My koi is a grower!

K

KBS1664

AC Members
Jun 20, 2009
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vancouver canada
I have a small 90 gallon pond. Building another larger 300+ gallon pond next spring. I've had 2 goldfish for about 2 years now and they are very slow growers, we got them at about 4 inches in length now they're around 5 to 6.. I thought I could pick up a few small koi and put them in the 90 gallon pond and they'll be fine for a year until the new pond is made. Since the golfish are slow growers I assumed the same about koi. I assumed wrong! One koi I bought 3 months ago at 4 inches in length. He's now around 6 inches and bigger than the goldfish. Someone gave me another 3.5 inch koi a few weeks ago because it outgrew it's 5 gallon tank.

I'm worried the koi will outgrow the 90 gallon before I have the new pond made. Will they be fine? Or should I get on that new pond asap.
 
It will outgrow it eventually. I was able to keep a koi in my 75 gallon tank for only about a year, and it had already grown from about 4 inches to over 12. I just saw it again today in a relatives pond, and it was at least 16 inches. Not all koi grow at the same rate, but I'd definitely get going on the pond.

dufus_fish_01.jpg
 
You'll need an even bigger pond than that ASAP. I'd suggest atleast 500 gallons if not more. Koi can grow to be 3 feet in length.
 
I would have to agree about getting a pond ASAP and a big one at that. I like to tell people that I recommend 1000 gallons per healthy adult koi.
 
DooSPX said:
I would have to agree about getting a pond ASAP and a big one at that. I like to tell people that I recommend 1000 gallons per healthy adult koi.
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I have room for up to a 3000 gallon if I really wanted to. I will be renting a mini back ho as I have a cousin who works for united rentals.

Won't the growth of the koi be slowed over winter? On average it's about 0 to 4 deg C here.
 
It probably will be, considering that outdoors in a pond the fish go down to the bottom to "hibernate" over the winter and their metabolism slows down (partially because food is scarce). I would go for the 3000g pond if I were you :thumbsup:
 
I overwintered two small koi (2 inch body length each when I got them in October) for a friend in a spare 6 foot tank. By spring each fish was nearly 8 inches in body length. Now a few years later they are both 24-26 inches long in his large pond.
 
Koi will be fine in the winter provided they fatten up befroe the snow. Feeding stops 40-45 degrees.
 
Thanks for the help! Another question. How big do goldfish get...mine don't seem to be growing. Will they be fine permanently in the 90 gallon or should I move them to the big pond with the koi? I'm not sure what type they are...they were sold as pond goldfish for $7 each.
 
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