Identify this monster

[RadleyMiller]

Probably something not able to add to my 220 gallon aquarium huh? Aren't they good in tropical and cold waters?

Nice fish!

Now for the bad..........

1. It is a cold water fish and making him adapt to the tropical temps of the tank is "wrong" and will eventually stress him/her out.

2. IMO you took a huge risk putting that fish in with your established fish. Who knows what pathogens you have now introduced into your tank.

3. KOI generally do not thirive in a "tank" environment. I would suggest putting him back in the pond/pool he was in.

Not flaming just voicing my opinion.

Please remove his ASAP even though he seems fine, Koi are a temperate fish that get HUGE. They need a pond that has 350 gallons of water per Koi to be happy. This is a 3 foot beast that gets pretty thick so a pond would be the best bet. If you can keep him in your pond, do that, if you can't find someone who will. Good luck with everything, he's really nice looking.

 

[tankyou]

Nice fish!

Now for the bad..........

1. It is a cold water fish and making him adapt to the tropical temps of the tank is "wrong" and will eventually stress him/her out.

2. IMO you took a huge risk putting that fish in with your established fish. Who knows what pathogens you have now introduced into your tank.

3. KOI generally do not thirive in a "tank" environment. I would suggest putting him back in the pond/pool he was in.

Not flaming just voicing my opinion.

No problem thanks for the compliment and the concern. Koi are related to, but not the same as goldfish.
1. They actually thrive better in warmer waters. I keep my aquarium at 79-80 degrees. I deal temps for these is 65-75 degrees and 80 degrees is not the ideal, but it will not affect the health in any way. I did my research before doing this. Many outdoor ponds in the summer climb to well above that temp...cooler temps than 60 degrees play with their metabolism and immune system, and is not healthy for them in the long run.
2. I knew of the pathogen risk before placing him in the aquarium. It was quarantined in an outdoor enclosure for 3 months before being placed into a large container, where the temps were slowly raised to 80 degrees over a 3 day period with a heater. Additionally, I salted the water and treated for parasites during this process.
3. In a 220 it will be fine...but I know what the limits will be before it needs to be rehomed. I would never expect to keep this fish for more than another year or so. But it will be nice to enjoy it while I can.

def a koi(carp) but it will need to be moved as it is a tropical cold water fish can't sustainits immune system if temps are above 70-73 degrees looks good though. If yo decide to sell let me know my wife loves the way it looks and wants it for her pond.

When it outgrows the tank I sure will. Once it reaches 20 inches I will start looking around. It is a beautiful koi one of the best I have seen and a very interesting asset to my set up. Thanks for the compliments.

Please remove his ASAP even though he seems fine, Koi are a temperate fish that get HUGE. They need a pond that has 350 gallons of water per Koi to be happy. This is a 3 foot beast that gets pretty thick so a pond would be the best bet. If you can keep him in your pond, do that, if you can't find someone who will. Good luck with everything, he's really nice looking.

Thanks for the concern as well Radley. At full maturity, they actually need more than 350 gallons. Many poeple house fish that will outgrow their enclusures some day...then they intend on rehoming it at that time. I am no exception. Even at 17" it has plenty of cruising room in my aquarium.

I am not trying to get defensive or nothing at all. I understand the concern yet I also want to say the facts I have gathered are slightly contrary to the opinions directed towards me. It is destined to be a nice golden figure in someones pond one day...in the meantime its mannerisms will be enjoyed and learned near my dinner table every evening.

 

[paintboi101]

koi, got them wisker things, goldfish dont got them.

 

[smallguy]

tankyou, i agree with you. i know my pond outside gets more then 75 and maybe hits alittle above 80 in the summer, i dont have a koi but i do have a bunch of goldfish and in the last 3 years ive only lost 2 gold fish do to other health issues and have recieved about 15 more babies that were spawned in my pond. i figure if they are breeding and the fry are surviving then i must be doing something right.

nice catch, i wish i could come across a nice catch like that but then again i dont have any where to put a fish of that size.

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

thats a very nice catch!!!
however i dont think it is recomended for u to ut him in with tropical fishes.
he was better off in the pond imho.

but again, its ur fish.

 

[FishSkins]

koi like cold water best

 

[kdguam]

I live on Guam and there are plenty Koi ponds at the hotels and the temps are definitley not considered "cold water". I had 5 in a 100 gal agriculture tank with 2 100 gallon filters. These guys are awesome and produce a tremendous amounts of waste. I had to give back 3 because in a years time they went from small 3 inchers to 12" (L) X 2" (W). If you keep him remember more frequent water changes. Also they have large mouths, they are not aggressive but if some one small enough happens to swim in the way of his mouth it won't spit it back out. Good luck. They are awesome and powerful swimmers. Don't freak him out because he will slam your glass.

 

[Loulou]

A beautiful koi. very pretty.

 

[Fastfish]

nice benigoi..they need lots of room, They can get 30" + and are some of the more larger koi. Koi should be veiwed from the top any way. I have a nice 5000 gallon pond for him

 

[fishfantastic]

That must be very unnerving to have your prey bigger than you.