Water gardens, also known as aquatic gardens, backyard ponds and garden ponds, have become popular in recent years.
Koi Fish or carp as we called as .......
the common carp is widely believed to have originated from the Caspian Sea with natural habitat surrounding the North, Baltic, Mediterranian, Black, Azov, Caspian and Aral Sea basins. The common carp, as a food fish with the ability to survive and adapt to many different climates and waterways, was bartered and spread to many different areas, including North America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Wild populations of the common carp now exist in those four continents and South America.
Natural color mutations of these carp would have occurred across all populations. Historical records indicate that carp with color mutations were found in China. However, the earliest records of carp with distinct colors kept for selective breeding, true Nishikigoi, have been found in Japan. Depictions of carp or 'koi' with different color variations have been found on 18th century Japanese drawings and paintings. The ornamental cultivation of carp originated in the Niigata region of Japan during the Japanese Edo Periode.
The word "koi" comes from Japanese, simply meaning "carp." It includes both the dull grey fish and the brightly colored varieties. A homophone of koi means "love, affection" and koi are therefore symbols of love and friendship in Japan: a good example is the short story Koi-san by Mukoda Kuniko.
Koi have many different colors. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream.
While possible variations are limitless, breeders have identified and named a number of specific categories. The most popular category is Gosanke. The Gosanke category is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties. The Japanese breeders have many generations of knowledge and experience when it comes to breeding and raising Nishikigoi. They know which ones will be worth hundreds of dollars and which ones will be worth thousands of dollars.
The major named varieties include:
Kohaku - a white-skinned Koi, with a red pattern
Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) - a white-skinned Koi with a red and black pattern
Showa Sanshoku (Showa) - a black-skinned Koi with a red and white pattern
Tancho - Any koi with the only red being in a circle on its forehead. The fish can be a Tancho Showa, Tancho Sanke, or even Tancho Goshiki
Asagi - a Koi with light blue scales on its top and red scales on its bottom
Shusui - the partially scaled version of an Asagi
Bekko - a white, red, or yellow-skinned Koi with a black pattern
Utsurimono - a black Koi with a red, white, or yellow pattern
Goshiki - a mostly black Koi with red, white, brown, and blue accents
Ogon - a Koi that is one solid color, can be regular or metallic; known colors - red, orange, platinum, yellow and cream
Kin Gin Rin - a Koi with shiny scales. The name translates into English as "Gold Silver Scales" There are also Gin Rin versions of almost any other type of koi.
Kawarimono (kawarigoi) - Miscellaneous types of Koi
Doitsu-goi - German Carp
Koromo - Koi with areas of blue-edged scales aligned neatly
Hikari-Moyomono - Koi with coloured patterns over a metallic base, and koi in two metallic colours
Ghost koi - "Hybrid" of Ogon and wild carp. Not Nishikigoi.
Butterfly koi - Long-finned version of all others. Not Nishikigoi.
The common carp is a hardy fish, and koi retain that durability. Koi are cold-water fish, but benefit from being kept in the 15-25 degrees C (59-77 degrees F) range and do not react well to long cold winter temperatures, their immune system 'turning off' below 10 degrees C. Koi ponds have a meter or more of depth in areas of the world that become warm during the summer. In areas that have harsh winters, ponds that are a minimum of 1.5 meters (4 1/2 feet) are most common.
Koi's bright colors put them at a severe disadvantage against predators; a white-skinned Kohaku is a visual dinner bell against the dark green of a pond. Herons, kingfishers, raccoon, cats, foxes and badgers are all capable of emptying a pond of its fish. A well-designed outdoor pond will have areas too deep for herons to stand in, overhangs high enough above the water that mammals can't reach in, and shade trees overhead to block the view of aerial passers-by. It may prove necessary to string nets or wires above the surface. A pond usually includes a pump and filtration system to keep the water clear.
Koi are an omnivorous fish and will often eat a wide variety of foods, including peas, lettuce, and watermelons. Koi food is designed not only to be nutritionally balanced, but also to float so as to encourage them to come to the surface. When they are eating, it is possible to check koi for parasites and ulcers. Koi will recognize the person feeding them and gather around him or her at feeding times. They can be trained to take food from one's hand. In the winter, their digestive system slows nearly to a halt, and they eat very little, perhaps no more than nibbles of algae from the bottom. Their appetite will not come back until the water becomes warm in the spring. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 °C), feeding, particularly with protein, is halted or the food can go rancid in their stomach, causing sickness.
