The Stunning Koi Fish Carp
Hall of fishes If there was such a thing as a Fish Hall of Favorites, the koi fish carp would be an awesome contender.
Seriously, with their breathtaking colors combined with their rapid movements and striking personalities, they can be easily recognized as one of the most magnificent ornamental freshwater fish.
Once a commoner Their origins in fact were not as remarkable.
The beautiful koi was originally a mutation of the simple and dull colored common carp.
Through the efforts of the Japanese, selective breeding and cross-breeding techniques were perfected, and the brocaded carp, or nishikigoi, finally came into being.
Thereafter, what is now known as koi (Japanese for "carp") has been highly sought after for their color, patterns and scales However, in the early days koi fish carp was valued for something far more mundane: food source.
Records exist that as early as the 17th century, the rice-growing region of the Niigata Prefecture had farmers raising koi alongside the rice.
When rice was hard to get by, carp was substituted into their meals.
Want a smoke? Today, koi fish carp are kept as ornamental pets.
Like pets, they interact with their keepers.
Like pets, they can be taught tricks.
When feeding time comes, they are observed to swim immediately to greet their master, and are famous for having the grace to eat from their owner's hand.
Thanks to a little training, one koi has even managed to smoke a cigarette! Tough like the river Their fascinating characteristics don't end there.
The koi fish carp is a hardy creature - you won't be able to keep a good koi down! They can last in cold weather, and survive in water unfit for most decorative fish.
They love a challenge, too; their habit of swimming upstream or up towards a waterfall has made them popular enough for a myth to be created after them.
In China, they say that if a koi fish carp is successful in making the climb up to a point called the Dragon Gate (on the Yellow River), it metamorphoses into a Dragon.
They eat a lot! Koi are also passionate about their food, probably because they move around a lot, although when the cold season comes, their appetites decline due to the slowing of their metabolism and digestion.
But in normal days, koi fish carp can be seen constantly foraging for food.
Their meal can consist of insects or worms, and fruits or vegetables cut into small sizes.
It's important to keep them happy because when they're hungry they tend to disrupt the soil and turn over the plants sticking out of it, causing the water to get murky.
But it's also important not to overfeed, because taking in too much also means giving out too much, and the chemicals from the koi fish carp's filth are toxic enough to cause harm.
They come in XXXL Koi fish carp can grow to a length of up to 2 to 3 feet, and they can live up to an age of 50 years.
The largest growth size was documented at a few inches short of 5 feet, while the oldest koi is reported to have lived up to 226 years! All it really takes to achieve this is a lot of care, dedication and devotion not just to the koi fish carp, but also to the art of cultivating them.
Seriously, with their breathtaking colors combined with their rapid movements and striking personalities, they can be easily recognized as one of the most magnificent ornamental freshwater fish.
Once a commoner Their origins in fact were not as remarkable.
The beautiful koi was originally a mutation of the simple and dull colored common carp.
Through the efforts of the Japanese, selective breeding and cross-breeding techniques were perfected, and the brocaded carp, or nishikigoi, finally came into being.
Thereafter, what is now known as koi (Japanese for "carp") has been highly sought after for their color, patterns and scales However, in the early days koi fish carp was valued for something far more mundane: food source.
Records exist that as early as the 17th century, the rice-growing region of the Niigata Prefecture had farmers raising koi alongside the rice.
When rice was hard to get by, carp was substituted into their meals.
Want a smoke? Today, koi fish carp are kept as ornamental pets.
Like pets, they interact with their keepers.
Like pets, they can be taught tricks.
When feeding time comes, they are observed to swim immediately to greet their master, and are famous for having the grace to eat from their owner's hand.
Thanks to a little training, one koi has even managed to smoke a cigarette! Tough like the river Their fascinating characteristics don't end there.
The koi fish carp is a hardy creature - you won't be able to keep a good koi down! They can last in cold weather, and survive in water unfit for most decorative fish.
They love a challenge, too; their habit of swimming upstream or up towards a waterfall has made them popular enough for a myth to be created after them.
In China, they say that if a koi fish carp is successful in making the climb up to a point called the Dragon Gate (on the Yellow River), it metamorphoses into a Dragon.
They eat a lot! Koi are also passionate about their food, probably because they move around a lot, although when the cold season comes, their appetites decline due to the slowing of their metabolism and digestion.
But in normal days, koi fish carp can be seen constantly foraging for food.
Their meal can consist of insects or worms, and fruits or vegetables cut into small sizes.
It's important to keep them happy because when they're hungry they tend to disrupt the soil and turn over the plants sticking out of it, causing the water to get murky.
But it's also important not to overfeed, because taking in too much also means giving out too much, and the chemicals from the koi fish carp's filth are toxic enough to cause harm.
They come in XXXL Koi fish carp can grow to a length of up to 2 to 3 feet, and they can live up to an age of 50 years.
The largest growth size was documented at a few inches short of 5 feet, while the oldest koi is reported to have lived up to 226 years! All it really takes to achieve this is a lot of care, dedication and devotion not just to the koi fish carp, but also to the art of cultivating them.
