Koi Babies

[ChilDawg]

I think that we have baby koi at home--there were some eggs on water hyacinth purchased from a local pond owner, who cultivates the stuff in her koi pond. Anyone got any pix of really young koi? I can't find a good book in town, so I'd like to see pix from any experienced koi raisers on here!

~Matthew

[Aderynglas]

Hi,
I haven't got any pics but baby Goldfish and Koi (new hatched) look like an eye lash with two full stops either side, or a sliver of glass - depending on the light. They hang around on plants and the sides of the tank for a few days while they adsorb the yolk sac and then become free swimming. They will need free access to the water surface (no oil or scum) at this time as they need to fill their swim bladders before they can swim/develop properly. Older babies are very slender, they don't really look like baby Koi for a couple of weeks.

Hope this helps some
Regards
Polly

[ChilDawg]

Polly,
Thanks, that did help some. I think that the unidentified fish have had life stages like those described above, so it will be interesting to see what they turn out to be...one of them is getting pretty orange, so I can rule out most "non-designer" fish. (But don't worry, I won't use them as toys or as a fashion statement, your sig is correct, and I will study them as interesting creatures in their own right!!!

~Matthew

[Aderynglas]

Aww ChilDawg that sigs not there for the likes of you :D

I put it there as a reaction to the many designer programmes showing designers (rooms and gardens) putting glass vases on tables "now what shall I put in there?? - I know a couple of goldfish would look good with some dafffodils!" with no more thought for the fish than that.

Garden designers are as bad, they put in a "water feature" - usually some glorified bucket, and what do you do to make water interesting?? - put in some goldfish!!! there's never any mention of care or anything else and it makes me mad :mad:

Bettas are hardly treated any better.

Ok rant over :D


You're absolutely right :) small baby fish (especially goldfish and koi ) are fascinating, you just never know how they're going to develop and what colours you'll get. How big are they now??

[ChilDawg]

I figured that you didn't put that on for me...I get angry when I see the American version of "Changing Rooms" and they've decided to put "maintenance-free" Siamese Fighting Fish in each room. The baby fish are probably about 3/4" a piece (including tail). I'm going to try to work with my dad's new digital cam and see if I can't grab pix once I get home in a few days!

[Aderynglas]

I'd love to see the pics :D

I miss my goldfish and the babies, but they just got too big for my little tanks:(

You gotta love them enough to let them go to bigger homes (show homes no less!!!) sigh

[ChilDawg]

I'll write myself a reminder to do it tomorrow, but I can't promise that I'll be back home before dark...I might have them up on Monday morning, in spite of my less-than-stellar 'Net connection! I promise that if I get good pix they'll be up no later than Wednesday. :)

I know the feeling on the getting rid of fish...we're already thinking of contingency plans for the Koi (if that's truly what they are, of course)...the first choice is a large pond! :)