The Best Butterfly Koi Foods
- Blue Ridge Fish Food Pellets. Any list about butterfly koi would be incomplete without listings from the brand that...
- TetraPond Variety Blend Fish Food to Enhance Color and Vitality. If you are looking for a product that is affordable...
- Laguna All Season Goldfish & Koi Floating Food. Another multi-species food, Laguna’s All Season...
What do Koi butterflies eat?
However, it is ideal that you feed your butterfly Koi high-quality pellet feed with protein contents of no more than 30%. Pellet Koi Food for butterfly Koi ensures maximum nutrients and a balanced diet keeping them healthy and growing. What About Live Foods? Koi butterfly loves live treats.
How much to feed koi fish?
Ten Koi Fish Feeding Tips: Feed your fish up to four times per day. Only feed them as much as they can eat in about a five minute period. Koi fish eat just about anything, from small bugs and insects, to plants and algae at the bottom of the fish pond, to store-bought koi fish food. Koi will even eat people food.
What is the best Koi food for summer?
Tetra’s blend of jumbo krill packs a protein, fat, roughage, and vitamin E-rich punch that your koi fish will love. Plus, shrimp are high in carotenoids, which promote the natural pink and orange colors in your koi fish. Eco Labs makes a blend of koi fish food that is perfect for summer months.
Where to buy Butterfly koi fish?
Butterfly Koi are a popular species of fish and are therefore readily available from most online stores, and Koi breeders. Because many stores sell low-quality Butterfly Koi, it is important to conduct thorough research and only buy from a reputable retailer.
What is the best food to feed koi?
You can feed koi almost anything people can eat. This includes shrimp, fruit, vegetables, and anything that isn't high in carbohydrates. Bread and foods like that are hard on your fish's stomachs....There are 4 main foods people feed koi fish:Spirulina Algae. ... Wheat Germ. ... Brine Shrimp. ... Fish Food.
How often do you feed butterfly koi?
once a dayHow Often to Feed your Koi Fish. We recommend that you feed your fish once a day. This will provide enough nutrients for healthy fish and a healthy pond. Feeding them too often can put an excess amount of nutrients into your pond which can cause algae issues.
Can butterfly koi eat goldfish food?
Yes, it is possible to feed koi and goldfish the same food. However, it is important to keep in mind that koi and goldfish are different species with different nutritional requirements. Even though they can eat the same food, they need to be fed differently depending on their size and activity levels.
How much water does a butterfly koi fish need?
One Butterfly Koi needs at least 250 gallons of water in their tank, because they are large and energetic fish. If more than one Butterfly Koi is going to be kept in the same tank, at least 1000 gallons is more suitable for the tank size.
How do you take care of a butterfly koi?
Keeping Butterfly Koi Feed your butterfly koi just as you would a regular koi, keep your water aerated and make sure they have plenty of shelter from the sun and predators. Butterfly koi are just as docile as other varieties, so feel free to place them in ponds with goldfish, catfish, orfes or other koi.
How fast do butterfly koi grow?
Aside from this, butterfly koi can grow just as long as a regular koi. This means that they can easily reach lengths of 2 feet and even into the 3 plus foot range! As with traditional koi, this can take anywhere from 2-4 years to reach these sizes under ideal conditions.
Can butterfly koi survive winter?
Koi fish can survive winter in an outdoor pond as long as it's at least 2 feet deep, clean, an aerator is put in the shallow end, a de-icer keeps a hole in the ice, and you don't feed them. All of the water in a pond doesn't freeze which is why at 2 feet deep your koi fish will be fine.
Will koi eat lettuce?
Koi will even eat people food. They love cereal, lettuce, shrimp, rice, peas, watermelon... pretty much anything we like, koi fish consider food. Avoid feeding your koi fish before storms.
Do koi eat bananas?
Can Koi Eat Banana, Oranges & Apples? Yes, absolutely!
Do butterfly koi stay small?
The Relation of Size and Value Their barbels (whiskers) even grow long and can fork into elaborate designs. Butterfly koi seem to lack some of the body size of regular koi, but the overall fish can run as long as 36 to 40 inches in the right pond with plenty of food.
Can you keep butterfly koi in a tank?
Koi fish can live in your aquarium and like all other types of fish, you need to take care of them or they might not survive for long. Koi fishes are big, so you need a large aquarium so that they can swim freely. If they do not have enough space, they might not be able to live well.
Is my butterfly koi male or female?
The female pectoral fins will look more rounded in shape. This is a little different with butterfly koi fish, however. In these koi, size is the defining factor, not the shape. A male butterfly koi will have longer and thicker pectoral fins while the female's fins are shorter and thinner.
How much should I feed my koi a day?
Feed your fish up to four times per day. Only feed them as much as they can eat in about a five minute period. Koi fish eat just about anything, from small bugs and insects, to plants and algae at the bottom of the fish pond, to store-bought koi fish food. Koi will even eat people food.
