As the weather gets warmer, we have numerous koi available for purchase. Right now, we have a special on our 8″-10″ fish. Regularly $65.99, these fish will be $55 until June 30 ( as supplies last). Here are some photos of the fish for sale:
Here are our prices for 2010:
Some other information:
We had a chance to take some pictures of our fish last weekend. Without further ado (please click on the photos for larger pictures):
Under the watchful eye of our local veterinarian, we randomly selected 60 koi primarily from the class of 2009, but also including the 2007 & 2008 classes. We delivered these koi to the University of Minnesota Diagnostic Laboratory for a determination of health.The results are great: No virus(VHS and SVC negative) No parasites. Samples were taken from the gills,fins,skin/scales and tails and viewed with a microscope. Again no evidence of parasites.
This is the third year in a row that we have voluntarily had our koi tested. The results mean you purchase from us not only beautiful koi but also healthy koi. You can feel confident you are buying healthy fish.
If you are adding these koi to others you own be sure to follow good quarantine standards.
As always feel free to call us with any questions.
Koi are called ‘living jewels’ because for centuries, people have been enthralled by their fantastic colors.
Koi can live to be 30 years old. They can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh 26 pounds. Bigger Koi are rare, but not unknown.
Koi are also known as “water pigs.” This is because being carp, they typically eat anything and they like to eat a lot of it. A Koi can consume up to 2% of its body weight a day, which for a fish is impressive.
Koi grow fast. They typically reach 50% of their final adult length at age the of 2 years.
Koi are cute and cuddly. They can be trained to hand feed.
Koi enjoy variety in their diet. Try peeled oranges, lettuce, or bread.
Plants in a Koi pond are a great idea. They help reduce nitrate levels. Reduced nitrates lead to reduced algae growth since nitrates are a plant food.
Koi are not warm water fish. However they are more active and grow faster in warm water.
Water temperatures below 50F are not dangerous but a Koi’s immune system shuts itself down progressively as the temperature drops. They also eat less and virtually stop below 50F. This can be dangerous for them when the water warms up as their immune systems start up more slowly than the bugs it is protecting the Koi against. This is why spring is a dangerous time for Koi.
Understanding how Koi develop helps you to evaluate young fish. Here are some basic guidelines to consider when selecting fish
Health: Is the fish healthy? This is the number one priority. 
Personal Taste: Do you like the fish? Forget about whether it will win a show or not, do you want to add this fish to your collection? You should be really excited about buying a fish
Body Shape: Is the body shape full? The fish should be powerful looking and in balance - head, body, tail tube, fins.
Balance of Color: Color should be bright! Patterns tell a story.
As a koi owner, you will decide the quality and type of Koi you want. Invest your time in studying, searching, and building your system. Then enjoy your Koi.
The easiest way to keep your koi healthy is by keeping the water clean, but other factors come into play. The following is an overview of the some of the most important ways you can protect your koi:
Koi fish can grow very fast. The average Koi can grow to 24 - 36 inches! The size of the pond, the amount of aeration, and feeding methods will affect the growth of the fish. It is not uncommon for a small Koi to grow 2 - 4 inches a year in a backyard pond. Colorful Koi which have been selectively bred can get to lengths of 36″ to 40″ and weigh up to 50 pounds. Koi can be kept indoors in aquariums also. The koi will grow to comfortably accommodate their surroundings.
Feeding koi should not simply be viewed as satisfying hunger. It is an opportunity to enhance their natural coloring. Certain additives can be included to produce more vibrant color.
Good coloration is not only enhanced by feeding and additives, however. Healthy fish tend to have much brighter colors than diseased ones. To bring out the color in Koi, particularly the white, you must provide good living conditions. Strong red and yellow pigments develop well in waters rich in green phytoplankton.
Feeding Koi Treats
Like any other type of pet, people find it fun and popular to give their Koi treats. You might delight in seeing your Koi respond to treats while you, your children, or grandchildren feed them. While this is a great bonding experience between pet and owner, some precautions should be taken.
There are many types of foods that are available that may contain nutritional value, and will not harm your Koi in any way.
Natural Koi Treats- The best type of treat to feed your Koi is what they would find naturally in their pond. Things such as earthworms, tadpoles, and bloodworms are found in ponds, and may be eaten by your Koi without your knowledge. The best way to find out what natural treats are available is just to look around the pond. Once you know what it out there, then you can either dig up the treats from the ground around the pond or buy similar products at your local store.
Prawns- Prawns are edible crustaceans which are similar to shrimp, but are usually larger. Prawns are actually very good for Koi because they are high in protein. You can find prawns at a number of places including your local pet stores, department stores, and feed stores. Prawns are also one of the best treats to promote hand feeding.
Lettuce- Lettuce is high in essential vitamins and minerals, and it quite healthy for your Koi. There is no need to tear the lettuce in smaller pieces as the Koi can find joy in doing it themselves.
Fruit- Koi will eat a wide variety of fruit. When feeding your Koi fruit, make sure to break the fruit up into small pieces. Fruit should only be fed to your Koi on special occasions, as most fruit contains high amounts of natural sugar, which can be bad for Koi in large amounts.
Bread- One of the cheapest treats available is Wheat Bread. Take a piece of bread, break it up, and roll it into small balls before throwing it into the pond. Be sure to avoid all types of white bread, as it may contain small amounts of bleach and other chemicals that can potentially be dangerous to your Koi.
Koi will eat pretty much anything that you put in the pond with them, no matter if it is good for them or not. Since Koi do not have a sense of what is bad and good for them, as their owner you must control their snack diet. Another potential problem is over feeding treats. Again, Koi do not have the knowledge to know when to stop eating, and weight issues may come from overfeeding treats.