Koi Fish

Jinli is a recognized Japanese fish used for decoration and petting purposes or called “Koi Fish.” Koi fish were subspecies to common carp, which is why Koi has a longer lifespan than other fish as pets.

They are visually attractive to the eyes and have various colors like silvery-white, black, reddish-orange, blue and yellow. It is noted that many have confused Koi fish with goldfish.

To compare, Koi is larger than goldfish and grows about 2 centimeters per month. They can interbreed as they came from one species, but their children may be sterile.

A Must-Read: Top Fish Tank Heaters

Health And Lifespan Of The Koi Fish

Koi Fish can be high-maintenance as a pet because of its lifespan that could extend up to 35 years. They are cold-blooded, freshwater fish that could survive in the winter season.

An amazing trivia about the oldest Koi named Hanako is it is raised in a cold environment that it lived for more than two centuries. Hibernation in the cold winter only increases their lifespan.

Koi’s diet is solely based on their size, age, and season. As omnivorous fishes generally, they like to eat plankton, algae, plants, and other vegetables. But to maintain their health is another story.

Their diet during the mating season should be rich in carbohydrates. During the whole winter period, Koi can still live even without eating.

Breeding Of The Koi Fish

Their mating season is between the early spring to summer, with an average temperature of 18-20°C. Male Koi is aggressive as they are forced to batter themselves in the Female Koi’s body to drop the eggs so the male koi can spray their sperms on the eggs.

Their breeding can be very delicate as their “fry” or offspring is handled by professional breeders. A female Koi fish can produce many eggs from a single spawning.

However, not every one of them can survive because their parents can eat them. On a scale of 7 days, the fry is ready to be hatched from the egg. Unfortunately, defective Koi fish by birth have no interesting colors, and they were often sold as pond-quality koi.

Koi Fish In Every Country

According to Feng Shui experts, Koi fish symbolizes luck and prosperity. In Japan, Koi fish was declared one of their national animals alongside the Green Pheasant and Great Purple Emperor Butterfly.

Since it is believed that Koi fish bring limitless luck, it is never a shock that people have used this for decoration purposes, whether an alive Koi or an ornament.

Conclusion

Koi fish may be considered domesticated pets, but most importantly, it is still all about how the owners take care of them. The only challenge is their longevity, but their diet is not as difficult because they can eat anything.

If you were planning to pet them, you will avoid some Koi parents’ mistakes and consult an expert for more advice.