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Hello Koi Enthusiasts!
This blog is here to provide a spot for various things that do or might pertain to Koi. This stuff is intended for your entertainment, and is not meant to meet the stricter standards of our ebooks and courses, so use this info carefully and at your own risk. The short articles here may be descriptions of techniques that have proved effective, an introduction to new fish research, facts, graphs or just something FUN about fish! This information can be a springboard for your imagination and an entertaining place to learn something new. Information that was first published in Question of the Week can be found here.
The more we learn about Koi, the more FUN this hobby is - and we always say - if you're not havin' FUN, you're not doin' it right!
Turns out fish have natural sunscreen, and scientists have discovered a way to reproduce it for humans. Read the article by clicking on the title or picture...
This article shows different behaviours of oxidative disinfectants in corrosivity and their relative efficacy under soiled conditions. The study was done by the makers of Halamid, but is an excellent primer in understanding disinfectant issues.
OK - I seriously want this! Pity we can't dine outside all winter in CT!
Ponds and Koi
General Facts About Water
by Don Harrawood
Years ago, our own Spike Cover started putting together a program called Best Health Practices for the Koi industry. This article provides the details about a program started by the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) along with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS Vet Services), and encompasses all commercial aquaculture. Click on the picture or title to read the full article.
Have you ever wondered how our Koi can live when saturated water at 70 degrees holds less than 9 mg/l of oxygen? That's .0009%, and we humans need 19.5% or more than 20,000 times as much! Turns out there's a chemical found in fish hearts that helps boost oxygen delivery. Learn more by clicking on the title or picture...
Imagine using cactus in your pond filter! Cactus is being considered to clean contaminated water of re-circulating systems for farmed fish, drinking and other uses! Learn more by clicking on the title or picture...
I have seen several hermaphrodite Koi (having both female and male reproductive organs) during necropsy, and that might even have been the explanation of why the fish were not doing well or died. None of the hermaphrodite Koi were able to reproduce. But imagine finding a hermaphrodite fish that can also self-fertilize and reproduce! Read the fascinating article by clicking on the title or picture...
We know that stress can kill Koi by depressing their immune systems and making them susceptible to many pathogens. This study looked at the percentage of fish that died after capture and release during recreational fishing. Find out the survival rate by clicking on the picture or title...
Koi, like all fish, move to areas of the pond where they are more comfortable. Learn more about this behavior by clicking on the title or picture...
While humans have the capability to survive in nearly every corner of the planet, they all use the same basic configuration - 2 legs, 2 arms, a torso and a head. Fish on the other hand have much more diversity. Do you know how many species of fish there are? Click on the title or picture to learn more...
Turns out Koi are genetically specialized to survive in many conditions which other fish cannot tolerate. Read this article to learn how genetics help fish thrive in challenging conditions, by clicking on the title or picture...
Koi do eat their own eggs, and this study explains a bit more about why some fish have developed this behavior. Read the article by clicking on the picture or title...
New research shows that some fish have pectoral fins that can sense touch! It may be that our Koi also can! Read the full article by clicking on the picture or title...
How many fins do Koi have? How many are paired and how many are singular? If you're having problems answering those questions - take our K.O.I. Anatomy course and learn the answers! You do not have to be a member to take a K.O.I. course, and you can take any course, in any order, on-line! Click on the link below to learn more, and there's a tab near the top for Course Sign Up:
http://koiorganisationinternational.org/?q=course/koi-anatomy
Back to our post... Humans have paired appendages - legs, arms, ears, etc. And it all started with fish! Read the article about fish appendage evolution by clicking on the title or picture...
Koi are different 'varieties', but are not different 'breeds.' Have you ever wondered about how DNA changes in fish? This excellent article by the University of Oregon shows how DNA changes at surprising speed. Read more by clicking on the title or picture...
Exciting new research! Read the article by clicking on the picture or title...
Most people think of filtration as requiring mechanical or chemical means - but one sewage treatment plant is using fish! Now, you gotta think that cause Koi are omnivores, and they like to root around in the bottom of ponds, this might be something they would be really good at! Read the full story by clicking on the title or picture.
In case any of you are looking to add to your library of useful books on fish health, there's a 2nd edition of "Ornamental Fishes - Self-Assessment Color Review" coming out in September. I've used the first edition over the years because it has a unique case-study approach with Q&A, and is written by Greg Lewbart. Get the link to reserve your copy and learn more by clicking on the picture or title.
A new global analysis of seafood found that fish populations throughout the world's oceans are contaminated with industrial and agricultural pollutants, collectively known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The study also uncovered some good news: concentrations of these pollutants have been consistently dropping over the last 30 years. Read the full story by clicking on the title or picture.
Researchers have, for the first time, visualized the origins of cancer from the first affected cell and watched its spread in a live animal. Their work could change the way scientists understand melanoma and other cancers and could lead to new, early treatments before the cancer has taken hold. Read the full story by clicking on the picture or title.
KHV affects our Koi, but now there is a Herpes Virus that is affecting oysters all over the world. The issues about biosecurity and finding a cure are similar to the problems faced by Koi keepers. Read more by clicking on the picture or title...
While we've looked at this issue before, those were high-end Koi foods, not used by the average club member. This little chart was developed by Sue Boydstun to help her club members start to look at the ingredients found in common Koi foods, so they can start reading labels in order to tell the good foods from the bad foods. We know that corn is a poor ingredient for Koi food, cause it cause poor body shape and excess hard body fat that can actually end up killing the Koi. Fish meal is an ideal first ingredient. See the list of ingredients in order for several Koi foods by clicking on the picture or title...
This is from an excellent post on the Fish Vet Blog. The Aussies are considering releasing KHV into the wild to reduce the effect of carp on the ecosystem. This rebuttal by Dr. Loh on other possible causes is interesting. Read the text by clicking on the title or picture...
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!If you're not havin' FUN, you're not doin' it right