Koi can live for decades. One famous scarlet koi, named "Hanako" (c. 1751 – July 7, 1977) was owned by several individuals, the last of which was Dr. Komei Koshihara. Hanako was reportedly 226 years old upon her death.Her age was determined by removing one of her scales and examining it extensively in 1966. She is (to date) the longest-lived koi fish ever recorded
Like most fish, koi reproduce through spawning in which a female lays a vast number of eggs and one or more males fertilize them. Nurturing the resulting offspring (referred to as "fry") is a tricky and tedious job, usually done only by professionals. Although a koi breeder may carefully select the parents they wish based on their desired characteristics, the resulting fry will nonetheless exhibit a wide range of color and quality.
Unlike a purebred dog or cat, even the finest champion-grade koi will produce literally thousands of unacceptable, unrecognizable, or even genetically defective offspring in a single spawning. These (and hundreds of marginal offspring) are culled at various stages based on the breeder's expert eye and closely guarded techniques.
Culled fry are usually destroyed (perhaps fed to other fish) and older culls are often sold as lower-grade "pond-quality" koi within their first year (also called "Tosai") at 3"–6" long. The semi-randomized result of the koi's reproductive process is both a blessing and a curse. While it requires diligent oversight to narrow down the favorable result that the breeder wanted all along, it also made possible the gradual transformation of wild river carp into the exquisite art form seen in modern nishikigoi.
Ponds and Water Garden
Usually referring to a man-made feature, these gardens typically combine a pool with aquatic plants and often ornamental fish. Fixed items such as rocks, fountains, statuary, waterfalls and watercourses can be combined with the pool to add visual interest and integration with the local landscape and environment.
Types of water gardens:
One choses a spot on the banks of a fast moving river, and proceeds to place rocks in the path of the water to make a small waterfall. The rocks interfere with the flow path of the water and causes spashing and bubbles to form. The water splashing makes a pleasant sound and new habitat for fish, crustaceans and wildlife that feed on the fish and the crusaceans.
Depending on the river bank place you pick, the water level can fluctuates on a daily basis. This means it can need work every day to adjust the rock level heights for maximum spash aeration. When working to find a good placement of rocks , it is similar to making a sand garden, a.k.a. Zen garden or Japanese rock garden. If your intuitive placement of rocks is well done you can have a feeling of peace or Zen, the water splashing adds valuable oxygen to the river and might stop hypoxia from occurring. The more the bubbles you see formed, the more dissolved oxygen is being placed in the river.
Typical water garden plants are divided into 3 main categories: submerged, marginal, and floating.
1. Submerged plants are those that live almost completely under the water, sometimes with leaves or flowers that grow to the surface such as with the water lily. These plants are placed in a pond or container usually 1-2 ft. below the water surface. Some of these plants are called oxygenators because they create oxygen for the fish that live in a pond. Examples of submerged plants are:
Water lily (Hardy and Tropical)
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
2. Marginal plants are those that live with their roots under the water but the rest of the plant above the surface. These are usually placed so that the top of the pot is at or barely below the water level. Examples of these are:
Flag (Iris)
Bulrush (Scirpus lacustris)
Cattail (Typha latifolia)
Taro or Elephant Ear
Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
Nelumbo (lotus)
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
3. Floating plants are those that are not anchored to the soil at all, but are free-floating on the surface. In water gardening, these are often used as a provider of shade to keep down the growth of algae in a pond. These are often extremely fast growing/multiplying. Examples of these are:
Mosquito ferns (Azolla)
Water-spangle (Salvinia)
Water-clover (Marsilea vestita)
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes Rosette)
Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Some areas of the United States do not allow certain of these plants to be sold or kept as they have become invasive species in warmer areas of the country, such as Florida.
Algae are another plant type that is found in most ponds. There are hundreds of species of algae that can grow in garden ponds. Generally algae attaches itself to the sides of the pond and remains innocuous. Some species of algae, namely the dreaded 'blanket weed' can grow up to a foot a day under ideal conditions and can rapidly clog a garden pond. On the other hand free floating algae is microcopic and is what causes pond water to appear green.
Fish:
Often the reason for having a pond in your garden is to keep fish, often koi, though many people keep goldfish. Both are hardy, colorful fish which require no special heating, provided you live in an area which does not have extremes of temperature that would affect the fish. If fish are kept, pumps and filtration devices usually need to be added in order to keep enough oxygen in the water to support them. In winter, a small heater may need to be used in cold climates to keep the water from freezing solid. Examples of common pond fish include:
Goldfish (Common, Comet, Shubunkin varieties, Wakin and the Fantail varieties. With the possible exception of some of the fantail varieties, the fancy goldfish are not suited to pond life.)
Koi (Nishikigoi, Butterfly Koi and Ghost Koi)
Golden Orfe
Golden Tench
Rosy Red Minnows
Mosquitofish
Snails:
Small aquatic snails are usually in ponds which have plants. Some people purchase Apple snails to keep in their water garden. Another common variety is the Melantho snail.
Frogs:
Ponds located in suburban and rural areas often attract frogs and turtles, and the occasional snake.
