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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!
Did you know that many species of fish from the family Mormyridae communicates via electric signals? Learn more by clicking on the title or picture...
Every pond has a fish that's the 'leader' of the group. Learn more about fish leadership by clicking on the title or picture...
We love watching our Koi gracefully swim through the water - but how do they do it? Read about the physics that allows fish to swim by clicking on the title or picture.
Disease often spreads through all the Koi in a pond, and overcrowded conditions often excacerbate the problem. A new study looks at how bacterial disease spreads. Learn more by clicking on the title or picture...
Have you ever wondered why fish never seem to crash at feeding time, or when they school? Turns out they do! Read more about the science behind schooling fish by clicking on the title or the picture...
Science is always developing new way to treat disease, and the latest is 3-D printed Microscopic FISH! Read the full story by clicking on the title or picture...
One of the less common bacteria, but one that is seen in Koi, is Mycobacteria. Read more about it by clicking on the picture or title...
OK - we've all seen the famous pic, and there are a million opinions... New research has found...
New technology improves transport of live fish. Hopefully, one day soon, this will be available for Koi!
Talk about survival instincts!
K.O.I. not only provides your BEST source for "Science, Not Hearsay" - regarding the Koi hobby, but we also have lots of neat stuff for sale! This pic shows our K.O.I. booth at PNKCA. Not only can you become a K.O.I. member and get the "K.O.I. Guide" for FREE (members also have access to K.O.I. Group Buys of items that are very helpful for Koi keeping!), but you can purchase courses on all aspects of Koi keeping and learn from experts! The K.O.I. store sells Duncan Griffith's excellent book "Step by Step Diagnosis and Treatment" as well as K.O.I. enameled pins (for you pin collectors out there!), K.O.I. patches, and even Koi hats, hand crocheted and way too much FUN to wear to your local Koi club or event! Stop by the K.O.I. booth and pick up your FREE tote-bag - WE CAN HELP! Check out the K.O.I. On-Line store by clicking on the "Store" tab at the top of the page: www.koiorganisationinternational.org.
Koi and goldfish are now listed as invasive species in many states, and Maine does not allow Koi keeping AT ALL! Please read this article to learn more about the problem, by clicking on the picture or title.
Yes, we ARE trying to keep the FUN in Koi keeping! Clearly someone had too much time - but I love it! I wonder how many balloons it took? It must be enormous!
Find out when you click on the picture or title!
In Connecticut, the deadliest creature is common White-Tailed Deer, cause people in cars are killed when they hit them. But worldwide - it's Mosquitos! Our ponds can be a haven for deadly mosquitos. Read the story (by clicking on the picture or title) to find out what you can do to eliminate mosquitos from your ponds and water features. Story submitted by Ralph Smith, aka 'Smitty' from Southwest Koi and Pond Association, El Paso, TX.
Thanks SO MUCH to Syd Mitchell - all the way from England!, Ken Autin and Spike Cover for making the Lab SO MUCH FUN! We were saturated, and a bit silly by the end!
This article explains the technology that makes it possible to test for current and past infections of any known human virus with a single drop of blood. It doesn't seem much of a leap to be able to test the known Carp viruses (there aren't that many) once the genomes have been sequenced. This could be an ideal tool to help Koi keepers in the future. We'll keep watching this technology to see how it progresses. Full story can be read by clicking the title or picture above.
Can you keep Koi in an aquarium? Well, if they are less than 4" - sure! Koi have evolved to go deep and hide at the bottom when threatened, so sometimes an aquarium - with glass on all sides but one, is quite threatening to them. But when they are babies, it's fine to keep them in an aquaium (with proper filtration, of course!) to watch them grow before putting them out into the pond. Just don't be surprised if you only get a few months before they outgrow the aquarium. Generally, once they reach 4-6", they need to go out, where they can graze on algae and just be Koi! Some Koi keepers don't enjoy seeing Koi in an aquarium because you're viewing them from the side, while Koi patterns have been developed to be viewed from the top down. They sure look different from the side, and that's a learning opportunity too! If you do decide to keep them indoors with you for a bit, check out these awesome aquarium designs - I WANT ONE! Click on the picture above, or the title to see all the pictures...
When people see pictures of Koi sucking on fingers, or people hand-feeding Koi, they often asked me if Koi can bite? Read more by clicking on the picture or title...
Read this article about the recognition of Aquatic Veterinary Medicine, by clicking on the picture or title...
I attended an interesting webinar recently given by a lady who had done her PhD thesis on why it's hard to get people to think of fish as pets in the same way they think of cats and dogs as pets. One of the barriers to people thinking of fish as pets is that people don't think fish have much intellegence - so maybe that's why I've been doing all these posts on underwater Super Powers exhibited by fish - and now by Octopus! Read the full story by clicking on the picture or title...
This question is often asked by beginners, and it is answered by Dr. Richmond Loh, DVM Australia. Full text below...
Thanks to Syd for finding the cartoon above!
Many Koi keepers will tell you that you need to add clay to Koi ponds. Bentonite or Mortmorillinite clay are what's sold as Koi Clay. Here's a short article by Syd Mitchell about benefits and disadvantages of using clay. If you can't come to the PNKCA Convetion June 19-21, 2015 - then take our ON-LINE Lab #220 from the comfort of your own home! CLICK HERE for more info about the lab. Full article after the break.
Syd Mitchell explains the science behind how to create a working filter - without fish! You can meet Syd and your other K.O.I. instructors at the PNKCA Convention, June 19-21, 2015! CLICK HERE for more about the Convention... Full article after the break.
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!If you're not havin' FUN, you're not doin' it right
