Koi....

 New ponds....
If you have just finished building your pond, the urge to go out and buy some new fish can seem irresistible. However, by doing this you risk a high fish mortality rate.
Beneficial bacteria can take up to eight weeks to colonise in your filter, with out this useful bacteria ammonia levels could rise, this would be an unhealthy environment for the fish to start living in. It would also be advisable to not use a UV clarifier for the first six weeks, as this can kill useful bacteria flowing through in the water. During this period ammonia levels should be measured weekly, using a measuring kit. Before stocking your pond it is a good idea to purchase a net, the net will prevent preditors such as cats and herrins from harming your fish.

Stocking your pond.... Koi carp are now avaliable from many sources, the vast majority are imported from Japan and Israel, but also many new koi farms areappearing in the UK now.
Stocking your pond with fish should be done in gradual stages, by introducing a few fish over a period of time it give the pond's bacteria a better chance to cope with rising ammonia levels.

Choosing healthy fish.... There is no guarantee that the fish you choose will be free from disease or parasites, however below is a list favourable signs a fish should display:

Transferring fish....After you have purchased your fish, the supplier usually places them in a bag half full of water, then oxygen is added and then place in a box to keep them stable during transportation.
When introducing the fish into the pond, leave the bag floating on the surface of the pond for 15 minutes, keeping the bag sealed. This slowly changes the temperature of the bagged water to that of the pond, helping to minimise stress to the fish. Finally open the bag, gentle tilt and let the fish swim into the pond.

Feeding....I would wait several hours before feeding the new fish, offering only small amount at first, increasing the amount if the fish seems hungry. Many different brands of koi foods are now available, usually if stick or pellet form. Pellets also come in a variety of sizes to suit the size of fish. The price also varies a great deal, generally the cheaper types have a smaller percentage of nutrients in them. Also some food contains a chemical that enhances the colour of the koi.

Summary....One of the most important concern when starting keeping koi, would be the monitoring of the water conditions, ammonia levels in the warmest months should me measured on a weekly basis. If water conditions are poor the fish are more likely to develope problems with their health.

I have only scratched the surface on the information involving koi husbandry, there will be more to follow. If you would like to share you experience and knowledge with people viewing this site, I would be happy to post anything on this website. All you need to do is send me an email to : pete@cornishgarden.com.
Or use our forum page to ask or answer any questions.....