Predators:
Garden ponds can attract attention from predators such as (in North America) raccoons, heron/birds, snakes, and domestic cats. These predators can be a danger to fish. Owners of koi are often particularly upset by this as some varieties of koi can be very expensive.
Koi have been accidentally or deliberately released into the wild in every continent except Antarctica. They greatly increase the turbidity of the water because they are constantly stirring up the substrate. This makes waterways unattractive, reduces the abundance of aquatic plants, and can render the water unsuitable for swimming or drinking even by livestock. In some countries, koi have caused so much damage to waterways that vast amounts of money and effort have been spent trying to eradicate them, largely unsuccessfully.
According to history koi breeding originated in the 18th century in the Niigata prefecture of Japan.
Farmers working the rice fields would notice that some carp were more brightly colored than others, capture them, and raise them. By the 20th century, a number of color patterns had been established, most notably the red-and-white Kohaku. The outside world did not become aware of the degree of development until 1914, when the Niigata koi were exhibited in the annual exposition in Tokyo. At that point, interest in koi exploded throughout Japan. The hobby of keeping koi spread worldwide after plastic bags and shipping of koi became both fast and safe for the fish. These factors enabled koi to be shipped worldwide with low mortality rates. Koi are now commonly sold in most pet stores, with higher-quality fish available from specialist dealers.
Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Ghost koi, developed in the 1980s are metallic hybrids of wild carp and Ogon koi and are not considered true Nishikigoi. Butterfly koi, Longfin koi, or Dragon Carp were also developed in the 1980s and are notable for their long and flowing fins. They are actually hybrids with Asian carp and, like Ghost koi, are not considered true Nishikigoi. Koi fish are very shy, and will dart away with ease.
Label: Koi Carps
Apakah Anda ingin memiliki kolam koi di taman Anda? Kolam ikan hias yang berada di belakang rumah sangat menguntungkan dan tidak sulit seperti yang kebanyakan orang bayangkan. Jika Anda melakukan perawatan layak untuk mereka, ikan koi dapat hidup lama dengan ukuran panjang yang lebih dari satu meter.
Ikuti tips sederhana untuk membuat kolam ikan koi dengan benar sehingga dapat memberikan kesenangan dan kedamaian hati Anda dikala melihatnya.
Kedalaman kolam ikan koi Anda adalah penting.
Kedalaman kolam sangat penting bagi ikan koi. Kedalaman kolam hendaknya lebih dari 80 cm (bagian yang terisi air) agar kolam ikan Anda akan terlindung dari binatang pemangsa ikan, peliharaan seperti kucing dan hewan lain yang mungkin akan memusnahkan ikan Anda. Kolam ikan yang lebih dalam juga membantu menstabilkan temperatur air yang disebabkan oleh terik panas matahari atau cuaca dingin diwaktu malam dan kondisi hujan.
Koi menyukai banyak ruang untuk berenang.
Kolam kecil yang tidak baik untuk koi. Ingat, sejalan dengan waktu ikan Anda akan tumbuh dan berkembang atau bisa saja bertambah banyak dan mereka akan memerlukan ruang gerak. Banyaknya variasi warna koi, mungkin akan memacu Anda ingin membeli ikan dari berbagai warna. Jadi lebih baik untuk membuat sebuah kolam besar dari perencanaan awal daripada merenovasi kolam dikemudian hari. Membangun kolam yang lebih besar dan lebih dalam akan lebih baik.
Jaga temperatur air kolam Anda dimusim penghujan
Tidak seperti ikan tropis, koi tidak takut cuaca dingin namun jangan biarkan temperatur air kolam Anda berada disuhu yang tidak disenangi oleh ikan koi. Air kolam yang terlalu dingin akan menghambat pertumbuhan ikan koi, disamping itu beberapa penyakit yang mengancam ikan koi juga dapat berkembang pada waktu seperti ini. Air hujan yang langsung jatuh ke dalam kolam dalam jumlah yang banyak juga tidak baik bagi kesehatan koi anda karena air hujan mengandung kadar asam yang kadang-kadang sangat tinggi. Sebagai langkah pencegahan, anda dapat menggunakan garam khusus untuk ikan yang ditaburkan pada air kolam sesuai dosis.
Membuat pelindung bagi koi Anda
Bila lokasi kolam koi yang anda pilih berada pada lokasi terbuka, pastikan tidak sepenuhnya terkena sinar matahari karena disamping akan meningkatkan dengan cepat temperatur air kolam, dapat pula mempercepat pertumbuhan lumut yang dapat mempengaruhi kejernihan air kolam. Alternatif menempatkan tanaman pelindung dipinggir kolam adalah sangat dianjurkan. Selain itu Anda dapat juga menggunakan tanaman air seperti teratai, lili air dalam kolam - disamping sebagai penambah keindahan kolam, tanaman air juga menjadi tempat perlindungan yang menaungi ikan. Namun, Anda harus menghindari menanam pohon yang besar karena dapat berpotensi akarnya akan merusak kolam koi Anda. Satu hal penting yang harus diperhatikan adalah pastikan dedaunan dari tanaman pelindung tidak jatuh ke dalam kolam, dan segera bersihkan bila memang tidak terhindarkan.
