If you’ve read our other article on “How Many Fish per Gallon,” you know it’s not an easy question to answer, especially for a mixed species tank. However, for koi ponds, there is a much simpler answer: For each koi you have, we recommend 250 gallons at MINIMUM! What are you talking about? That’s way …
** This post contains affiliate links that give us a small % of your total purchase for our recommendations. ** How do you tell which is the best koi food to feed your fish? Instead of the standard, “we tell you to buy this food,” we’re going to give you the tools to take ANY …
First, let’s get one thing straight: not all quarantine protocols are legitimate. You may have been told your fish has been “quarantined,” but what does that really mean? How long was the quarantine? Were they mixed with fish from other dealers? Were they prophylacticly treated with anything? The best way to protect your fish is …
How can you tell male vs female fish? Trying to set up a single sex population can help keep spawning practices from hurting your fish, but determining males from females can sometimes be a little tricky. Depending on your fish species, there may be a few things you can look for to determine the difference. …
Many pond owners will prophylactically treat their ponds every spring, regardless of many criteria. Whether it’s an anti-parasitic, a “clarifier” or a “refresher” treatment, you probably DON’T need to be adding most pond treatments. Using unlicensed products is a dangerous idea and if you aren’t sure of your total pond volume, you can severely hurt …
We have had several of our clients ask us if it is okay to put plants in koi ponds. Simple answer? Yes! Read along for our recommendations for the best plants in koi ponds. But aren’t plants bad for fish? Not one published scientific study has shown any plants attacking fish. Yes, they may be …
Oh, goody! Another “disease” for our Fake Fish Diagnoses file. I recently received an email explaining how “egg binding” kills fish, and I figured it would be an excellent opportunity to set the record straight. Many hobbyists are unaware that koi, and many of their fish cousins, are constantly carrying eggs. In the warmer spring …
If you’ve owned your goldfish/betta/koi for a few years, you may have noticed that they might not look the same as when you first brought them home. It is NORMAL for many fish species to change color as they get older, with some orange goldfish turning white, white bettas turning blue, and black and red …
Springtime often correlates with new fish arriving from overseas and ending up in new ponds. We have had a few years with an increase in Koi Herpesvirus (Cyprinid herpesvirus-3) cases and it is important to have your new fish tested BEFORE they enter your pond. There are two types of testing available. All fish can …
There are many myths about the longevity of koi. Some rumors place the oldest koi around 250 years old! Although this is not substantiated, koi are certainly built to live a very long time. Depending on their lineage and breeding practices, most koi can be expected to live 40-60 years easily. Our service has only …
We commonly hear this question and it’s a little bit of a headscratcher. Let’s look into the similarities and differences of koi and goldfish and what diseases you should consider between the two. The Goldfish – Carassus auratus Among the many variations of goldfish is a common ancestor. Thought to be a distant descendant of …
The simple answer: yes. Many fish keepers do not give their fish enough credit for being smart. Most pet fish are above average intelligence and can be easily trained given their food-motivated behavior. How do I train my fish? Many aquariums use training behaviors to make everyday care and medical procedures easier and less stressful. …
There are many ways to build a fish pond, and some methods can affect your maintenance regimen. Your pond bottom materials, also known as your pond substrate, can dramatically change how much time and effort you spend cleaning your pond. We’ll cover some of the most common bottom covers and the pros and cons of …
Every spring is koi season at Aquatic Veterinary Services! Here are our most common spring diseases in koi we can expect to see and the signs you should be aware of if any of these diseases are present in your pond. 5. Carp Pox Although not THE koi herpes virus, carp pox is also known …
Koi ponds make up the majority of our veterinary practice, and in seeing so many cases, some common themes occur. Don’t make the same mistakes with your fish! Not Checking Your Koi Pond Daily – We know in the winter, when metabolisms are quiet, your fish are not very entertaining. However, even in the slower, …