What You Need to Know In Breeding Koi

Breeding Koi is fun and refreshing. Nishikigoi or Koi as we commonly call them is a type of fish that is very colorful. They belong to the family of carp or fish family that live in freshwater. It is now very common that a lot of people try to breed Koi and consider it as a profitable hobby.

You have to learn about breeding Koi the right way to ensure success when rearing the species. It will not be easy in the beginning especially when it will be your first time to raise Koi as your pet.

You have to put many things into consideration. To obtain a better way of fostering Koi you have to know some of these helpful tips. Remember that first time rearing the fish always involves a stage of trial and error.

The best time for this kind of fish to copulate is from April to July. Start with a lesser number of pair first. A 1:1 ratio is recommended. This way you may not be upset in case the pair emerges to be unsuccessful.

Both the male and the female Koi are showing peculiar characteristics in the spawning season. Most of the female Koi may exhibit a more allantoid structure than the male which is more slender at all times.

The fins on their body especially those above their abdomen are larger in males. And they may or may not have pointed fins too. But to be certain apply a light pressure on its abdomen and when the male Koi displays a soft roe from the anterior side it is indicative of being ready to mate.

Breeding Koi takes about 2-3 days and may happen anytime of the day but is usually around 2 in the morning. The puffy appearance of the female Koi's belly is indicative that it is carrying eggs. When this happens you have to put a male Koi in the same pond and the male Koi should be as big as your female Koi as much as possible.

Fish like to lay their fingerling in the best nesting place possible. And because Koi may not have the natural resources in your pond, try to ameliorate this by helping the Koi in creating its nest.

You can do this by putting a man-made brush or a piece of cloth cuttings in the water and have it settle. This will be the best nesting place for the fish. There are also soft spawning ropes available in the market.

When the female Koi has spawned or laid her eggs, water in the pond will appear very turbid and will give off an acerbic odor. This will be a good indication that your female Koi has successfully laid her eggs at that man-made nesting place you made.

You should also have an idea on how to pick a fry successfully. Pure black or white fry should be the top pick. It is best to cull 4 weeks after the fry hatched after which deformities, if any, such as the absence of fins or two heads become evident.

You should not forget to feed the fry sufficiently and to provide them with suitable environment to live. Koi breeding can be a fun hobby and many find satisfaction with breeding Koi.