Jauhkan dari burung-burung pemangsa
Bila lokasi kolam koi Anda di ruang terbuka, hendaknya pastikan ikan-ikan koi Anda tidak menjadi incaran burung-burung pemangsa. Gunakan pelindung seperti jejaring nilon agar burung-burung tersebut tidak dapat mencapai kolam Anda.
Hindari menggunakan zat beracun dekat dengan kolam Anda
Insektisida dan herbisida yang biasa digunakan untuk taman Anda pada saat perawatan taman agar tidak mengenai air di kolam ikan koi Anda. Menempatkan wadah/ tempat zat-zat beracun dipinggir kolam sangat beresiko akan jatuh ke dalam kolam dan mencemari air dan ikan yang hidup di kolam. Bahkan sejumlah kecil insektisida umum dapat membunuh koi indah Anda.
Aksesoris Kolam Koi Anda
Agar ikan koi yang anda cintai dapat tumbuh dengan baik dan sehat, beberapa aksesoris diperlukan dalam rangka menjaga kondisi air kolam yang menjadi habitatnya. Idealnya Anda akan memerlukan sebuah pompa air, sistem filtrasi, aerator kolam air, pemanas air dan alat sterilisasi ultraviolet.
Ikan koi menyenangi air kolam bersih dan bergerak. Bila berada dalam air kolam yang tidak bergerak, bisa saja ikan anda menjadi kurang sehat atau stress. Ikan koi yang stress menampakkan gejala-gejala redupnya warna ikan, tidak bernafsu untuk makan, menyendiri dari gerombolan ikan-ikan yang lain, bahkan yang paling disayangkan akan menyebabkan kematian ikan.
Label: Tips
Agar ikan koi yang baru dibeli dapat beradaptasi baik dengan air kolam/ aquarium ada baiknya melakukan tips berikut :
Pastikan temperatur air dalam kantung plastik yang berisi ikan koi yang baru dibeli tidak terlalu jauh berbeda dengan temperatur air kolam/ aquarium. Caranya adalah dengan sedikit demi sedikit mencampurkan air yang ada dalam kantung plastik dengan air kolam. Air kolam/ aquarium dimasukkan sedikit demi sedikit beberapa kali selama lebih kurang 30 menit. Setelah dirasakan temperatur air dalam kantung plastik yang berisi ikan koi baru tersebut sama dengan temperatur air kolam, ikan koi siap dilepaskan ke dalam kolam.
Semoga Bermanfaat!
Label: Tips
Mendengar nama KOI sekilas kita langsung teringat akan suasana kolam ikan yang didalamnya terdapat ikan berwarna warni hilir mudik berenang. Atau yang ada dalam fikiran kita mungkin saja sosok seorang perempuan Jepang berkimono yang sedang duduk dipinggir kolam yang ada didepan istana.
Memang benar bahwa ikan koi berasal dari negeri matahari terbit tersebut, akan tetapi taukah anda dinegeri kita pun hidup ikan-ikan indah dan cantik yang mirip dengan KOI dari Jepang? Dan namanya pun kita sebut ikan KOI.
Sebutan lebih spesifiknya mengambil dari asal ikan tersebut seperti Koi Blitar, Koi Sukabumi atau Koi Cianjur?
Bagi penggemar ikan ini, Koi dari negeri matahari terbit lebih menarik. Harga yang lebih mahal daripada Koi lokal bukanlah masalah, yang penting penampilan ikan terlihat indah dan cantik. Begitulah, memuaskan hobby itu kadang memang harus keluar uang lebih.
Bagi penggemar sekaligus sebagai pebisnis dibidang ini, hal ini menjadi daya tarik tersendiri. Berburu ikan, merawat dan membesarkan, mgnikuti pameran-pameran dan audisi (mengambil istilah dunia selebriti) menjadi rutinitas yang menyenangkan. Tapi bagaimana dengan para penggemar yang hanya sekedar memelihara ikan ini?
Harga sangatlah sensitif bagi "penggemar ringan" ini. Pilihan ikan koi lokal (Blitar, Sukabumi dll) akan lebih baik dibandingkan dengan membeli ikan Koi impor. Pertanyaannya : Sejauh apa perbedaan kecantikan dan keindahan ikan Koi impor dan Ikan Koi Lokal? Sharing yuuukkk
Label: Koi Carps
