Read About Koi Breeding

Koi Breeding is an ancient Japanese art that specializes in breeding beautiful colored fish called Koi. Here's everything you need to know about these breeders.

Koi Breeding - Breeder Facts

1. Professional Affiliations:

   Koi breeding is an individual talent. It is not necessary that the breeder must be affiliated with any organization.

2. Why Use a Breeder:

   Koi are multicolored fish, also known as the jewels of the sea. Haphazard spawning of koi will create fry with any color possible. But breeders can selectively choose the parents and breed young ones with desired colors. Extreme care is needed when the fish are young. Breeders know how to take all necessary precautions.

3. How to Find:

   Koi breeders are listed online. A search engine would yield several breeder's names that specialize in Koi. Koi breeders are also listed in pet magazines in their classifieds.

4. What to Expect:

   It is easy to purchase Koi, save for the expense. But once the Koi is in your fish tank or aquarium, it needs to be extensively looked after.

5. Breeder's Surroundings:

   Double check that the water in which the Koi is kept is pure and without contamination. Koi are known to change their colors and even pale out completely if kept in dirty surroundings.

Koi Breeding - Newborn Facts

1. Average Number of Newborns Delivered at Birth:

   Koi will release a spawn of several eggs at a time.

2. Age To Be Sold:

   Koi must be allowed to grow for at least four weeks till they develop completely. They can be sold only after this time.

3. What to Look For in a Newborn:

   Koi fries will be very small, just a few centimeters across. They will grow vastly in size if fed hard boiled egg yolk in the initial days. They should be kept away from adult fish, including their parents, or there is a danger that they may be eaten. Koi young will release lots of ammonia in the water. Biological filtration is a good thing to do.

4. Registry:

   Koi breeding requires no registration.

5. AKC Recognized Characteristics:

   AKC does not recognize fish breeds.

6. Expense to Purchase Newborn:

   Koi prices depend on their colors. Commonplace Koi will be available for $200, while more exotic colors could be had for as much as $400 and above.

7. Dam and Sire Information of your Newborn:

   If you are looking to breed specific colors, then it is necessary to look at the parents first. A medical report of the parents will also ensure you get a young fish that is free of hereditary diseases.

Koi Breeding - Breeder Concerns

1. Breeder Reputation:

   A reputed breeder will ensure that you get a Koi of the colors you want. They would guide you through necessary inoculations and vet visits, apart from providing tips on their general care.

2. Pet Health:

   Koi are susceptible to various parasitic and bacterial infections. Apart from that, they may suffer from stress due to poor hygiene, overstocking, wrong temperature, wrong feeding, low oxygen levels, toxic chemicals in the tank, etc.

3. Assurances:

   Have the breeders assure you of their support and guidance in keeping the fish. They might give a health guarantee on the fish, but they would not guarantee the persistence of the colors as that would depend on the condition of water within your aquarium.