How long can koi fish go without food?
two weeksThe short answer is that koi fish can survive for up to two weeks without food. However, various factors contribute to the koi's ability to survive without food. With that in mind, the two-week estimate is based on the koi fish's metabolism at the height of summer when it feeds regularly.
When should I feed my koi?
From 59 to 68 degrees F, you'll feed your koi one to two times a day. Between 50 and 59 degrees F, you'll start really watching your koi closely – it's possible they may not eat very much at all, so you'll feed them no more than twice a day, preferably once.
Can you keep butterfly koi in a tank?
Koi fish can live in your aquarium and like all other types of fish, you need to take care of them or they might not survive for long. Koi fishes are big, so you need a large aquarium so that they can swim freely. If they do not have enough space, they might not be able to live well.
What is a koi butterfly?
Koi butterfly is a beautiful result of breeding wild carps and traditional Koi. Since they are hybrids, they inherit incredible qualities from both parents — the carp’s long fins and Koi’s vibrant color. Furthermore, their bodies are slimmer with long barbels on their face than Japanese Koi.
How much water do butterfly koi need?
However, you should have plently of space for your butterfly Koi as they need at least 1000 gallons of water to thrive and survive healthily.
What fish can you keep in a butterfly tank?
Also, if you’re keeping Butterfly Koi in the tank, you can choose tropical fish as the temperature can be controlled and maintained in tanks. Here’s a list of fish you can keep as good tank mates with Koi. Pond Goldfish. Barbels. Barbs.
How big do butterfly koi get?
The bodies of Butterfly Koi fish are slender and skinnier than Japanese Koi. Nevertheless, they usually grow to the same length as their short-finned cousins, i.e., about 12 to 15 inches. However, some dragon Koi might become as big as 3 feet, provided optimum favorable conditions.
What do butterfly koi fish need?
Butterfly Koi Fish are notably amiable, docile, and hardy. The only thing they need is c lean water and a balanced diet high in nutrients. However, if you’re new to Koi keeping, chances are you’re in the dark about this hybrid yet graceful breed of long fin Koi that’s taking the koi hobby by storm.
How big can a koi pond hold?
Since Koi butterfly grows out to become large fish, even up to 40 inches. It’s advisable to have a pond size that can hold at least 1000 gallons or more. Also, butterfly Koi are graceful swimmers and need more room to swim around freely to reach their full potential.
Why shouldn't you feed a koi butterfly?
Pro Tip: It’s advisable not feeding Koi butterfly before and after rains or storms because fish needs Oxygen to digest their food, and in extreme weather conditions, oxygen levels drop down.
How deep should I put a butterfly koi?
Put your Butterfly Koi in a pond that holds at least 1,000 gallons of water and is more than a meter in depth. Small Butterfly Koi can be kept in large aquariums, though it is not their preferred environment. All types of koi prefer to have ample space in which to swim.
Do koi overstock?
Do not overstock your pond. Koi tend to panic and fight over food and oxygen if they feel overcrowded. They prefer to swim around without having to compete for space.
Who breeds butterfly koi?
And it has been that way with the butterfly koi. At first, Mr. Suda was the only breeder in Japan producing butterfly koi. His fish have been gorgeous, and he even bred them for prodigious size. But the rest of the Japanese breeders declined.
Why are butterfly koi so impressive?
As Butterfly koi grow, they become more and more impressive because the fins keep growing until the blood vessels can’t sustain the fins to be any longer. The older the fish, the longer and more impressive the finnage.
Why are butterfly koi fins so long?
The butterfly koi fins are long because of a genetic aberration resulting in the length growth gene failing to turn off. In fish, the fins are supposed to grow to a genetically specified length, and then stop growing. But in the high fin mutation the fins don’t get the “stop growth” message and they keep growing. This happens in individual fish of many species from time to time. Some notable examples are Siamese fighting fish, Simpson’s hi fin swordtails, long fin oscars, and long fin black tetras. Any time the mutation is encountered and identified, it is bred into a species to see if it would make that species more economically important commercially.
How long can a butterfly koi run?
Butterfly koi seem to lack some of the body size of regular koi, but the overall fish can run as long as 36 to 40 inches in the right pond with plenty of food. They are graceful and pleasant to watch swim.
Why didn't the Blue Ridge fish sell well?
A company in New York took an interest and brought the fish into the U.S. and sold some. They did not sell well because they were ugly. However, an enterprising and curious group of breeders at Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery placed an order for a dozen of these fish to see what the heck they were.
Do butterfly koi have bright colors?
Since pattern seems to mean a great deal to the value of a regular koi, it makes logical sense that a good, standard pattern with bright colors would increase the value of a butterfly koi too, but there are a few notable additions.
Is a butterfly koi a koi?
