TEKNIK PEMIJAHAN IKAN KOI

I. PENDAHULUAN

Koi termasuk ikan hias eksotis yang semakin banyak penggemarnya. Selain dipelihara sebagai hobi, koi juga bisa dijadikan lahan bisnis yang menjanjikan. Tentu saja bagi mereka yang benar-benar serius menekuninya. Selain pesona warna dan lekukannya yang indah, keistimewaan lain dari koi adalah keelokan yang dipertontonkan tatkala menyembul dan melompat ke atas air.




Sungguh sebuah pemandangan yang istimewa bagi yang hobi memeliharanya.

Disisi lain koi sudah menjadi prestise . Salah satu ajang untuk mendongkrak prestise koi adalah lewat kontes. Koi yang berhasil menyabet gelar juara bakal terangkat pamornya sehingga harganya melambung. Si pemilik biasanya tidak rela melepaskan koi kesayangannya meski ditawar dengan harga 4-5 kga koi kali semula.

Tingginya harga koi menjadikan bisnis ikan yang menjadikan bisnis ikan yang menjadi kebanggaan masyarakat Jepang ini tidak pernah surut. Dalam perkembangannya , budidaya koi juga selalu melahirkan strain-strain baru . Bagaimana perkembangan koi di Indonesia?

Pada hakikatnya kondisi alam Indonesia sangat menunjang untuk budidaya koi. Sayangnya, usaha produksi koi masih terbatas. Para pengusaha koi di dalam negeri belum memanfaatkan peluang pasar koi secara optimal. Alasannya, membudidayakan koi membutuhkan lahan dan dana yang tidak sedikit. Padahal di sisi lain, budidaya koi di Indonesia berpeluang menyaingi Jepang. Sebab, budidaya koi di Jepang juga terhambat akibat beberapa persoalan, antara lain: terbatasnya lahan, mahalnya upah tenaga kerja, dan pengaruh empat musim yang menjadi kendala terbesar dalam budidaya koi di Jepang.

Adapun mengenai mutu, kualitas ikan koi sangat ditentukan oleh tipe bentuk badan yang sempurna, warna tubuh yang cemerlang, dan pola warna tubuh yang unik. Keindahannya merupakan perpaduan antara keelokan warna dan bentuk tubuh, disertai perlakuannya secara keseluruhan.

II. TEKNIK PEMIJAHAN IKAN KOI

Hal-hal yang harus diperhatikan ketika hendak memijahkan ikan koi adalah ketersediaan kolam, persediaan induk koi, penyediaan pakan benih, dan perlakuan seleksi yang ketat.

2.1. Kolam Pemijahan

Kolam pemijahan tidak mungkin menjadi satu dengan kolam taman. Kolam pemijahan harus mempunyai pintu pemasukan dan pintu pengeluaran air tersendiri.Selain itu, seluruh kolam harus diplester dan bisa dikeringkan dengan sempurna.

Luas kolam pemijahan bervariasi. Untuk kolam sempit dapat menggunakan kolam seluas 3-6 m² dengan kedalaman 0,5 m. Lokasi kolam cukup mendapatkan sinar matahari, tidak terlalu ribut, terlindung dari jangkauan anak-anak dan binatang peliharaan lain.

Jika mungkin, sediakan juga kolam penetasan telur dan perawatan benih. Kolam penetasan, bentuknya bisa persegi panjang atau bulat. Kalau kolam bulat, diameternya antara 1,5-2 m.

Satu kolam lagi jika ada, yaitu kolam untuk menumbuhkan pakan alami yang dipakai untuk lmensuplai pakan benih jika kuning telurnya telah habis. Kedalaman kolam sekitar 30 cm. Luas kolam antara 6-10 m², cukup memadai.

Bagi yang memiliki uang cukup, dinding kolam bisa dilapis vinil yaitu bahan yang biasa untuk membuat bak fiberglass. Dengan lapisan vinil, kolam-kolam tersebut lebih terjamin kebersihannya dan efek dari semen bisa dihilangkan.

2.2. Seleksi Induk

Syarat utama induk adalah calon induk sudah matang kelamin dan matang tubuh. Matang kelamin artinya induk jantan sudah menghasilkan sperma dan induk betina sudah menghasilkan telur yang matang. Matang tubuh artinya, secara fisik mereka sudah siap menjadi induk-induk produktif.

Syarat lain fisiknya prima, tidak cacat. Sirip-siripnya lengkap, juga sisiknya. Gerakannya anggun, seimbang , tidak loyo. Umur jantan minimal 2 tahun, betina minimal 3 tahun. Betina lebih besar dibandingkan jantan, perutnya terlihat lebih besar dibandingkan punggung. Jantan sebaliknya, lebih langsing dan perutnya rata jika dilihat dari punggung. Sirip induk jantan siap kawin akan muncul bintik-bintik putih.

Seekor induk betina berpasangan dengan 2 atau 3 induk jantan. Jika seekor betina hanya diberi seekor jantan di kolam pemijahan dan tak disangka jantannya ngadat, gagallah pemijahan. Dengan menyediakan stok jantan lebih dari satu, kegagalan pemijahan bisa dihindari.

