| Those two reasons alone make them enough to fall | | | | normally be seen socializing and swimming with other |
| in love with Koi fish. If you are considering purchasing | | | | Koi. If by chance you see one or two swimming |
| them for your garden pond then this article is for | | | | alone off to themselves then I would recommend |
| you. | | | | avoiding these fish. Chances are they are not healthy |
| The first thing that's recommended for you to do is | | | | fish. |
| to acquire as much information as you possibly can | | | | A healthy Koi fish will swim effortlessly and glide |
| about Koi fish. This information could be acquired | | | | through the water with ease. They should have no |
| from your local pet shop owners, a reputable breeder | | | | jerking type motions and no twitching when |
| and even online. | | | | swimming. Their gills should move at an even pace |
| The staff of the breeder and pet shops should be | | | | and rhythmically together. If you do happen to notice |
| knowledgeable about Koi fish and should be able to | | | | that they are only breathing through one gill or if |
| answer lots of questions for you. One of the | | | | they have any redness around their gills this is also a |
| questions you may need to ask is if the Koi are | | | | sign that they could have an infection called gill flukes. |
| imported or from a local source? Of those two | | | | This would be another sign that they are not healthy |
| choices the imported Japanese Koi is usually going to | | | | Koi. |
| be the highest quality. | | | | When observing a healthy Koi's body it should be |
| If it is at all possible for you to visit fish farms, where | | | | gently tapered, well defined and thick. There should |
| raised, as that would be an excellent thing for you to | | | | be no visible signs of damage, any ulcers or spots of |
| do. While there check the conditions at the farm. See | | | | discoloration on the fish. Their scales should lay flat |
| how well the fish are being taken care of, how they | | | | against the fish with no lesions of any kind. |
| are maintained and the overall general cleanliness of | | | | Experts cannot agree on the amount of Koi fish that |
| the farm. The Koi fish farms ponds water should be | | | | should be kept in a garden pond. The best answer |
| clean and odorless; their supplies for sale should be of | | | | really is that it would depend upon the size of your |
| excellent quality. | | | | pond as well as the efficiency of the filtration |
| As you probably already realize Koi fish come in | | | | system. |
| unique stunning color patterns with no two ever | | | | Your garden Koi pond should be at least 1000 gallons |
| being exactly alike. Each has all of their own unique | | | | big with a minimum water depth of 4 foot. As |
| colors and markings. Did you know however that the | | | | excited as you are to go out and purchase your new |
| young Koi will change as they grow more mature? | | | | Koi it is very important to make sure your pond has |
| As they mature and grow their colors will usually | | | | been built and has an excellent filtration system |
| darken so remember this when shopping for your | | | | already working. After these things have been |
| new fish. | | | | accomplished then your pond is ready for all of your |
| They are generally very social creatures and will | | | | new Koi fish. |