Quite a few koi connoisseurs think of butterfly koi as “mutts,” and some say that butterfly koi aren’t even koi. Others, however, happen to think butterfly koi can be the finest koi in any collection, depending on several factors – size, pattern, and finnage. First, let’s consider where butterfly koi originated.
What are butterfly koi?
In the simplest terms, butterfly koi is a long-finned variety of the ever-popular koi fish. Butterfly koi is the popular name for what is also known as the long-fin koi or dragon carp.
Butterfly Koi Vs Regular Koi
There are a few key differences between butterfly koi and regular koi. The most apparent of these, is, of course, the long fins. These long fins will continue to grow throughout their lifetime, unlike traditional koi. With traditional koi, the fins will grow to a natural length relative to the proportion of their body size.
History & Origin
There is some debate as to who or where butterfly koi were originally bred and developed. While they were likely first being developed in Japan by Suda Fish Farms, they were also being developed in the U.S. by Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery close to the same time.
Those Long Fins
Most fish species have fins that grow to a specific length. This growth is controlled by a fish’s genes. Some fish however have a genetic mutation that signals the fins to simply keep growing. This is the case with our lovely butterfly koi.
Types of Butterfly Koi
You will find many of the same color varieties in butterfly koi as you do with traditional koi. Some of the most sought after varieties of long-finned koi include:
How Long Does a Butterfly Koi Live?
Butterfly koi will live as long as traditional koi. Under ideal conditions, this can be up to 30 years on average. It is reported that the oldest living traditional koi was 226 years old. While this may or may not be true the same cannot yet be said about butterfly koi.
How Big Do Butterfly Koi Get?
Butterfly koi have thinner bodies than regular koi which gain more girth. Aside from this, butterfly koi can grow just as long as a regular koi. This means that they can easily reach lengths of 2 feet and even into the 3 plus foot range!
What is the best food for koi?
As recommended by many professional koi breeders, the best koi food for color is Saki-Hikari Color . This feed is formulated to bring out the natural color and beauty of koi fish. It is designed to help the koi develop more rapid and deep coloration.
What is the importance of koi food?
It has a significance on the performance and overall health of your koi fish. Feeding Koi Food to Nishikigoi.
What are scuds in koi fish?
They are rather small, so they are especially suitable for smaller koi. They are a great source roughage, which will aid in digestion. Gammarus shrimp are also known to be high in carotenoids, which will help bring out the colors in the koi fish. Gammarus is a type of amphipod, which is an organism that serves as a natural food source for the common carp ( FAO ).
What temperature should koi fish be fed?
The combination of easily digested wheat germ and probiotic makes this the best fish food when the temperature is cooler below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on the temperature, feeding levels should be adjusted. The colder it gets, the koi will become less active and require less food.
What is the purpose of probiotics in fish feed?
The feed is also enhanced with probiotics, which helps the fish digest and utilize the nutrients in the feed more efficiently. The probiotic ingredient in the feed becomes active in the intestinal tract during digestion. This creates beneficial digestive enzymes and results in a reduction of fish waste.
Can mealworms be fed to koi?
Mealworms are often fed to reptiles, but they can be fed to koi fish as well. They are often available in both dry and live form. The dry form can be stored easily and they are convenient. It is also possible to maintain a live culture of mealworms. The benefit of maintaining a live culture is that you can gut-load them before feeding them to the koi.
Can koi fish eat beef?
Meat such as beef, pork, and chicken can be difficult to digest for koi fish. These land based animals are not a part of their natural diet. For the same reasons, dairy products should be avoided.
What is Tetra's jumbo krill?
Tetra’s blend of jumbo krill packs a protein, fat, roughage, and vitamin E-rich punch that your koi fish will love . Plus, shrimp are high in carotenoids, which promote the natural pink and orange colors in your koi fish. Eco Labs makes a blend of koi fish food that is perfect for summer months.
What is the best food for koi fish?
Fluker’s Freeze-Dried Shrimp. Koi fish eat just about anything they can get into their mouths. That said, freeze-dried shrimp might just be one of their favorites. Fluker’s brand is high in protein and amino acids and make the perfect treat for your koi. Tetra Pond Jumbo Krill.
What is Blue Ridge fish pellet?
Blue Ridge fish food pellets feature a balanced diet and color-rich formula. Danichi All-Season Koi Food. Danichi’s all-season koi fish food is enhanced with a special coating of vitamins and minerals and an easily assimilated protein that keep your fish healthy and happy all year long, but especially in colder months.
How long do koi fish remember food?
It's said that koi have a memory of around three minutes, yet they can learn to recognize their feeders.
What do koi fish eat?
Koi fish eat just about anything, from small bugs and insects, to plants and algae at the bottom of the fish pond, to store-bought koi fish food. Koi will even eat people food. They love cereal, lettuce, shrimp, rice, peas, watermelon... pretty much anything we like, koi fish consider food. Avoid feeding your koi fish before storms.