Disarankan untuk tidak menggunakan stok induk yang paling bagus, karena keturunannya biasanya jelek. Anak keturunannya belum tentu sebagus induknya. Yang dipijahkan sebaiknya koi biasa saja, tetapi masih memiliki sifat-sifat unggul, seperti warnanya pekat. Pada saat seleksi benih, nantinya bisa dipilh mana yang bagus dan mana yang diafkir.

2.3. Persiapan Kolam

Pertama kali yang harus dipersiapkan untuk pemijahan adalah kolam. Kolam dikeringkan dibawah terik matahari. Pintu pemasukan dipasang saringan untuk mencegah telur yang mungkin hanyut.

Telur koi menempel (adesif) sifatnya. Biasanya koi akan bertelur dibawah tanaman atau bahan apa saja yang bisa dipakai untuk menempelkan telurnya. Oleh karena itu sediakan penempel telur yang memadai agar telur koi bisa selamat.

Penempel telur bisa menggunakan kakaban, yang dipakai untuk memijahkan ikan mas. Kakaban dibuat dari ijuk yang dijepit dengan bilah bambu dan dipaku. Kakaban yang baik terbuat dari ijuk yang panjang dan rata, panjang 120 cm lebar 40 cm. Jumlah kakaban yang diperlukan disesuaikan dengan besar induk betina, biasanya 4-6 buah untuk setiap 1 kg induk betina.

Agar bisa mengapung, kakaban disusun di atas sepotong bambu yang masih utuh. Diataskakaban diberi bilah bambu dan diikat agar kumpulan kakaban tidak tercerai-berai ketika pasangan induk memijah. Sebelum dipasang, kakaban dibersihkan, dicuci, dan dibilas agar terbebas dari lumpur.

Kakaban dipasang setelah kolam diisi air. Air selalu mengalir ke kolam pemijahan untuk merangasang pasangan koi yang akan memijah. Selain kakaban, tempat penempel telur bisa juga menggunakan tanaman air seperti Hydrilla yang disusun atau potongan tali rafia sebagai pengganti ijuk.

2.4. Pelaksanaan Pemijahan

Induk dimasukkan sekitar pukul 16.00 dan akan mulai memijah tengah malam. Induk betina akan berenang mengelilingi kolam dengan diikuti induk jantan di belakangya. Makin lama gerakan mereka makin seru. Induk jantan menempelkan badannya ketika mengikuti induk betina. Pada puncaknya, induk betina akan mengeluarkan telurnya dengan sesekali meloncat ke udara. Aktifitas betina ini segera diikuti jantan dengan mengeluarkan cairan sperma.

Telur-telur yang terkena sperma akan menempel pada kakaban atau bahan penempel telur lainnya dan susah lepas. Juga ada sebagian telur uyang jatuh ke dasar kolam. Perkawinan selesai pada pagi hari. Induk segera dipisah dari telurnya. Jika terlambatm telur bisa habis dimakan induknya.

Ada dua cara untuk memisahkan induk dari telur yang dihasilkan.Pertama, dengan memindahkan induk dari kolam pemijahan dan tetap membiarkan telur menetas di kolam tersenur. Cara kedua dengan memindahkan telur ke kolam penetasan. Cara pertama lebih praktis karena lebih menghemat lahan (kolam).

Untuk mencegah agar tidak terserang jamur, telur-telur direndam dulu dalam larutan Malachyt green dengan konsentrasi 1/300.000 selama 15 menit sebelum ditaruh di kolam penetasan. Ketika akan merendam telur-telur ini, sebaiknya kakaban digoyang-goyangkan pada air agar kotoran yang mungkin menutupi telur bisa terlepas.

2.5 Penetasan Telur

Agar menetas dengan baik, telur harus selalu terendam dan suhu air tetap konstan. Jika suhu terlalu dingin, penetasan akan berlangsung lama. Jika suhu terlalu tinggi, telur bisa mati dan membusuk.

Agar telur bisa terendam semua, rangkaian kakaban harus “ditenggelamkan” ke dalam kolam. Untuk itu bisa memakai jasa gedebog pisang. Potong tiga buah gedebog pisang sepanjang 40 cm, lalu letakkan diatas kakaban dengan dua ruas bambu sebagai alasnya. Agar bisa stabil, gedebog diratakan salah atu sisinya.

Dalam tempo 2 – 3 hari telur koi sudah mulai menetas. Setelah menetas kakaban diangkat dan dipindahkan ke tempat lain. Nantinya kakaban bisa dipakai lagi di lain kesempatan.

Benih koi umur seminggu masih lembut. Umumnya orang menetaskan telur koi dalam hapa yaitu kantong yang bermata lembut yang biasa untuk menampung benih. Di hapa, benih koi lebih mudah dikumpulkan dan tidak hanyut terbawa aliran air. Koi yang baru menetas masih membawa kuning telur sebagai persediaan pakan utama yang pertama.

