Koi health is very important if you want to appreciate your fish for a long time. Koi fish are known to live for decades although the usual life span is 20 to 30 years. Koi are hardy and tough; however, they can get sick. Their life expectancy depends mainly on genetics and living conditions.

The modern koi are resilient but they have lost much of the toughness of their ancestor, the magoi carp. They can flourish in the poorest water conditions and remain unaffected by the existence of parasites. This is because of the inbreeding process that started from way back when nishikigoi was first being established. Breeders needed to pair koi with parents and siblings to obtain the ideal body shape, intense colors and beautiful patterns that make the present koi so admirable.

Nevertheless, the koi of today hardly ever get sick and if they get sick or die, you can find the underlying cause to water quality problems. Other threats to koi health are parasites, ulcer disease, predators, medicine overdose, jumping out of the water, virus infections, toxic pesticide sprays, and tumor.

Water Quality

Poor water quality is the leading cause of koi death. You will have to watch out for the pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate as well as oxygen levels in your pond. Even small changes in their levels can negatively affect koi health. PH pertains to the acid and alkaline content of your pond. Koi need a pH of 7.0 through 9.0. Ammonia is formed by your koi in the form of waste. It can be removed properly by using biological filter system that makes use of the nitrification cycle.

Bacteria will transform ammonia into nitrites. Even so, nitrites are still toxic to the koi and must also be converted by other bacteria into nitrates that are comparably safer to the koi. Nitrates, in turn, are absorbed by the plants and algae in the pond. You already know how oxygen is required to support life. As your koi grow larger, they will need more dissolved oxygen. To ensure that there is a lot of oxygen in the pond water install a waterfall, jets or air pump, or put air stones to add more oxygen into the water.

Parasites, Ulcer Disease and also Bacterial Infections

If the koi fish perish or exhibit abnormal behavior regardless of the good quality of your water, you could expect the cause to be either parasites or bacterial infections. Parasites such as anchor worms or fish lice can be destructive to your fish. The early signs are red or white pimples that rapidly change into sores. The ulcer can reach into the muscles of the fish so you have to discover the disease during its early stages.

You will have to keep you koi free from parasites. Keep the infected fish in salted water and supply with medicated food. You can swab the sores using betadine to help them heal. Talk to a veterinarian on how best to cure your koi.

Quarantine

You will need to isolate any brand new fish for three weeks before adding them to the pond. Throughout this period, you will have to treat the fish for parasites. If you do not have a different quarantine tank, be sure to purchase your koi only from reputable dealers that guarantees their fish to be parasite-free. Also carefully pick the plants for addition to the pond which also needs to be parasite-free.

Overcrowding

If you keep on having koi health troubles (such as stunted growth or erratic behavior) despite that your water is of top quality and you bought only parasite-free fish, you may want to check your koi population. Your fish may be experiencing stress because of overcrowding.

Koi Fish: What You Should Know About Their History And The Different Types Of Koi
Koi are very popular fish bred and cared for by hobbyists the world over. Koi is a Japanese word that means "carp" and includes the dull gray wild carp caught in rivers and lakes for food, as well as the brightly colored varieties.

All You Want To Know Regarding The Black Koi Fish
Black koi fish are koi fish that have the black koi pattern. Many people prefer the black koi over other koi fish. In general, koi fish, which come from the carp family, are known to live up to 35 years

Fundamental Information Concerning Nitrogen Levels In Salt Water Aquariums
With salt water aquariums it is very important to keep the nitrogen levels down or else the fish will die. Fish are living creatures and like humans they will eat food and release waste.

Picking Out The Fishes For Your Own Custom Aquarium
Choosing the fishes for your custom aquarium should be fun. Go to a well stocked aquatic center when shopping for your new pets.

Setting Up Your Custom Made Tank - Essential Tips
When setting up your custom aquarium you need to follow some golden rules. It is extremely easy to destroy your own hard work by trying to take short cuts.

Some Points On Ways To Start Off A Salt Water Aquarium - A Great Addition To Any Home
A salt water aquarium is a great addition to any home. Kids love all types of living creatures and will get lots of joy watching the fish swim about. As they get older you can teach them responsibility by giving them the job of looking after the fish tank and its inhabitants.

Factors To Be Taken Into Consideration While Purchasing A Salt Water Tank
The number one mistake people make when buying salt water fish tanks is to buy one that is too small. Marine fish are used to a lot of space and deep water so you need to buy as large a tank as possible.

How To Setup Your Salt Water Tank Properly: Some Vital Considerations
If you are looking to recreate the magic of the sea, then salt water fish tanks are a great idea for your home. You will need sufficient space and the right location to house the tank.