How does koi grow

Big Girl has grown to an impressive size of 48 inches, weighing in at 90lbs. The most popular types of koi fish are the fast-growing western-bred domestic koi, which are inexpensive to purchase as juveniles, the butterfly koi with its dragon-like figure, and the high in demand Japanese koi.

With a genetic makeup that predetermines one of the quickest growth rates among all koi varieties, the domestic koi will grow to an average length of 12 to 15 inches. Domestic koi are much less expensive than Japan-imported koi fish. Traditional Japanese koi varieties grow bigger than most domestic koi, reaching lengths between 22 and 26 inches.

These koi fish will also outlive domestic varieties, living 25 to 35 years on average. Their impressive longevity makes Japanese koi a pet fish that will require a commitment to keeping it healthy and well-provided for, even if it sometimes outlives its original owner. Butterfly koi, also known as dragon carps, will grow to an average length of 24 inches, with some individuals topping off at 36 inches.

They can seem bigger than they actually are because of their long-flowing fins. Their splendid yet delicate fins make them susceptible to fin rot. But if treated in time, butterfly koi can actually regrow their fins and tails. Butterfly koi owners will typically keep them as a single species in an aquarium or pond or will at least avoid keeping them with fin nippers.

Jumbo koi varieties can often reach lengths of 34 to 36 inches or 48 inches in the case of Big Girl. The average weight of jumbo-sized koi can be anywhere between 22 and 26 pounds.

They require specialty fish food to reach these enormous sizes, so jumbo koi breeders and owners will invest much more time and resources into their koi collection than a domestic koi owner will.

Considering the fact that jumbo koi fish are bred from gigantic parents, even as juveniles, it is recommended that they be kept in appropriately sized outdoor ponds, fit for their adult size. In reality, they are one of the easiest to care for freshwater fish in their size category. Consistent water quality, a growth-focused diet, sufficient space, and low-stress levels will complement a good set of koi fish genes and make your pet koi dragon grow.

As an Amazon Associate I receive a commission if you decide to purchase through my links. This at no extra cost to you. Table of Contents. Lifespan, Care, And More. About Us. Nano Fish. But the too high and too low temperature will definitely affect their growth. The chemical quality of the pond water should also be maintained. As koi are carp, the Dissolve Oxygen DO should be maintained properly. Other chemical measures like pH and Nitrate concentration plays a huge role in koi growth and health.

Environment plays a key role in the growth of koi. Have you ever wondered why only Japanese breeder produces the top quality koi? It is due to the environment of Japan. The environment, climate, and meteorology of Japan are perfect for koi. If you visit a koi farm pond in Japan, you will notice a nice and calm environment. There will be hardly anyone to disturb the koi in their final growth pond.

Usually, It takes three years for a koi fish to grow to full size. But some koi fish can take ten years to reach its final growth stage. A koi grow about 4 to 6 inches every year for the first couple of years of its life. Then the growth rate becomes slow. Usually, at the age of 10 to 12 years, they finally stop growing. But some can grow even after that age. The least dimension of your fish tank should be more than twice of your fish length.

That means a koi fish can get up to 5 inches in a gallon tank. But this is a bad idea to stock a 5 inches koi in a 10 gallon tank. Koi fish requires more free space than other fish as they are actually carp. Therefore, you should get a larger tank for your koi fish. A good quality young koi has an average growth rate of 4 inches per year if it is supplied with proper food and water quality. However if the koi are stressed during their first stage of growth, they may stay small. There are also some koi species that stay small like the domestic koi.

Yes, the size of the pond has a big effect on the growth of koi. A young domestic koi will live happily in 50 gallon water. A koi of this size needs more water to live freely. To stock normal koi fish your pond must be at least 3 feet deep. For growing larger koi, you will need an even larger and deeper pond. If you have ever seen any Japanese koi farm, they have large deep ponds for growing their largest size koi. They also keep the population of koi very low in these ponds.

Thank you. Answered and Explained And the total volume gallon of your pond will depend on the number of koi fish you want to keep and their size. Mid-size koi requires at least gallon water to thrive. Two of the most important things to remember are the fact that fish are grazers and if fed too much, a lot of it is simply wasted.

High protein feed, such as Saki-Hikari, should be given in relatively small amounts 5 or 6 times a day. Another thing to keep in mind is the hormones which are released into the water by the Koi carp.

When these hormones reach a high enough concentration, the Koi will simply stop growing egg production will also stop. This how they maintain a natural balance in the wild and prevent over population. Two things to keep in mind here, then:. These two steps alone will go a long way in helping to promote growth in your Koi carp.