Selama itu mereka belum membutuhkan pakan dari luar karena pencernaannya belum terbentuk sempurna. Dua atau tiga hari kemudian, mereka sudah mulai berenang. Saat ini sudah waktunya menyediakan pakan bagi benih. Benih ini harus dipindahkan ke kolam pembesaran yang banyak mengandung pakan alami.

2.6 Perawatan Benih

Benih yang sudah berenang bebas harus dipindahkan ke kolam pembesaran. Kolam pembesaran ini harus dipersiapkan, agar ditumbuhi pakan alami, seminggu sebelum pemijahan. Adapun langkah – langkah persiapannya sebagai berikut.

Kolam dikeringkan selama dua hari di bawah terik matahari dan disemprot dengan pestisida agar binatang yang tidak dikehendaki mati. Pestisida yang dipakai Dipherex atau Nogos dengan dosis 0,5 – 1,0 ppm. Kemudian untuk menyediakan pakan alami berupa binatang renik, kolam dipupuk dengan kotoran ayam dan jerami. Jerami ditindih dengan batu dan diletakkan di sudut – sudut kolam. Volume kotoran ayam 1,5 kg/m2. pintu pemasukan air ke kolam harus diberi saringan.

Dalam beberapa hari, air yang terkena jerami akan berubah warna menjadi merah kecoklatan. Namun, beberapa hari kemudian akan jernih kembali. Jika pemberian kotoran ayam dan jeramitepat, dalam beberapa hari kemudianakan tumbuh infusoria dan fitoplankton. Pada saat ini benih – benih koi sudah bisa dimasukkan setelah kurang lebih sepuluh hari, daphnia akan tumbuh.

Jika tidak dapat menumbuhkan pakan alami, terpaksalah memberi pakan benih koi dengan pakan buatan seperti kuning telur yang direbus, tepung udang, susu bubuk untuk anak sapi, dan pakan tepung khusus untuk koi. Untuk menjaga agar air tidak busuk oleh sisa pakan buatan, di kolam dimasukkan air baru agar sisa pakan hanyut.

informasi lainnya tentang koi  Click Here!

Colorful Koi Carp

Author:

Don Miller

From their humble beginnings as fish food for Chinese rice farmers, these colorful Koi carp were brought to Japan in the 17th century, not only to be cultivated for cheap nutritious food for their own rice farmers, but also for their aesthetic appeal.

The colorful Koi carp are the domesticated varieties of the common carp. In fact, the word Koi comes from the Japanese word meaning “carp” which was where they were bred for the first time around the 1820’s.

Now Koi are considered to be one of the most popular fresh-water pond fish,, and can be found gracing the waters of millions of outdoor ponds all over the world.

They are not only loved for their variety of colors but also for the longevity of their lives. The longest living Koi ever recorded in history died at the rip old age of two hundred twenty-six.

Koi come in a huge variety of patterns and colors including, red, orange, yellow, black, white, silver or even blue or green. There are potentially thousands of different types of Koi, with about 20 different popular versions. Koi are popular because of their beautiful colors and designs.

Although Koi is simply a carp, modern specimens are products of selective breeding over many generations. Outside elements such as the environment that they live in and the diet they eat can also affect the color of Koi.

It is easy to understand the patience and skill it took for the first Japanese breeders to develop such a magnificent fish.

Koi are extremely social with other breeds of fish as long as they are not small enough to be eaten by these opportunistic

feeders. In a smaller pond Koi may seem to school together, but in larger areas they tend to split up into small groups.

Most fish owners understand that most fish will only grow to the size of their enclosure. However, because Koi can grow to be a large fish, they require and thrive in ponds that are about five hundred gallons or more.

It is important to keep the number of fish in a pond relative to the amount of water that the pond holds. The depth and size of the pond is extremely important.

A pond that contains a depth of at least four feet provides enough room for the colorful Koi to thrive. The health of the fish depends a lot upon the amount of space that Koi fish owners provide their fish with.

Koi can be kept outside in the winter. As the winter temperatures begin to drop, the colorful Koi fish will begin their winter hibernation, and their digestive systems will slow almost to a halt.

However, undigested food in their stomachs can grow rancid and could cause the fish to become sick. Because of this, Koi should not be feed in weather less the fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

Outdoor ponds can be relaxing when the sounds of the rippling water flows through the yard but, no pond is complete without a gorgeous ornamental fish like the Colorful Koi

Many Koi owners consider themselves lucky to be able to have these fish touch their lives and brighten up their worlds.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/colorful-koi-carp-984808.html

About the Author

Don Miller has been breeding Koi for over 25 years. If you found the article on Koi Care of interest, you will also find further information and articles at the Koi Guide website
http://www.go-to1.com/koi

Before You Make Any Serious Mistakes With Your Fish Koi Pond

Author:

Jessica Arons

When you\'re new to Koi, it\'s easy to get over-enthusiastic about getting started with building the fish Koi pond. That is, until you find out how much money it\'s going to cost you.



