Koi Fish

[Mississippi]

I have recently gotten my first aquarium and am now purchasing another. I am new at all of this but learning more everyday. A friend gave me 2 small Koi fish from an outdoor pond to put into my Aquarium, the fish are eating well and seem to be adjusting to the other fish and their new environment. I can't find much information on the internet for raising Koi fish in an aquarium, only outdoor ponds. If anyone can give me any information it would be greatly appreciated.

[IvannaFish]

I am speaking from experience...They ARE NOT aquarium fish at all. They grow very fast and eat everything including small tank mates. What size tank do you have and maybe some of us can make suggestions. :hi:

[Satin and Tat]

I agree with IvannaFish - koi aren't well suited for aquariums at all. They get far too big for most tanks and really do better in ponds.

[wataugachicken]

yeah, think 2 feet long. . .

[iamgroovy]

That's why you're having trouble finding info on keeping them in aquariums...because they aren't suited to aquariums.

[Mississippi]

The 2 fish I have are about an inch to 2 inches long. I have them in a 10 gallon tank. I thought they were supoose to be similar to Goldfish and only get as big as their environment.

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

MISISSIPPI: That is a total myth...How on earth it got started is a mystery to me...

[Xielos]

The reason goldfish grow to the size of their tank is because their growth is STUNTED and shorten their lifespan CONSIDERABLY. You hear about goldfish living for 5 years, thing is, regular goldfish can live for decades if properly kept. Koi can live for 40+ years if they have enough room. They won't last long at all in a 10 gallon.

[iamgroovy]

Please return them to the pond. They'll thank you for it.
BTW what other fish do you have in the aquarium?

[wataugachicken]

small tank + outside stops growing + internal organs keep growing = floating fishy

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Koi can go 70 years no prob...There are reports of some being over 200..Not sure how accurate though...

[wataugachicken]

i actually read that today somewhere else. . . multiple sources give a lot of credibility.

[Mississippi]

I have 4 male Guppies. the 2 small koi fish, 1 chinese algae eater, 1 Pleco, and 1 very small black striped fish that was in the aquarium when given to me. Not sure what it is but trying to learn more everyday.

[Xielos]

Way overstocked if you ask me. The Pleco alone gets over a foor long. The striped fish is propably a zebra danio

[Mississippi]

It may be overstocked. I'm still a Newbie. Could send a pic of the fish in question for identification if anyone could help.

[Candycat21]

With just the Pleco in there your tank is way overstocked. And you have no need to have both a pleco and a chinese algea eater in there. The Chinese algea eater gets aggressive as it matures and also stops eating algea, preffering to feed off of the body slime etc of other fish...they can also attain sizes of 10 inches or more. :eek:
As for the pleco, what some have said already is true. Most plecos will grow to more than a foot or 2 feet in legth, so it needs a much larger tank.
My suggestion to you is get rid of the koi definitely and the pleco and chinese algea eater. Get a couple of Oto's for algea control if you have algea...otherwise you will have to feed them veggies and algea wafers as a substitute. :)
Maybe add a couple of pygmy cories for the bottom.
PLEASE take the Koi back to your friend to put into his pond.
Good luck and keeps us posted :)

[IvannaFish]

I started out with 2 KOI in my 105 gallon and after just 4 months they both tripled their size and ate all the smaller fish as well. They are not suited for tanks at all. I had them for the same reason you did because they were small and getting picked on. I promise you that they were much happier in the pond..picked on or not. Koi are POND fish PERIOD!