Update on the Koi

**NicoleLJ** · 01-27-2009, 11:15 AM

We Changed the water in the big tank again as I was instructed on a forum. They said to change 75% of it. SO we did. The coudiness is already going way down and there is none in the small tank. I found out I was over feeding them. So now that I know that I can do a little better but I still have a long way to go to learn about these beautiful guys. I do know if I ever get a big pond the next one I want is a platinum koi. They look like sparkling silver stars. Anyway. Here are pictures of the tanks

10g holding the 3 4 inch koi

55g holding the four 8 inch Koi plus the sucker fish

Here are some pictures of the fish
Leo

The 4 inc fish (fire fox, silver surfer and no name yet)

8inch fish (Shimmer, Sparkle, Peace and Skeletor)

Peace

Sparkle

Shimmer

Skeletor

**Fuzzybuns** · 01-27-2009, 11:35 AM

In my opinion, keeping Koi in a tank is cruel. There will not be enough room for them so there really isn't an option of "if I ever get a pond". Your tank would have to be huuuuge!
You will always have ammonia issues, whether you over feed or not.
They've also been known to bust glass in tanks...

If you want something that you can keep in a tank, and that looks simislar to Koi, have a look at Comets. They're Goldfish, but they they are manageable in tanks. They even have the Koi patterns and colors, they just don't get as big or strong.

**NicoleLJ** · 01-27-2009, 11:42 AM

WOW thanks for the kick in the but when all I am doing is teying my best to help these fish. It is not like I live in an area where Koi are popular to my knowlege. THis was my first time seeing them. I could give them back to the pet store but then how would they end up. At least I am trying. SO stop insulting. Stop telling me over and over agian that the tanks are to small and tell me what I can do with what I have untill I can improve things for them.

**Fuzzybuns** · 01-27-2009, 11:48 AM

I haven't told you over and over?? This is the first time I've seen anything about Koi here. I'm pretty sure I've never talked to you at all.

I apologize for whatever you think my intention was in replying to you, all I was doing was watching out for the welfare of the fish.

**NicoleLJ** · 01-27-2009, 11:57 AM

I apologize but I have been hearing the same thing over and over and over and over agian and it is driving me insaine. No one is giving me solutions that I can work with. All I get is the tanks are too small, the fish will die, give them away, build a pond(in the middle of -30 winter)Only one person on one forum gave me advice that I could do. Empty the tank 75% and add in new water, reduce the amount I feed them(I was over feeding them) and so on. All I got was negative. I was getting so tired of it. I was asking for help noit negativity. Why is it that everytime someone wants help people give negeativity. I am learning and trying here and can only do so much. Agian I apologize for snapping.

**king2005** · 03-15-2009, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by NicoleLJ

All I get is the tanks are too small, the fish will die, give them away, build a pond(in the middle of -30 winter)

You can keep goldfish in -30C. Also in this area it doesn't hit or stay at -30C often/long. Where I'm from it was an avg of -30C & for 1-2 months it was -40C with FEET of snow & the goldfish always lived just fine. There was a heater in the pond & they were fed every 2nd day. It was awesome being bundled up & feeding the goldfish. Not so much when they splashed water.. that was COLD after a few seconds!

Originally Posted by NicoleLJ

Only one person on one forum gave me advice that I could do. Empty the tank 75% and add in new water, reduce the amount I feed them(I was over feeding them) and so on.

75%??!! Whoever told you that needs a swift kick in the pants!! Never change more then 25% of your tank water or all the good bacteria can die, or it wont be able to reproduce fast enough to help the fish out.. So doing 75% water changes is terribly unhealthy for all fish (pond or tank).

When doing water changes its important to use a chemical to remove chlorine from the tap water, as chlorine will burn the fish & weaken/kill the good bacteria.

Pellet food is better then flakes.. Flakes sink so fast that they create waste faster.. pellets float & give the fish enough time to eat it.. This goes for all fishies.

koi & comets are not tank fish, ever. And whats sold as a Common Pleco, needs a min of 50gallons, but is happier in +75gallons. Common Plecos grow to about +12inches long.

**Husky_mom** · 01-27-2009, 11:52 AM

I think you are doing great... keeping them ok in what you have...

if I recall this fish are the landlords... so the tanks were already there... and I´m sure she´ll do what´s needed for them to be better... gettign a pond or bigger tank...

just like you do with any new to you pet... you research and get help form people more familair with them, in this case Koi, and you learn and improve for their better...

no need for insults or blames.. we all start not knowing and it´s good to get help... maybe the wordings got a lil harsh.. but I know it was an opinion and suggestion in order to keep the fish and people happy...

**Fuzzybuns** · 01-27-2009, 11:58 AM

My only worry was the welfare of the fish, I had no idea that you were working with what you have or that they belong to somebody else.

It is cruel to keep them in the tank, the ammonia alone will kill them as there is no possible way to keep up with it. That's like 2 water changes a week with as many fish are in there, unless you have one heck of a filter. Space per fish is another issue, not yet, but it will be. I was simply saying that a pond cannot be an option when they get larger, your tank would have to be immense.

**Taz_Zoee** · 01-27-2009, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Fuzzybuns

I was simply saying that a pond cannot be an option when they get larger, your tank would have to be immense.

I know NOTHING about fish. But I did have a question. So are you saying that the fish must be a certain size before you can put them in a pond? And that they will not get to that size in the tanks they are currently in?

**shepgirl** · 01-27-2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by NicoleLJ

WOW thanks for the kick in the but when all I am doing is teying my best to help these fish. It is not like I live in an area where Koi are popular to my knowlege. THis was my first time seeing them. I could give them back to the pet store but then how would they end up. At least I am trying. SO stop insulting. Stop telling me over and over agian that the tanks are to small and tell me what I can do with what I have untill I can improve things for them.

How do you give them back to a pet store when they are supposed to belong to the landlord...ooops!

**NicoleLJ** · 01-27-2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by shepgirl

How do you give them back to a pet store when they are supposed to belong to the landlord...ooops!

Because if you had been reading along she went and bought a bigger tank and took me with her and had me help her pick out a couple of other Koi. SO the OOOOPPPPssssss is on you. Duhhh start keeping up with the threads. Instead of trying to find ways to attack in them.

**Catty1** · 01-27-2009, 05:16 PM

Good old Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi_fish

Sorry to say that the koi is actually a carp...

**IRescue452** · 01-28-2009, 11:30 AM

Oh I forgot to add. You have to get test drops in bottles, not test strips. Dry test strips start to break down their chemical composition when they are opened and exposed to air. The first one will be pretty accurate but the next strips you use will be less and less accurate as time goes on.

**shepgirl** · 01-28-2009, 01:57 PM

Actually Koi aren't tank fish period. We have a young couple who specialize in landscaping and ponds out here and Koi have always to my knowledge been pond fish. Lots of people here have ponds in their yards and they even build up small falls, in them. It does wonders to beautify a property. Koi are the main kind of fish that are seen along with goldfish. Since we have pretty severe winters there are covers to put over the pond during the winter. Koi will become dormant around-10F and don't eat during the winter. In summer the ponds have nets to protect them from geese or other prey birds who in one swoop would swallow a Koi near the top of the pond. Raccoons are also notorious for raiding ponds for Koi, hence the netting to keep them at bay.
Keeping Koi in a tank is cruel in my opinion.

**NicoleLJ** · 01-28-2009, 02:01 PM

Yeah well your opinion Shepgirl never ment much to me at all if anything really. I am doing all I can to help these fish and this morning both these tanks are clear which I was very happy to see. If you want to keep being negative in your life go ahead but I am still going to do all I can to help these fish.