Choosing A Koi To Grow Large
Most Koi keepers like to try and get their koi as large as possible creating a jumbo koi of around 80 cm. The reality is that most koi do not end up growing to this size and people often wonder why.
People have more luck growing Chagoi koi to larger sizes than Go Sanke and the main reason behind this is genetics. The most common reason why Koi do not grow to these large sizes is that people are not picking the right koi. A good example is the Chagoi which is a close relative to the carp. This type of fish has the potential to grow to a similar size to its relative unlike other types of Koi.
In Japan Go-Sanke breeders are producing koi in excess of 90cm and this is simple because these koi have the genetics to grow this large plus they have bred large Koi with large Koi to create these jumbo Koi
So If you have been waiting for your Koi to get bigger year upon year, you may be dissapointed. Talk to your local fish dealers who should be able to help with sourcing Koi that have the potential to grow large. The Koi will typically be priced at a premium.
In Japan Go-Sanke breeders are producing koi in excess of 90cm and this is simple because these koi have the genetics to grow this large plus they have bred large Koi with large Koi to create these jumbo Koi
So If you have been waiting for your Koi to get bigger year upon year, you may be dissapointed. Talk to your local fish dealers who should be able to help with sourcing Koi that have the potential to grow large. The Koi will typically be priced at a premium.
Koi will adapt happily to warmer and cooler waters, but if your goal is to get optimal growth then keep your Koi in warm water. A temperature of 77 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. When Koi live in cooler waters their metabolic rate will slow down, the Koi will eat less food and growth will be a lot slower.
Koi will grow the older they get, but it is really in the first 4-5 years that you will see the fastest growth, and it is these years that you really want to focus on getting your koi as large as possible. If your Koi is fed a variety of foods, and kept in a well filtered tank or pond, then it will grow whilst remaining healthy. There is no point growing an unhealthy large Koi because it will have health problems in later life and possibly die. Large swimming areas with good depth will allow the koi to grow big and powerful. Koi are described as indeterminate growers, and this simply mean that unlike humans, they will continue to grow throughout their lives.
Koi have been reported to live between 100 - 200 years. A very famous Scarlet Koi called 'Hanako' is reported to have lived for 225 years and had multiple owners.
Jumbo Koi can grow to a length of around 36 inches long which is an impressive sized fish.
Koi will grow the older they get, but it is really in the first 4-5 years that you will see the fastest growth, and it is these years that you really want to focus on getting your koi as large as possible. If your Koi is fed a variety of foods, and kept in a well filtered tank or pond, then it will grow whilst remaining healthy. There is no point growing an unhealthy large Koi because it will have health problems in later life and possibly die. Large swimming areas with good depth will allow the koi to grow big and powerful. Koi are described as indeterminate growers, and this simply mean that unlike humans, they will continue to grow throughout their lives.
Koi have been reported to live between 100 - 200 years. A very famous Scarlet Koi called 'Hanako' is reported to have lived for 225 years and had multiple owners.
Jumbo Koi can grow to a length of around 36 inches long which is an impressive sized fish.
