Articles

The word ‘quarantine’ (which, incidentally, comes from the Latin quarantine, meaning ‘forty days’), is a length of time in which a disease can be incubated, and therefore expressed in an organism. That way, it’s possible to see who does, and doesn’t, carr...

Wherever you source your Koi from always quarantine them before introducing them to your pond. It’s a question of “best practice” and however much you trust the honesty of your supplier, and however good they say their bio-security is, it is your personal responsibility to ens...

Quarantine is enforced isolation, usually to contain the spread of some kind of disease considered dangerous. The word, which comes from the Italian quaranta giorni meaning forty days, originates from the 40 day period of isol...

At some point in every koi’s life, it will need to be handled; whether it’s at the breeder’s facilities, at the dealer’s, at home, when undergoing treatment or when being shown. In fact, compared to many other ornamental fish, some koi might be handled very regularly, espec...

The subject of nitrite and its effects in Koi ponds can become very technical in explanation but it is very important that as a Koi keeper you understand the implications of its presence as if the nitrite level in your pond is too high it can be detrimental to the health of yo...

Raising koi fry can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but it also requires patience, knowledge, and dedication. From providing proper nutrition and water quality to managing growth and avoiding disease, there are many factors that contribute to the success of raising k...

Koi are cold blooded animals and their body temperature is approximately 1 degree C above the water temperature that they live in. They traditionally come from Japan which, because of its geographical location, suffers extremes of weather conditions – hot summers and very cold...

There is a school of thought that says that you can never have too much aeration in a Koi pond but it is not one that I adhere to as once the water is 100% saturated with oxygen there is no point adding more – any further addition of air is a waste of energy and money.

There are many good options available for filtration on the market to suit different kinds of ponds, but if you are good at making things, then you might consi...

One of the most controversial and hotly-debated topics in the koi hobby at the moment is that of ‘hard or soft water?’ – but what is water hardness, how does it affect fish, and crucially, what’s best for koi?