Yes, Koi keeping is a hobby that could raise cause for alarm in your pocket book. It\'s not something you want to jump into without making sure you can afford it first.



That said; keeping Koi is not completely unaffordable. There are money-saving opportunities in building the pond. One of these options is by buying a pond liner instead of building a block and concrete pond.



Now, I\'m not against pond liners. I\'m sure that there are some brands available that have proven to be very effective liners. It\'s just that unless you know pond liners like the back of your hand, my advice is you\'re probably better off not buying one.



Pond liners generally cost less up front than a concrete fish Koi pond, but when you take into account the near-impossibility of laying the liner in the hole and ironing out all the creases, while taking care not to puncture any part of it ... the effort is simply not worth it.



Another way you might be able to save money is by building your own Koi pond. After all, how hard can it be to dig a hole, cement it in, fill it with water and throw a couple of fish in, right? That\'s what I told myself before I practically pulled all my hair out with frustration and rage over all the mistakes I made.



Take it from me. If you\'re going to be spending the money anyway, spend it wisely. If you don\'t have any experience in Koi pond building, or any skill with concrete, don\'t start by building your own Koi pond. At least don\'t do it without expert help.



If there\'s anything you get out of reading this, I hope it\'s: Always Ask for Professional Advice. Because with keeping a fish Koi pond, when something goes wrong, it REALLY goes kaput. Leaks are your worst possible enemy. Believe me when I say this: Pay the pros. It is money well spent.



I\'m not saying that you can\'t get involved in the process. On the contrary - you need to be very involved. You can share your pond visions with your professional builder - where you want it, how big you want the pond, the shape of the pond and so forth. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for them to do their job, and the happier you will be with the end result.



The next lesson I hope you get out of reading this is: Beware of Cheap Quotes. That sends the red flag up in my book. If a pond builder quote is too good to be true, it probably is. Don\'t go with cheap - it\'ll come back to bite you in the pocket.



A fish Koi pond is very complex and when built the right way, will cost more than having a swimming pool built. Don\'t laugh. I\'m not making this up.



Another lesson to learn from embarking on this great adventure called Koi keeping is this: Koi Ponds are Permanent. I know that sounds obvious, but it still needs to be said. Because they are permanent, you need to plan ahead and keep a couple of thoughts in mind while having the pond built:



1. If you plan on using a liner, have a plan ready for when the liner expires (yes, they have expected expiration dates). Having a liner pond may cost you less in the short run, but you\'ll make it up when it expires. I advise having a concrete pond built by an experienced professional. You pay more up front, but you save money (not to mention your sanity) in the long run.



2. Hire an architect who has experience in designing fish Koi pond structures to design yours. Ask for references you can contact. This is important. I have seen many strikingly designed Koi ponds that can\'t keep a Koi alive in it. (Sorry, architects.)



Make sure the architect and pond builder can work together - you want all the features to be functional too, otherwise you\'ll be spending a ton of money and time correcting mistakes that could have been avoided in the first place. A properly designed and planned Koi pond might take some time and a little bit of money, but you won\'t regret the expense when enjoying the longevity of rewards in the long run.



3. Bottom drains are KEY. Get one built in.



4.Join your local Koi Society. See what others have done. Ask questions. Any fish Koi pond owner will be more than happy to give you as much information about Koi keeping as your ears can handle! It\'s always best to see and experience Koi in person.



Points to ponder when designing your Koi pond:



1. Building a Koi pond is like building a house. It\'s about Location, Location, Location. Do you have building restrictions? Do you want the pond in the sun or in the shade or a little of both? Put the pond somewhere you go to every day.



2. Architecture. Make sure the theme of the pond matches the rest of your living space. Your architect can help you with this.



3. Size. In this case, bigger is better.



4. Depth. Minimum 1.5 meters. The deeper the better.



5. Level. Do you want it at ground level or raised?



6. Fiberglass or not?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/before-you-make-any-serious-mistakes-with-your-fish-koi-pond-944528.html

About the Author
Get your FREE 10 day Koi Carp Fish Care mini course, today. Jessica Arons specializes in Koi fish care and is currently working with the Koi Fish School team. For more great tips on a Fish Koi Pond visit The Koi Fish School today.

Tips to Get Started on Your Koi Pond

Tips to Get Started on Your Koi Pond
by: Mark Justice



Outdoor living areas and fabulous gardens can be greatly enhance by the additions of an Outdoor Koi Pond. Nothing is more relaxing than sitting in an outdoor living area and enjoying the beauty of your gardens and its pond filled with glorious bright colored Koi Fish.

Koi Can grow to be quite large and will require at least 500 gallons of water,. The health of the Koi fish depends a great deal on the amount of space and the quality of the water. Temperatures of 60 to 67 degrees Fehrenheit are best for the Koi as they are a cold water fish. Those people living in a cool weather climate will be happy to know they will also be able to keep Koi during the winter months. In the winter when ice forms over the surface of the water the Koi will hybernate. No need to feed them in the winter as their digestive systems slow down almost to a halt allowing them to easily make it through the winter.

