How to Buy Koi

This is a good video for those of you who are considering the koi hobby and becoming koi caretakers. It’s slightly under 6 minutes in length and worth the time for newbies. The one thing I’ll add is the “very long time” they refer to when talking about the koi’s life could be well over 30 years. The koi in our pond are over 25 years old and going strong.

Happy koi shopping!

For more videos visit our Happy Ponds Channel on YouTube.

Video of a Duck Feeding Koi

This is incredible footage of a very generous duck feeding very appreciative koi. Well worth the 30-some seconds.

I suspect the duck figured out that feeding the koi was the only way he wasn’t going to end up on the menu!

For more videos visit our YouTube channel at Happy Ponds.

Choosing the Right Koi Food

Earlier this week I had the good fortune to speak with the owner of one of the top koi fisheries in the US. I asked about his koi food bill because I knew it must be pretty significant to sustain his 400,000 koi. He confirmed that it was indeed a helluva lot of money and his single largest expense. No, I didn’t ask how much it was. 

He also mentioned that he had recently switched his source of koi food and that he was blown away by the difference. His fish were growing 25% faster then they were on the previous koi food!

I’m not mentioning any names because I don’t want to give away any of his secrets. The main point I want to make is that choosing koi food is actually a very important decision if you want healthy growing fish in your pond. Increasing growth by 25% is obviously extremely important to a fishery and meaningful to their business. Someone who has young fish in their pond will also appreciate these types of results although the value may not be viewed with the same criteria. 

Choosing the best food for fish isn’t rocket science, but it is important. As a caretaker of koi ypu need to spend some time researching the different types of food available and what might be best for the age of your fish and your goals. A breeder and someone with a pond full of mature adult koi that doesn’t enter them into competition have very different needs. Likewise the amount of money each might be willing to spend will vary.

For koi the three basic foods needed are food for fish you want to grow as quickly as possible, food for adult fish that need sustaining food, and medicated fish food for those times when your pond may not be as happy as you’d like. And then there are foods that can enhance the color of your fish for those who are more serious about their koi. 

Different brands use ingredients of differing levels of quality and that can’t be determined by the price tag. If only shopping could be so easy! Stronger brands can charge more then a lesser known brand regardless of whether or not their product is better. Fortunately, at least in the case of buying koi food, prestige isn’t much of a factor so ego can be set aside. What’s important is that your fish are getting the best food available for them at an affordable price that is sustainable for your wallet. 

More then likely you’re not going to conduct any scientific experiments so you’ll end up reading what you can find and asking some people whose opinions you respect. In my case I asked someone who owns 400,000 koi because I know the difference in the quality of the food relative to the cost is exceptionally important.  Whether or not I can buy the same in quantities that won’t fill up our garage I just don’t know yet. Stay tuned.

Now that’s a lot of fish to feed!

The MAKC 20th Annual Koi Show in Maryland

The Mid-Atlantic Koi Club is holding their 20th Annual Koi show and they just keep getting better. If you live in or anywhere near Maryland and are thinking about getting your own koi pond or already have one then you have got to visit the show. This year it will be just after the blistering heat of August has past on September 12, 13, and 14, which makes for a great 3-day weekend starting on Friday the 12th.

This year the show will be held at the:
CARROLL COUNTY AGRICULTURE CENTER
DANELE SHIPLEY MEMORIAL ARENA
706 Agriculture Dr
Westminster, MD 21157
Directions to the MAKC 20th Annual Koi Show

If you need a place to stay the Best Western, Days Inn, and The Boston Inn have rooms at a special rate of $89, $99, $75, a night respectively. Be sure to ask for the “MAKC Rates” when setting up your reservations.

Best Western Catering & Conference
Single or Double Occupancy – $89.00 + tax per night
For Reservations, call Best Western Westminster directly at 410-857-1900
Check in time 3:00 pm • Check out time 11:00 am

Days Inn
Single or Double Occupancy – $99.00 + tax per night
For Reservations, call Days Inn directly at 410-857-0500
Check in time 3:00 pm • Check out time 11:00 am
The Boston Inn
Single or Double Occupancy – $75.00/$65.00 + tax per night
For Reservations, call The Boston Inn directly at 410-848-9095
Check in time 3:00 pm • Check out time 11:00 am

For more information visit MAKC’s Website at MAKC.com

MAKC 18th Annual Koi Show

Interesting video for those of you unfamiliar with how koi are judged in competition.

For more information on the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club (MAKC) visit their Website at: MAKC

Routine Care and Maintenance will Cost Less in the Long Run

Like almost everything you’re far better off taking care of your happy pond on a regular basis  to avoid having to play catchup later with new replacement equipment and/or water treatment regimens.

One couple’s backyard slice of heaven

This couple is obviously enjoying their lovely koi pond. I enjoyed watching her feed the fish out of her hand almost as if they were little babies.

The video is under 5 minutes… enjoy.

Natural pond products compared to manmade products

Clearly we all want what’s best for the health of our fish and our families so let’s take a look around to see what’s in the various pond products available and whether or not there are natural pond products like water treatment products that we should try.

We’ll be right back… must tend to the kids.

How do I clear up the cloudy water in my pond?

Most often cloudy water issues occur in Spring, and will clear up with use of a UV light. If you still have a problem in August, then you have some other issue that needs fixing. Your pond either has too many fish, too little filtration, or you are overfeeding them.

More then likely a larger filteration system is needed, but monitor the amount of food they’re getting and read up on appropriate water volume for the number of fish you have.