Breeding Koi
qx0...@inet.d48.lilly.com
> Anyone have good advice on Koi carp breeding?
1. let your pond go green and grow lots of hair algae.
(promotes food and cover for the fry, as well as an egg laying site for the
females)
2. In the late winter, set up a solar water heating arrangement to give the
pond a head start. (the koi wont spawn until water temps are in the mid 70's)
3. When the water starts heating up the koi will start actively feeding again,
so feed them every day. (dry cat food works real well here)
4. Run a big airstone in the deepest part of the pond because of the high algae
content in the pond it will oxygen starve the fish.
This system gives the lowest mortality rate for the fry, and gives them the
best start growth wise. Sure, your pond looks like crap for a few months, but
the results are worth it. After the fry have reached about one inch, which is
right about now in our pond, you can fire up the filters and do some algae
control. We use a UV tube to knock out the micro algae, thats easy, more
difficult is the hair algae. Pull out the strands by hand until you really cant
get any more, then go to the fish store and buy eight or ten Pleco's, they will
take care of the rest. In the fall net out the remaining giant plecos and sell
them back to the fish store for a profit :) They wont survive the winter if you
leave them in the pond. Once the koi have reached about 1 1/2 inches, cull out
the best for color, and sell or give away the rest.
Kai
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Kai Schumann Lat. 32'53.175
Schuma...@Lilly.com Long. 117'09.832
Phly Phish Phor Phun & Phancy
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