The Koi are not the only thing that make the pond and yard into an enjoyalbe and relaxing place to be. Plants and lilies are a great addition to the pond, your Koi will love them. The lilies can cover up to 70 percent of the ponds surface. Not only do they give cover and shade to the Koi, but they also cut down on the algae growth in the pond. Five or six hours a day is about the maximum amount of direct sunlight the Koi can tolerate and the lilies give the perfect shade to protect them from the sunlight. Koi fish are omnivorous which means they can eat both meat and plants and the lilies provide then with insects and larva to eat,.

Building your Koi Pond under a tree is another good way to provide the Koi with extra shade. But you may want to consider the fact that being under a tree will also attract a good deal of debris from the tree and will create a good deal more work to keep the pond clear.

The depth of the pond is important and rerquires some additional planning. Outside predators can be a problem with your outdoor Koi Pond and the depth of the water can provide some needed protection. Raccoons are always looking for a free meal and Koi Fish would be an ideal meal. You'll need about 4 feet of water to protect them from ground predators such as raccoon. In some parts of the country you will also need to worry about birds like the Great Blue Heron who like a good meal of Koi as well. Amazingly the Great Blue Heron can eat as much as 100 small Koi a day. To foil the Great Blue Heron you will need a water depth of about eight feet. Another good way to protect the Koi from bird predators is to put netting up over the pond.

Building your own Koi Pond gives you the freedom to use your imagination to build your Koi Pond and outdoor living area as lavishly and spectacular as you wish.

About The Author
Mark Justice is a long time koi fish enthusiast. For great information on koi fish ponds, visit http://www.raisingkoifish.com



The author invites you to visit:
http://www.raisingkoifish.com

Koi Care: How to Take Care of Your Aquatic Pet

Koi Care: How to Take Care of Your Aquatic Pet
by: Andy Fletcher



When you decide to keep Koi fish as pets, you must learn a few very basic and vital things about Koi care. Proper nutrition and water quality are the two deciding factors that you have to look at while thinking about Koi care.

Koi fishes are hardy specimens of fish and they can live for long periods of time, sometimes for more than 200 years though the average life span is around 25 to 35 years. These Koi fishes are easy going hassle free kinds of pets and don’t give much trouble to their keepers and you will find it easy to take care of them.

Koi Care – Pond Water Quality

One of the most critical conditions of Koi care is perhaps the quality of the water in the pond. You would be surprised to know that Koi needs fresh and good quality water for their habitat more than food. A Koi will not starve to death if it doesn’t receive food for several weeks, however, it can die in one night if the water quality turns out to be very poor.

You always have to pay attention to how you will sustain your pond water quality through proper filtration and supplies and you also have to chalk out or fix a budget for your pond water quality maintenance expenses.

Nutrition

Another thing to keep in mind is Koi nutrition and proper nutrition will ensure that the kois can protect themselves from diseases, they will grow up to the right proportion and size and you don’t have to worry about good body conformation.

Nursing

One more thing that you should remember about Koi care is that you need to react promptly and take necessary precautionary steps or measures of redressal to combat Koi health problems and accidents. That means if the need arises, you have to even apply first aid to a sick or injured Koi or administer the correct medication.

You also have to take into account the seasonal care pattern for Koi fish. For e.g. in the spring months, Koi fishes feel their worst while summer happens to be their best season for grow out. The Koi fish usually spends the fall months preparing for the harsh cold weather of winter by generating enzymes.

And during winter months, the Koi fishes go deep into sleep or hibernation. Thus it is clear that Koi fishes require separate types of care and maintenance during the various seasons of the year.

Predators

While on the topic of Koi care, I must inform you about potential predators that can feast on your pet Koi. You have to guard your fish from raccoons for these masked and dark circled bandits have been observed to be the most common predators, if you are really serious about Koi care.


About The Author
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Koi Care



Visit the author's web site at:
http://www.koicareandsupplies.com

Koi For Sale Will Add Beauty

Koi For Sale Will Add Beauty
by: Avery Fisher


Fish? Koi for Sale

The Koi, or in fact the Nishikigoi are ornamental fish which are designed from the hybrids in the prevalent carp.

Originally, these fish were breed in China a lot of centuries ago, but inside the last several decades, the knowledge about the koi fish has spread throughout the planet. Numerous pet shops and organizations offer you koi for sale and owing to this the lovely live koi has come to be a quite common choice as pets.

You will find different agencies in all parts of the globe, both on the internet and offline which offer you Koi for sale.

The fact that the Koi is produced from frequent carp makes them highly durable and hence increases the demand for these ornamental species.

Originally, the koi fish were breed in colors like red, yellow, blue, black, white and cream among others. The plain golden version on the live koi practically looks like gold fish, and is a lot of times confused with one, but they are diverse species.

Also owing to your new technologies and approaches to crossbreed the fish, the varieties of fish which comprise the koi for sale, consist of a lot a lot of color choices. In recent times, numerous new species like Butterfly koi and Ghost koi have been developed, which though aren't considered by authentic koi by some, have turn out to be as common as the Gosanke koi fish.

For individuals planning to purchase Koi, these species of fish are extremely adaptive for the environment and hence are a very excellent alternative to add to your aquarium.

Whilst most Koi fish are cold water fishes, these are even comfortable in water temperate range of 15-25 degree Celsius or 59-77 degree Fahrenheit. Moreover, if given suitable protection, the Koi fish can are living for almost a century, which again improves their face value as having a pet which lasts a lifetime.

Nevertheless to ensure that the Koi are healthy, they should be provided with appropriate nutrition. They may be omnivorous and can be fed on all types of food. Furthermore, the live koi are also receptive on the feeder and can recognize the feeder.

Furthermore, the tank or the pond in which the Koi are kept might will need some sort of a filtering system to maintain the water clean and habitable. Also, if the Koi are kept outdoor, their habitat needs correct protection since their bright and gorgeous colors make them susceptible to attacks from animals like cats and even birds.

All in all, with stunning color combinations, hugely adaptive nature and attractive possibilities from the several on the net and offline shops which have koi for sale, the koi fish make extremely ornamental pets.

Find the best deals for http://www.kloubeckoi.com/categories/Koi-For-Sale/ here.

About The Author
To learn More about Koi fish and the best places get your own beautiful aquarium started look here for http://www.kloubeckoi.com/categories/Koi-For-Sale/


The author invites you to visit:
http://www.kloubeckoi.com

Best Way to Spawn and Breed Koi

Best Way to Spawn and Breed Koi
by: Jiyong Park


As a Koi owner, it makes you feel happy whenever you are breeding your own Koi. In addition, it also saves you money from having to purchase more Koi. But productive spawning and breeding takes skill and experience. Here are some guidance.

Koi regularly breed during the Spring and Summer seasons, especially when there is a full moon (most often, spawning and breeding come about at night) and the water temperature is the most constant. The necessary thing to do would be to pick out your mating pair.

Your mating pair must not be too young or too old or they give off inferior eggs and fries. The age range of the mating pair must be between 3 to 6 years old. Apparently, you would pick the pair that look the most flourishing and most charming.

If you are just starting out, try to take a pair of the same variety. This makes the whole process not difficult.

Approximately 3 to 4 weeks before mating season, part the mating pair into an alternative tank. You may possibly also decide on 2 males and 1 female if you wish. Make sure your mating tank is well aerated and you feed them graciously.

The female will begin to grow round as she carries her eggs in her body. She will emit a mating odor that will cause the male to try to spawn her. He does this by pushing her body against the side of the tank. As soon as she releases her eggs, the male will fertilize them with sperm.

The eggs are very sticky and will stick to anything at all. So it's practical to have spawning ropes to catch the eggs. When they are fertilized, remove the spawning ropes with the eggs or the adult pair would try to eat the eggs. Also, part the mating pair from each other for a day or two before bringing them back into your pond.

When the eggs hatch you will have hundreds of Koi fries.

Subsequently at least 4 weeks, you need to cull your fries to control their population. There are various ways of removing fries.

Alternative way is to give them away. Initially, check with your local pet store. Many pet stores have programs in which they will receive discarded animals and give them pleasant homes. Several may even pay a certain amount for each fish since they market 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 unnecessary fries. Instead, you can find a message board or group online and post messages there. You may even begin another person on a Koi keeping hobby.


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Maintaining Oxygen Levels in Fish and KOI Ponds

Maintaining Oxygen Levels in Fish and KOI Ponds
by: Brett Fogle



Severe environmental stressors are the most frequent causes of sudden fish death in garden ponds or other fish habitats, and the lack of oxygen in the water is the number 1 stressor of all.

Two major factors contributing to fish-pond oxygen loss concern blooming algae. During daylight hours, algae make oxygen; during the night,however, the plants take oxygen. If algae are profusely blooming, the plants deplete all the pond’s oxygen during the night, which in turn, causes fish inhabiting the pond to die.

Another way that algae trigger oxygen loss is by dying suddenly. Algae-bloom death occurs naturally or from chemical treatment of an algaecide. When algae die suddenly – from either cause – the oxygen becomes quickly depleted because the algae no longer are alive and making it.

Then, when dead algae begin to decompose, the decaying process even further depletes oxygen. Fish have been observed gulping for oxygen at the water’s surface in sixty minutes or less from the onset of sudden algae death.

In ponds stocked liberally with many fish, often the oxygen level is just adequate enough to sustain them. If any further claim on the existing oxygen is made, this delicate environmental balance will be upset. When no or inadequate aeration is provided, along with rising warm-weather water temperatures, the conditions for fish survival become critical.