Why is it bad for koi to feed?
Fish need more oxygen when digesting food. When it rains, oxygen levels in the air dip down, so you can see why it's a bad koi fish feeding time. Your growing koi will remember you as their feeder after only a short amount of time. Consistently feed them and they will begin to greet you as you approach the pond.
Can you feed koi goldfish?
Generally, you can feed koi anything you can feed goldfish. Both fish species are technically carp and will eat just about anything organic–koi food, vegetables, krill and plankton, breakfast cereal, dead leaves. You name it. They’ll eat it. If you’re buying koi food, things are always cheaper when you buy in bulk.
How long should I feed a koi?
As a rule of thumb, try to feed just enough for your koi to consume within 3 – 5 minutes at any given time.
How much food should koi eat a day?
At this time, they should be fed protein-rich food (growth diets) 2 – 4 times a day, depending on their activity level.
How to keep koi from losing appetite?
When temperatures are too high (i.e. above 30˚C/85˚F), koi can completely lose their appetite. If this occurs, reduce the feeding frequency and stick to easily digestible fish feeds. You may also try to lower water temperatures by providing shade or shelter in the form of aquatic plants.
Why do koi swim in ponds?
This occurs as digestive enzymes and bacteria become absent or grow dormant, preventing any available food from being properly digested. Although you may see your koi swimming along the pond bottom at this time, it would be best to withhold feeding completely.
What temperature do koi need to be?
The warmer the water, the more active koi become. Their metabolic functions are optimized at temperatures above 70˚F (21˚C). As they expend more energy, they will require more frequent feeding times and higher-quality protein-rich food.
How to increase koi feeding frequency?
You can gradually increase the feeding frequency to up to 2x a day while paying close attention to rising water temperatures. To boost your koi’s immune system, you can supplement their diets with vitamin-rich treats, such as orange halves, grapefruit slices, romaine lettuce, and squash.
How long should I wait to feed fish after a pond?
If a considerable amount of fish feed remains after the 5-minute mark, you will have to reduce how much food you provide in the next feeding session. Make sure to remove uneaten food after 20 minutes or before they sink to the bottom, as this can affect your pond’s water quality.
How often should I feed my koi fish?
How Often to Feed your Koi Fish. We recommend that you feed your fish once a day. This will provide enough nutrients for healthy fish and a healthy pond. Feeding them too often can put an excess amount of nutrients into your pond which can cause algae issues. With that being said, if you have clear water and would like to feed your fish twice ...
How do fish learn to eat?
By getting into a feeding pattern your fish will learn when it is time to eat, and they will begin to eat closer to the location where you feed them from. After some time they will get so familiar with the feeding time and place they will eat right out of your hands!
Why do fish feed on algae?
One reason is so that they do feed on the algae growing in your pond, because it will help keep the algae growth in check. Also, large amounts of food that don’t get eaten would then flow into your filtration system, break down and then can cause algae growth from the excess nutrients that are broken down.
The Relation of Size and Value
What About Pattern?
- Since pattern seems to mean a great deal to the value of a regular koi, it makes logical sense that a good, standard pattern with bright colors would increase the value of a butterfly koi too, but there are a few notable additions. While a butterfly koi is more valuable when it has a properly defined and positioned pattern in the color, beautiful fins can often make even a poorly patterne…
Notable Butterfly Koi Types
- Sorogoi are incredible as adults in the butterfly class, as well. A sorogoi is the overall grey fish with the “fukurin” or black fish net pattern over the body. So, taking that color and putting it on a large, impressive adult butterfly koi gives you what rather appears as a grey sea monster moving through the water. Its subdued colors don’t attract the eye at first, but then you see its graceful, l…
Black Beauties
- Black butterflies grow up and become very large because their genes are not as strained as some of the brighter colored fish. And if they have no scales, the body is a glistening jet-black. The fins keep growing until the entire fish is broad, and streams long black robes behind it. They look like a jet-black dragon. And when a visitor to your pond is feeding your fish at the side of the pond, sud…
OH Those Fins!
- In a discussion of butterfly koi, we should talk a tiny bit more about the fins. The butterfly koi fins are long because of a genetic aberration resulting in the length growth gene failing to turn off. In fish, the fins are supposed to grow to a genetically specified length, and then stop growing. But in the high fin mutation the fins don’t get the “stop growth” message and they keep growing. This h…
Are They The Real Mckoi?
- The butterfly koi is a true koi. Despite this fact, the Japanese have shared some American purist’s distaste for these long fin beauties. Truth be told, the Japanese have usually reacted to any new color, at first, as an abomination. Eventually, they get used to it and accept it, and eventually love the diversity. And it has been that way with the butterfly koi. At first, Mr. Suda was the only breed…