Koi Water: Overpopulation Prevention

When it comes to Koi ponds, overpopulation of the fish become one of the hardest problems that the owner has to deal with. This overpopulation can cause severe problems to your pond, which can even cause death among your fish. As part of the care that you have to give to your fish, here are a few ways to help prevent overpopulation in your pond's water. Following these few simple steps greatly reduce your chances of arriving to such dilemmas.

Don't Overstock:

Overstocking is one of the common problems among new Koi pond owners. When you first to purchasing your fish, decide between a number of fish that are equally playful and beautiful so as to save your own pond from overstocking. You can always talk with your pet store professional or dealer about your pond's specs.

Tell them the total size of your pond, the type of filtration systems you use, and where you're planning to place your pond. These helpful information can help them to successfully predict the right amount of fish that you can have in your pond. Don't worry if the number may seem small, because keep in mind that this species grow rather fast and get large quickly!

One of the problems that people or owners run into is not able to turn down offers from others. When you are being offered with a fish by other pond owners, always look at the reasons as to why they're giving you their fish (this might be due to overpopulation issues as well). Turning down offers such as this doesn't mean you're causing damage to the fish, but it's just that the owner may have to find a different individual to take the offer.

Steps To Take Once Overpopulation Has Occurred:

If the time comes that your pond has reached overpopulation, here are some steps to remove the babies from it. A good way is to stop feeding your Koi once you realize that spawning has actually occurred. Stop feeding your fish for no less than 3 weeks. Don't worry about your pets starving, as they'll focus more on the natural foods that they can get if you're not feeding them everyday. Their natural diet includes their young.

Although they aren't one of those cannibalistic animals, it's natural for them to eat their young when they're still eggs or if they're small, resembling insects. Once the babies looks like real fish, the adult ones will recognize this, and they'll no longer see them as food.

So that's why it's important to start this process as soon as you'll observe spawning or babies in the water. As cruel as this may seem, it's just a natural process. Another way to do this is by giving those unwanted babies away. You can first check with your local pet store, as many of them have programs wherein they'll accept those unwanted animals and provide shelter for them (some may also pay a certain amount of money for each fish since they sell them). You can also go to local zoos, local Koi societies and online forums.