As water warms, its oxygen-retaining capacity decreases. Consequently, small fountains, waterfalls, or other water-aerating devices are incapable of providing adequate oxygen for fish. Additional oxygen should be introduced through brisk aeration when fighting algae, most importantly when water temperatures surpass eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

Testing devices are the only sure method to accurately read oxygen levels. Because these devices are not usually on hand for the average person maintaining a water garden or fish pond, the easiest way to ensure sufficient oxygen levels is to provide generous and continual aeration. Pumps and diffusers that “bubble” air into the water or large waterfalls, fountains, and other “splashing” water devices are common ways to get sufficient oxygen into the pond. When the weather is warm, or if an algae problem exists, it is imperative that supplemental aeration be provided constantly, throughout the day and night.

One other algae-caused loss of fish has gained attention and is being studied in areas around the world. These fish-killing algal varieties contain potent toxins that trigger sudden fish death. If a pond hosts these particularly virulent algae, devastating fish loss can result, seemingly more so when a quick die-off of algal bloom occurs. The blooms discharge their toxins concurrently, and some or all fish in the pond are adversely affected or killed. Fortunately, since pond owners are unable to identify these algae, this danger is rare.

Keep your oxygen levels under control at all times and you will greatly increase your the lifespan of your fish.

To read the full article, click here:
http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Newsletters/July2004/Oxygen-Depletion.shtml

About The Author

Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary 'New Pond Owners Guide' for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at www.macarthurwatergardens.com.
brett@macarthurwatergardens.com

Butterfly Koi Introduction

Butterfly Koi Introduction
by: Jiyong Park

The Butterfly Koi is not a new species or type of Koi. But it is extraordinary since it has a specific attribute - it's none other than its fins and tail. The Butterfly Koi is immediately becoming trendy numerous Western countries. Here is how they came about.

It was the first Koi that produced Carp such as the German and Asian Carp by breeding it.. After years of selective breeding, different color mutations began showing up. As early as 1805, the first color patterns were recorded. At present, there are literally thousands of color variations existing. The most widespread colors found are green, white, yellow, red, silver, black, orange and blue. Mixed with the patterns available, the probability are almost unending. Each noticeable pattern and color has their own names, which are most often as extraordinary as the color they are referring too. Favored types vary by country and location.

Just about 30 years ago, Koi breeders took some Koi and mixed them with the Asian long finned carp. They did so to try to nurture a type that would be more enduring and less prone to virus and ailment because generations of inbreeding has caused the Koi to grow to be quite fragile. The outcome of their interbreeding was a type of Koi that nobody elsehas seen beforehand. It had long fins and tails and over the years showed immense resistance towards disorders. This type of Koi was at a later time called the Butterfly Koi.

The Butterfly Koi at present is found universally alongside its normal cousin, the Koi. They also come in assorted varieties like Asagi, Kohaku, Showa etc and are recognized to be the most pretty of all Koi because of their elongated fins and tails.

Koi, including the Butterfly Koi, unlike most other fish will keep on to grow until they attain their breeds’ dictated size, no matter the location that they are in. Usually, the baby koi can be as small as 3 inches.. On the other hand, a large Koi have even been known to reach lengths of three feet or more. The most known size found is around two feet in length.

Koi are omnivorous fish, which means they will eat both meat and plants. This means that their diets are very resourceful and they will eat pretty much anything.

Koi are non-aggressive fish. This means that they are convenient to live with other fish such as goldfish or comets. The only issue you may acquire is less important, not as much of able fish may possibly languish from lack of food, as Koi are fast eaters. Koi are so gracious that they can be disciplined to eat out of their owners’ hand. Koi do not have teeth, so you will not get bitten if you intend to feed your Koi out of your hand.



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kiat memilih koi

KIAT MEMILIH KOI

- Hal-hal apa saja yang perlu diperhatikan dalam memilih koi?

+ Ada tiga faktor utama yang perlu diperhatikan dalam memilih koi yang berkualitas prima. Yang penting tidak tergesa-gesa dalam menentukan pilihan. Bila perlu, tanyakan pada praktisi atau hobiis yang telah lama bergelut dengan koi. Untuk lebih jelasnya, kriteria koi yang berkualitas prima dibeberkan dalam penjelasan berikut ini.

a. Bentuk Tubuh
- Pilih koi dengan bentuk tubuh ideal. Perhatikan perbandingan antara tmggi tubuh dan panjang tubuh. Idealnya, perbandingan tersebut adalah 1: 2, 3-3. Pilih juga yang bentuk tubuhnya bulat
memanjang dan tidak terlampau gemuk.

- Jika dilihat dan atas, garis punggungnya tampak lurus alias tidak melengkung.

- Pilih koi dengan gaya berenang yang tenang dan seimbang. Gerakan
yang seimbang dipengaruhi oleh posisi sirip, yang simetris berpasangan.
Koi yang bergaris tubuh seimbang, di kalangan hobiis koi dikatakan
memiliki jitai yang baik.

- Sirip dada dan sirip perut harus sama besar. Sementara itu, ukuran sirip punggung dan sirip ekor harus proporsional dengan tinggi dan panjang tubuh.

