Two-foot Koi in approx. 150-200 gallons. How do they do it?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I have to agree with mshill90 for the most part, although Koi are very HARDY fish(I find it hard to say they aren't hardy being that they can survive very low temps on very little food). They cannot be bunched together. Also they tend to grow pretty fast (at least all the ones I ever owned) so 200-300gl tanks aren't enough for 2 or 3 Koi. They are stricly pond fish. I keep 4 Koi outdoors in a 1500gl pond all year-round. It has become a lil expensive over the years only because I've invested in good heaters for the pond just so it wont freeze completly over and a man-made raised pond cover( only for snow-storms, like the one we just had up here).

Tanks are only good for QTing your Koi.
 
iloveoscars702;3902371; said:
mshill90 that is a nice indoor pond! and to mgk, how old do you think that koi is?
Click to expand...
From what I've read (i.e. no personal experience) that thing would have to be ANCIENT. I would guess 50-75 yrs., but that is just a guess.
 
iloveoscars702;3902371; said:
mshill90 that is a nice indoor pond! and to mgk, how old do you think that koi is?
Click to expand...
no clue. i don't keep koi but atleast 15, which is the age most are fully grown.


its rare to get koi that big because the breeders will cull the biggest and fastest growing ones. For two reasons they eat there small tank mates and usually have poor coloration.
 
Some things you guys should keep in mind when it comes to koi, the bigger the tank or pond the faster your koi are going to grow. Smaller koi tend to be more active than larger adult koi. The koi that I have seen nearing 3' were at least 30 years old and the females were about 1' in diameter. When koi get over 1.5' long, they tend to slow down, they don't dart around and become more graceful in their swimming habits. One other thing I would like to mention, if I recall correctly, there are three strains of koi are usually sold. Each one has it's own personality and growth rate. I see no difference between an aquarium or a pond, just as long as both are the same volume.
 
We have a place in Des Plaines, my favorite chinese place Tasty Cuisine, that has been keeping KOI in a 150g tank for at least 10 years. I asked the owner, and they do change the water almost completely every week. The oldest fish they have is 8 years old, been in the tank the whole time. It is possible, but will a lot of water changes.
 
Good to see this thread alive and well. Many good points and interesting circumstances brought up. That big overwintering pond looks great and clean. And I sure hope nobody takes any ideas and puts koi in their 100g tanks thinking it will be okay. But it is interesting to hear of what has "worked" for some. I doubt the koi living in tanks will live as long or fully as they could have.
 
One argument that IMO doesn't hold water(excuse the pun). Is that Koi only belong in ponds. Incase everyone forgot, fish in general should never be in tanks... they only belong in rivers but the fact that we do keep them. Why is it ok for RTC or TSN to be in tanks but not Koi?

Right now my pond is very nasty looking(green water) but my tank is very clear(my Koi are in the pond and happy).

It's seems Koi are more unhealthy in dirty ponds then clear tanks.
 
Agreed, Warborg. If properly done, a tank is more secure than a pond as far as safety goes. But the standard monster tank is probably not going to house one koi for more than a couple of years. Most of us stop at between the 100 gallon and 200 gallon mark, and I take that into consideration when discussing koi in tanks.

Let's not forget how beneficial green water can be for growth and general health, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom