More Facts about Koi

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.