Koi fish are a form of carp fish originally from Japan. They are very similar to goldfish, and some experts believe kois were an attempt by Japanese breeders to imitate goldfish. Raising koi fish was not introduced worldwide until 1914, and before that date it was solely a Japanese affair. During this time period, shipping became faster and safer and so the threat of fish death was very low. The hobby of raising koi exploded.

Different types of koi fish are classified by their patterning, scalations and coloration. Koi fish come in many different colors. A few of the main ones are blue, yellow, purple, white, and black. On the scales of a koi, it is possible to see a metallic gleam. This is what’s called Gin Rin. Also, there are types of koi that have no scales. Scaleless kois are usually called Doitsu. Doitsu fish were made by crossbreeding Nishikigoi and German mirrored carp.

Although there are endless variations of koi fish, there are some varieties in specific categories. An example of a popular type of koi is the Gosanke. Fish that fall into this group are Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku and Showa Sanshoku varieties. The main groups of named koi are Kohaku, a white and red striped fish; Taisho Sanshoku, a white fish with red and black design; Showa Sanshoku, a black fish with a red and white design; Asagi, a fish with blue scales on top and red scales on the bottom; Shusui, a similar fish to Asagi with less scales; Bekko, a white, yellow and red fish with a black design; Utsurimono, a black fish with a yellow, red and white design; Goshiki, a black fish with touches of brown, blue, white and red; Ogon, a fish that’s all one color ( can be red, orange, platinum and yellow); and KinGinRin, a fish with shiny scales.

Today, there are fourteen types of koi and they have been bred especially to draw attention to their visual appearance. A lot of koi are bred in the US, but some koi come from Japan, China and Israel. There is a wide range of prices for purchasing koi, starting at $3 for baby koi and skyrocketing up to $20,000 for a prize fish.

Really, to pick a good fish you want to start with a good koi dealer. They can give you advice on color and sizes that will fit how much you can spend and how much experience you already have with koi. Usually dealers will sell inexperienced owners fish that range between three and five dollars. Then they can trade in for bigger fish once they have more experience.

When it comes to water gardening, know that there is a difference between a water garden and a koi pond. In a koi pond, the well-being and health of the fish is of utmost importance. Also, koi eat plants so if you want lots of plants this will always be an issue you will have to deal with.

With water gardens, they usually have goldfish in them rather than koi. And the main focus of water gardens is the plants. With these ponds, you need a pond that is at least twenty four inches in depth. In places that are colder, you will want about a foot of water that is unfrozen.

An important step in constructing a koi pond or a water garden is where to put it. You want to put it in a place where you will be able to see from almost any angle. And you want it to be far enough way from trees and plants that it will not have falling debris that will constantly have to be sifted out of the pond. Also, you want your pond to be placed in a spot where it will get direct sunlight for a good amount of the day. Lots of sun is more for water gardens, not koi ponds. For koi ponds, sunlight is not necessary. For the health of your fish and plants, you will need a pump. Pumps are necessary for waterfalls, fountains and filters.

To build your pond or water garden, you will need to make some sort of plan beforehand as to how big it will be and how deep. Don’t make the mistake of making it too small. After digging your pond, you may place any filters that will be used and dig any ditches needed for pumps. Next, you will want to line the pond with pond liner and then you may dig your waterfalls. For the waterfall effect, you can use an extra pond filter or a waterfall tank. You may place this so that it goes directly into the pond. For the edge of the pond, one method of containing the pond is placing stone on the edges. With this method, you will need to fold back the liner to keep water from coming up over the edges. You will also need to put soil on the other side to keep the stone in place.

Next, add the water as soon as possible and place any aquatic plants in that you want. Any fish you want should be added a few at a time over the next couple of weeks. You want to make sure that you add the plant anarchis, as this helps keep algae growth under control.

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