Koi, sometimes called Japanese carp, are essentially, ornamental fish. They look much like large goldfish although they have different ancestry. Goldfish were developed from Prussian carp in China and Koi were developed from the common carp in Japan; they are, in fact, domesticated common carp (Cyprinus carpio). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi

Koi have a fairly uniform body shape, but will vary greatly in coloration and pattern. Look for the barbels on the lip. The most common colors found are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream.

Since koi can grow and live long (some may live to be more than 20 years old and grow to three feet or more in lengthhttp://hubpages.com/hub/raisingkoipondtips), the decision to raise Koi should not be taken lightly. This is a commitment to a living creature, lowly as it may seem. The rewards of raising Koi, though, more than balance out the time spent caring for these beautiful creatures.

On this page, we will be covering a few basics on how to raise koi fish. It is very important to learn about raising koi before getting started. Some of the things covered will be:

1. Getting started
2. Feeding Your koi
3. Caring for your koi pond

These beautiful fish need a beautiful place to live, one that shows off their beauty to the highest degree. Choose your location carefully. Think about where you will want to be while you are enjoying them. That out of the way, you will need to set up your koi pond. It will need to be a minimum of at least 18 inches deep; no shallower, deeper is better. Try to provide overhanging edges when setting up the pond. This will provide hiding spots so birds or raccoons will not be able to get to your koihttp://hubpages.com/hub/raisingkoipondtips. Once your pond is in place, you will need to stock it. For that you will want to put in pond plants. These give the koi some natural food to nibble on and a place to hide, should they choose to do so. They add beauty to the pond as well. When the time comes to put your Koi in the pond, you can acclimate the fish to the temperature of the new pond by floating them for about a half hour in an unopened plastic bag filled with water from their current environment. Some other things you will need to prepare for your koi are koi food, a net, pond vacuum, pond hose and extra pump filters. You will also want to have a pond pH test kit.

Feeding your fish regularly is a must. Koi will forage for food by bottom sifting.http://www.feedingkoi.com/ They may be getting plenty of natural food in the form of the pond plants and mosquitoes that inevitably come around water, but it would be a good idea to feed them once a week with some koi food sprinkled on top of the water. While Koi will eat nearly anything you offer them (they especially enjoy earthworms), you will want to be careful to offer them food items that are nutritious and that won't harm them. If you are in doubt, use the koi food in pellet form. This will supply them with most of the vitamins, minerals and protein they need to be healthy and beautiful.

Your Koi are dependent on you for giving them the balanced diet that will keep them healthy and beautiful. When they get the proper balance of protein, fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals, they will reward you with a display of the vivid oranges, reds and whites they are known for. Their diet also determines how healthy your fish are, as well as how large they will grow. Commercially sold food is a sure thing when it comes to complete diet, though it is important to stay with a brand name with strict quality standards. Also, just as we enjoy a treat once in a while, Koi enjoy a variety in their diet. Coat any morsel of food with garlic and even the fussiest fish will be coming back for more. They will also love a bit of bay shrimp or some small prawns.http://www.pondbiz.com/home/pb1/smartlist_3/koi__fish_food.html

Keep the pond well aerated; this ensures good oxygenation which is essential for the well-being of the fish. Keep the water clean by running the filter and keeping the filter clean. Replace 10-15% of the pond water once a week. Since sudden changes in water temperature can kill your koi, make the changes to the water gradually. This will give the fish time to get used to the difference. Keep in mind that, since koi are large fish, they need plenty of space. Plan on "1/2 inch of fish per ten gallons of water, as a MAXIMUM stocking density"http://www.pondcrisis.com/step_nine.html.

Koi need cared for in different ways depending on the season. During the spring season, the temperature of the water in the pond can fluctuate quite rapidly. This is not good for the fish, so care is needed to keep the temperature steady during that season.http://ezinearticles.com/?Essential-Elements-for-Proper-Koi-Fish-Care&id=570673