Koi

May’s fish of the month is very appropriately Cyprinus carpio, the majestic Koi. Spring is the perfect time of year to celebrate these colorful carp. The modern Koi originated in Japan in the early 1800’s, with new breeds being developed even today. This has inspired a world wide hobby spreading through generations. Koi are recognized for their coloration varieties, unusual patterning and varied scalation. Learning the names of the varieties is like speaking Japanese. Maybe a kohaku (red and white) or a yamabuki ogon (solid yellow) fish will look good with your asagi (blue scaled) and tancho sanke (white and black with a red head).

Koi are temperate water fish that can be kept in an outdoor pond of at least 18 inches deep year round. Most koi keepers have large ponds to keep their collection and will often bring the most prized specimens indoors to enjoy and keep safe through harsh winters. When getting your pond ready for koi keep in mind that they are capable of jumping over the edges so make sure your pond is not overstocked and the water level is low enough from the edge to limit them jumping out. Some koi keepers will secure a protective net over the pond to prevent any predators such

as the local blue heron from diving in to grab dinner.

Centreville Aquarium has a large variety of colorful koi that we received over the winter. This ensures a less stressed, stable, healthy, good quality fish ready to enjoy spring weather. We also stock the necessary water conditioners and proper foods to keep your pond and koi in good shape. Feeding your koi a high quality food, like Hikari, will not only nourish your growing fish but also train them to greet you when you approach the pond.