| While you may purchase young, small koi, like | | | | your tank temperature in a moderate zone. If |
| other species of creatures, they will adapt | | | | you'd like to have males and females, ask for |
| their growth and size somewhat, to the | | | | help from the breeder or store in sexing your |
| restrictions of space. Food and overall | | | | purchases. Very young koi are difficult to |
| conditions in the aquarium will also affect | | | | tell apart, although young adult females tend |
| their growth rate, with premium food being | | | | to have a fuller, cigar type shape. |
| important, and overfeeding to be avoided both | | | | |
| for the health of the fish, and the health of | | | | Some of the more attractive varieties of koi |
| the tank environment. | | | | include: |
| | | | |
| Clean water is a must, as is good aeration. | | | | Kohaku- White body and red pattern down the |
| Large fish eat a lot of food and produce a | | | | back. One of the most popular varieties for |
| lot of waste. If you have a 50-gallon tank, | | | | koi hobbyists. |
| and several fish, you may need a filtration | | | | |
| system whose capacity is actually over 50 | | | | Tashio Sanke- White body and red patterned |
| gallons, in order to keep the water as clean | | | | back, with black accents |
| as possible. | | | | |
| | | | Showa Sanke- A three colored variety, having |
| You might like to choose from several of the | | | | a black body, with white and red accents, |
| varieties of koi, for a more interesting mix | | | | although some strains have more white |
| of colors, but remember that koi in their | | | | |
| natural outdoor environment, tend to have | | | | Bekko, Utsuri- Body color is non-metallic |
| more intense color in cooler weather, so keep | | | | black on white, yellow or red. |