers of the Nishikigoi. It opens all Nippon Nishikigoi Show with
the prize of the Prime Minister. The first show was held at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.
As for the amateur shows, the Hiroshima District was the first one that opened it. The first show was in 1961, but it was carried out by the dealers in Hiroshima with amateur keepers koi.
The first amateur show, in the strict sense of the word, was held in 1962 in Oita.
All the Nishikigoi societies in Western Japan were united into Western Nippon Airinkai in 1965.
The first show was opened in Rakutenchi, Beppu with the prize of the Prime Minister and that of the Agriculture and Forestry Minister.
The writer’s Showa Sanshoku was awarded one of them.
The show has been developing greatly. AT last in 1968 the society covered all Japan and Zen Nippon Airinka was established.
The first show was grandly held in Nagasaki.
In 1976 the 12th all Nippon Show was held at the Festival Square of Expo Memorial Park in Osaka.
The entry was 3656 fish. That was the biggest show we had ever had. The show was also international with many attendants from
the United Sates, England, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
Beside its all Nippon show the Zen Nippon Airinkai opens shows of cities, prefecturers and districts i order to increase the members.
The three biggest Nishikigoi shows in Japan are the All Nippon Show of the Airinkai, the All Nippon Nishikigoi Show of the All Japan Nishikigoi Promoters Association and the show of the Zen Nippon Nishikigoi Dealers Association.
The All Nippon Nishikigoi Show accepts amateur keepers koi as well as professional breeders and dealers koi.
The last one is held only for the members of the Association and the judges for the show are chosen from the members of the Airinka. They always open auction after the show.
Chairman Kuroki giving an opening address
15th Niigata Nishikigo Show (Niigata)7th Nippon Nishikogoi Show (Tokyo)
12 th All Nippon Show of the Airinakai (Osaka)
Classification of koi for judgement
As it is impossible to judge koi of all kinds and sizes at once, koi are grouped according to the kind and the size
Seven groups were established according to their sizes. The size of a koi is decided by measuring it precisely from the mouth to the end of the tail
Size 1. Up to 18 centimeters
Size 2. Up to 25 centimeters
Size 3. Up to 35 centimeters
Size 4. Up to 45 centimeters
Size 5. Up to 55 centimeters
Size 6. Up to 65 centimeters
Size 7. Up to 75 centimeters
Size 8. Over 75 centimeters
The classification differs with koi keepers societies.
The simplest classification for the kind is according to Hikarimonos and non-Hikarimonos.
In the more detailed classification, koi are grouped into the Kohaku, the Taisho-Sanke (including the Bekko) the Showa family (teh Showa-Sanshoku, the Utsurimono other Kawarimonon the Shusui family the Shusui teh Asagi, the Kinsui, the Ginsui and the Ogon, the Orange-Ogon, the Yamabuki-Ogon, the Hariwake
The classification of the Zen Nippon Airinkai is as follows.
measuring koi fish
1.Kohaku
Taisho-Sanke
3.Showa-Sanshoki
4.Utsurimono
5.Bekko
6.Asagi, Shusui
7.Koromo
8.Kawarimono
9.Ogon
10.Hikarimoyo-mono
11.Kikari-Utsurimono
12.Kinginrin
13.Tancho
judging koi fish
The Art and Science of Koi Judging. Read More. Common Koi Varieties. Color. When rating color, a judge looks at the depth and intensity of the color, as well as the appearance of the color throughout the body of a fish. Deportment. Pattern. Conformation. Preparing Fish For A Show.
Regulations of the entry and awarding
The show should be worked with the entry fee instead of the donations. Usually there is no limitation of the number of the entry in order to collect money for the show.
When the level of each members koi is greatly different in a small group, it is better to limit the number of koi entered for a show by a member.
The system of gradual increase of the entry fee is suitable in this case.
Those who enter many fish in the show pay high entry fee.
It is importantn that every member equally participate in the show.
On the contrary the System of gradual decrease is better to be taken, when the level of each members koi is not so different.
It will encourage people to enter as many fish as they can.
The more the number of koi is the more enjoyable the show becomes.
It will also help koi keepers to increase their power of appreciation.
In a big show like the All Nippon Show
high-class koi gather it is not necessary to limit the entry.
High entry fee would naturally limit the number of the entry.
Though a person who enters many fish may become a winner in a small show, it is not necessarily so in a big nationwide show.
In general the entry fee is from 200 yen to 5,000 yen. As the Nishikigoi show is not a business, it is better to reduce the entry fee as much as possible, only the deficit being avoided.
Sometimes a show is supported by the donations, but it should be run only by the entry fee in principle.
Some shows are run by the annual membership fee, but considering that not all members enter the fish in the show, it is still reasonalble to manage it with only the entry fee.
As the purpose of the amateur show is not making money but establishing deep friendship between the members and increasing the power of appreciation, it is important to settle
a reasonable entry fee to avoid the deficit and to run it smoothly without any trouble.
The accounts of the show should be always kept clear.
Deciding the champions is done as follows in the case of the Airinkai
a reasonable entry fee to avoid the deficit and to run it smootly without any trouble
The accounts of the show should be always kept clear.
Deciding the champions is done as follows in the case of the Airinkai
There are the grand champion on in all, the first, the second and the third place for each size and each kind and prizes for good fish which are not elected champions
First koi are grouped according to the kind and the size, Thirteen kinds and eight sizes have been settled in the Airinkai.
Therefore there are 104 groups in all
As the first step for deciding the champions, some excellent koi are chosen from each group.
They are to number one-third or one-fourth of all the koi in a show.
If the total number is 3000,1000 or 750 koi are chosen first.
The second step is to decide the first, the second and the third place in each 104 groups.
They are the champions of each kind and each size.
So there are 104 first place koi, 104 second place koi and also 104 third place koi.
All the other koi in the group chosen at the first step will be awarded prizes as good koi
Receiving a price at koi show
The third step is to decide
the first, the second and the third place according to each size, 1 to 8, among 312 koi which have won at the second selection. There are eight koi chosen for each place. The prizes are mostly awarde to the Kohaku, the Taisho Sanke and the Showa Sanshoku.
Mr. Jun Se Kyu receiving a prize
They are the three strongest families of all
The fourth step is the final judgement to decide the grand champion in all.
The competitors are 24 koi selected at the third step. Only one among them is to be awarded the grand championship in all.
Full of Trophy
Though the All Japan Show awards only one koi the grand championship, some district shows have the second, the third or the fourth grand champion
Most of the grand champions are koi of size 7 or 8. The Kohaku usually pre dominates.
There is a contest of getting high marks between individuals or groups. For example, a koi which is awarded the first place is counted as 5 marks, the scond place gets 3 marks, the third place gets 2. Koi in a good koi group get 1 each Each participant sums up his marks and winners are decided
Containers
Show using Sanmoh in a big poolKoi Show using vinyl pools
Vinyl pools or Sanmoh in a big pool are useful. Airation is present oxygen shortage is necessary in the former pools.
Water should be examined before hand. City water must be kept for a day before koi are put in it lest its bleaching powder should harm them.
Koi are to be carefully treated
Here’s a video guide also on how to transport koi fish long distance
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Koi exhibited in the show should be carefully treated so that koi should not be stolen, jump out of a pool, and suffer from oxygen shortage.
When koi are taken out of a pool, they must be treated gently by men’s hands or by a plastic bag, but never by a net which might hurt them.
Sending in of koisPicking up koi show prize winner koi fishadding medical oxygenbagging the koi fish in vinyl baglive koi fish transportationplacing the koi fish in the boxtransporting koi fish by planetransporting koi fish through car
