Answer: Until the fish are about 10 to 12" it is extremely difficult to sex them. Even then, mistakes are made. As a general rule, males are more streamlined and slender. Females on the other hand are more rounded in body. If you can observe them while spawning you will see the larger female being chased by the more slender male.

Answer: Fish can change color almost at any age. The colors can become deeper, lighter, or change altogether. It varies from fish to fish. Some will stay close to the original colors their whole life and others will completely change.

Answer: Little and often is the general rule. If you are interested in hand feeding your fish, they will become bolder and tamer when they have worked up an appetite. If, after ten minutes or so, there is uneaten food still floating on the pond, you should take it out. After a few times you will be able to judge about how much to feed at a time. Koi can go for 10 or more days without food without harm. They will eat almost anything but we feed them pellets that are specially made for Koi. These pellets come in different sizes and varieties. Koi can also be fed dried or fresh shrimp, lettuce cooked rice or cooked oats.

Answer: When the pond temperature gets down to 50 degrees you should stop feeding them. By this, I mean only feed them once or twice a week instead of two or three times a day. Also it is a good idea to feed them wheat germ or other low protein food. They will still come to the side and look at you with those hopeful eyes but it is dangerous to feed them the same when the temp is so low. The food just sits there inside them and rots as their metabolism cannot handle food at low temps.

Answer: The average Koi can grow to 24 - 36 inches! The size of the pond, the amount of aeration, and feeding methods will affect the growth of the fish. It is not uncommon for a small Koi to grow 2 - 4 inches a year in a backyard pond.

Answer: Maximum life span is over 200 years in exceptional cases; average life span is more like 25 to 35 years.

Answer: After transporting Koi, float the bag (unopened) in the water for about 30 to 45 minutes to allow the water temperature inside and outside the bag to equalize before releasing the Koi. Koi can withstand a wide range of temperatures, however sudden changes in temperatures are not good for them. When introducing new Koi to your pond, be careful that they don't jump out, especially near the waterfall. Remember that stress is a major cause of Koi deaths. Stress may result from changes in pond conditions, over handling, over medication, etc.

Answer: Koi are not live bearers but lay thousands of eggs in a single breeding. Koi must be at least 3 to 4 years old and of sufficient size before they breed. Koi require special water conditions and environment for breeding. The eggs and baby Koi must be separated from the adult Koi or they will more than likely be eaten. The baby Koi hatch in about 3 to 7 days depending on the weather. The survival rate for baby Koi is less than 50%.

Answer: Selling price of Koi is determined by size, body shape, color, pattern, and availability.

Answer: Koi get along well with goldfish or other tropical fish; as long as the other fish aren't aggressive or small enough to eat.

Answer: Koi can survive under the ice in extreme cold as long as the water does not freeze solid. Koi will not move around or eat much if the pond water is very cold. Some individual fish just inexplicably die, but overall, Koi are remarkably hardy and healthy fish; much more so than goldfish or tropical fish. Just be sure to have an opening in the ice covering your pond so that no harmful gases build up.

Answer: Koi can be kept in aquariums as well as ponds. Aquariums need good filtration and aeration systems. A filter utilizing carbon is recommended for aquariums. Use a chloramine remover whenever adding fresh tap water. Most cities have chloramine in their tap water. Periodically clean the filter. Most filters should be cleaned at least twice a year even though the water looks clear. There is no such thing as a filter that never needs to be cleaned! When transporting Koi to an aquarium or after a long trip, float the bag for at least an hour before releasing the Koi.

Answer: Chlorine or chloramine in city water and windblown insecticides are very dangerous to Koi.
Smaller Koi have a much higher mortality rate than larger Koi and are more susceptible to diseases and changes in the environment.
Know the volume of your pond. Length x Width x Depth (in feet) x 7.5 equals to total gallons of water.
Keep a spare air pump or water pump on hand for emergencies. If the pump stops, do not feed the Koi.
Don't change all the water in the pond at once unless absolutely necessary. Sudden water temperature changes may adversely affect your Koi.
Don't overcrowd the pond! Remember your Koi will require more oxygen and more room as they grow larger.