Live Koi

Live Koi

Can a koi fish live with a betta fish in a 10 gallon tank?

I saw some koi fish at walmart that grow about 5'' to 6''. Just wondering if a koi fish would get along with my betta. If so could i add more koi fish with him?

Koi grow to 3-4 feet. They shouldn't be kept in anything smaller than a pond, except temporarily.

Koi (and goldfish) are coldwater, the betta is tropical and needs a heater, so they shouldn't have to live in the same temperature - one of them will suffer for it.

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Koi come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. The black koi is one of the original varieties descended from the Chinese carp. Even black koi come in a variety of patterns. When you venture into the world of koi, it is wise to learn as much as possible about the varieties you are interested in.

The Magoi is the original black koi and is still closely related to the carp. Its entire body appears black, but when viewed up close the scales are actually a dark bronze in color. The Magoi is a very large fish, often reaching 3 feet or more. It is being bred with many other types to increase the growth rate of some other koi varieties.

The Karasu, or Crow, is a black koi that appears solid black when viewed from above. Its belly however is usually orange or white. The Hajiro is black with white nose and fin markings.

One of the most popular types of black koi is the Kumonryu, or Dragon Fish. It is a black fish with white spots that is said to resemble a dragon flying through the clouds.

Like other varieties of koi, black koi can change color. Some are affected by what they eat, the temperature or their health. Seasons cause some koi to change their look.

The Matsukawabake koi is known for this ability. This black koi will change from black to white and back to black again depending on the circumstances. The ability to change color is one of the unique characteristics that make koi a popular pond fish.

If you find black koi interesting, you may be tempted to have some of your own. Be sure you put them in a large pond that will provide adequate space for their large size. Koi will breed once they reach a length of about ten inches. A female koi can lay up to 1,000 eggs after breeding. After spawning, the eggs will hatch in four to seven days, depending on the water temperature.

Baby koi, or fry, will not show their coloration patterns until they are between three to twelve weeks of age. Through centuries of breeding, all the varieties of koi known today, have been developed.

When planning for your koi pond, take into consideration how your chosen location will fare during each season. Is there shade in the summer? Will it freeze during winter?

While your koi will slow their metabolism during cold months, the pond needs to be deep enough to give them a safe place to spend the winter.

You may notice that as the water gets colder, some varieties of black koi will begin to change color.

Koi of all types can live a long time. While most, including the black varieties will live from 25 to 35 years, some can live an exceptionally long time.

Records show that many koi live up to a hundred or more years. The record holder was a 226 year old red koi who died in 1977. They estimated her age by inspecting her scales.

Adam B Short is the author of "Starting The Koi Hobby" - compulsory reading for anyone considering a koi pond and wanting more information on black koi.

The website contains valuable information on how to easily create & maintain your own stunningly beautiful Koi fish pond with lively & healthy Koi... Even if you have never owned fish before!

For a FREE 10 part mini-course on "The Secrets To Creating & Maintaining a Stunning Koi Fish Pond With Lively & Healthy Koi!" go to => http://thekoifishclub.com/.

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