An Introduction To Koi Population Control

Population control is typically easy with the majority of domesticated pets. It is usually as simple as removing the possibility of conception until the time in which the opportunity has passed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Koi fish. Koi, no matter whether you want them to or not, will constantly spawn and lay eggs, and other Koi will fertilize them. It is nature in action, and there is little you can do. Since contraceptive methods are not available for small fish hobbyists, population control really comes down to removing the unwanted babies after they are already born.

As a new comer to this hobby, you may at first choose to disregard this information. For whatever reason, whether it is that you feel removing unwanted babies is cruel, or if you believe that the more fish the merrier, you will quickly realize that keeping all the babies that are born could be a potentially harmful situation to both your pond, and the original parent fish.

Why Are The Babies Harmful?

What is so harmful about having more fish than what you originally started with? A number of harmful situations can happen or develop over time.

First, Koi can and will grow to us to three feet in length. Koi, unlike some other fish, will grow, no matter what their habitat size is. This will turn a beautiful pond in a wasteful, extremely overpopulated pond. Not only will too many fish cause damage to a smaller pond, but they will not be comfortable in their habitat and starve.

When you originally setup your pond, you create the filtration system for a specific amount of fish. Adding extra fish without adding more filtration to your system will ultimately cause a surge in unwanted gases and chemicals levels in the water that is dangerous to your Koi’s health.

Getting Rid Of The Babies

There are several ways of removing babies from your pond.

One way is to stop feeding your Koi the minute you realize that spawning has occurred. You should stop feeding you Koi for no less then three weeks. Do not worry about your Koi starving, as they will focus more on natural foods if you are not feeding them daily. This “natural” diet includes their young. Koi are not cannibalistic animals by any means, but they will eat their young when they are still eggs or if they are small and resemble insects. Once the baby Koi actually resemble real fish, and the adult fish recognize this, they will no longer see them as food, so it is important to start this process as soon as you notice spawning or babies.

While this is a process of nature, you may still find this method to be cruel or unusual. Another way of removing unwanted babies from your pond is to give them away.

First, check with your local pet store. Many pet stores have programs in which they will accept unwanted animals and give them good homes. Some may even pay a certain amount for each fish since they sell them, but do not count of this. Local zoos may also have programs.

If you know of a local Koi society, you may let them know that you have unwanted babies. Alternatively, you can find a message board or group online and post messages there. Who knows, you may even start another person on a Koi keeping hobby.

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