- Bentuk kepala, mata, mulut, dan insang harus proporsional atau serasi. Perhatikan juga bentuk hidungnya. Jangan pilih yang terlampau mancung atau terlampau masuk hingga tenggelam di dalam timbunan daging. jika hidung tampak terbuka, kemungkinan besar koi tersebut pernah mengalami sakit pada insang.


b. Warna dan Pola
- Pilih warna yang cemerlang dan kontras. Demikian juga pola warnanya, harus memiliki batas yang jelas. Contohnya, warna merah pada kohaku harus benar-benar cemerlang dan tampak cerah, Sementara itu warna putihnya harus seputih salju, tidak kekuningan atau tidak memiliki bercak warna lain.

- Pertemuan antara warna merah dan putih harus berbatas tajam, tidak ada gradasi atau bayangan warna merah. Terjadinya gradasi warna sering dijumpai pada koi lokal. Contohnya, seekor koi tidak layak disebut sebagai tancho kohaku jika hiasan berupa bulatan merah di kepalanya melebar ke mata, hidung, atau ke punggung. Koi semacam itu hanya disebut kohaku. Sementara itu, seekor koi baru diakui sebagai jenis ogon jika tidak ada warna lain setitik pun pada warna platinum metaliknya.


c. Kesehatan
- Hindari memilih koi yang tampak lesu, gerakan renangnya lamban dan tidak seimbang, atau banyak berdiam di dasar kolam.

- Insang yang bergerak cepat menandakan ikan sedang mengalami kesulitan bernapas. Sebaiknya koi tersebut tidak dipilih karena kondisinya tidak sehat.


- Pili koi yangbersirip tegak. Artinya, sirip tersebut tidak jatuh terkulai.

- Hindari koi yang selalu menyendiri atau menjauhi teman-temannya. Perilaku tersebut bisa dianggap sebagai naluri koi agar tidak menularkan penyakit kepada teman-temannya.


- Walaupun warnanya cerah dan memenuhi persyaratan sebagai koi yang berkualitas, sebaiknya tidak mengambil risiko dengan membeli koi yang mengalami berbagai gejala seperti di atas. Sebab, kalaupun bisa disembuhkan, ada kemungkinan koi akan mengalami cacat fisik atau pertumbuhannya tidak sempurna.


Bagaimana cara memilih koi yang berkualitas, baik untuk hobiis pemula maupun untuk budi daya?

+ Hobiis pemula disarankan untuk memilib koi yang berukuran kecil, sekitar 10 cm. Pertimbangannya didasari pada beberapa alasan berikut ini.

- Harganya lebih murah dibandingkan dengan koi dewasa sehingga seandainya terjadi kegagalan dalam perawatan tidak akan terlalu rugi.
- Perawatannya lebih mudah dibandingkan dengan koi dewasa. Di samping itu tidak membutuhkan tempat yang terlampau luas.
- Peluang berubahnya sifat koi menjadi jinak cukup besar.



Sementara itu, kerugian membeli koi muda adalah adanya kemungkinan perubahan pada pola warnanya.
Bagi yang series untuk membudidayakan koi, induk yang akan digunakan harus memiliki pola dan warna dasar yang sempurna, tubuhnya sehat, dan ukurannya ideal. Koi untuk indukan tidak harus baru, tetapi bisa digunakan koi afkir asalkan memenuhi persyaratan budi daya. Sebab, secara generatif induk koi akan menghasilkan keturunan yang bervariasi, bahkan bisa berbeda sama sekali dengan induknya. Dengan demikian, keturunan yang dihasilkan oleh induk koi bisa mengalami gradasi dan mutasi warna.


- Apa yang dimaksud dengan gradasi dan mutasi warna pada koi?
+ Gradasi atau perubahan pola warna pada koi adalah basil kerja keras bangsa Jepang selama ratusan tahun dalam melakukan penyilangan (cross breeding). Awalnya, para penangkar hanya memelihara koi yang berwarna tunggal. Lewat upaya penyilangan yang terus-menerus, dari koi warna tunggal ini akhirnya lahir berbagai variasi warna, dari dua warna hingga lima warna.
Selain lewat penyilangan, munculnya pola warna pada koi juga disebabkan oleh terjadinya mutasi gen. Konon, akibat mutasi gen, pada era Meiji (1868-1911), bercak merah di bagian perut, pipi, dan kelopak mata koi Jenis kohaku berpindah ke bagian kepala dan bagian belakang tubuh. Padahal kohaku adalah keturunan dari asagi yang berciri bercak hitam di bagian perut dan pipi.

Mutasi warna terjadi akibat terjadinya perubahan sel kromosom yang berfungsi sebagai pembawa sifat keturunan pada koi (termasuk pigmen warna di dalam sel). Perubahan ini akan menghasilkan sifat baru pada keturunan koi yang nantinya diteruskan pada generasi-generasi berikutnya.


Koi asagi memiliki bercak hitam di perut dan pipi. Dianggap sebagil cikal bakal kohaku
Menghasilkan koi strain baru bukanlah pekerjaan mudah. Hasil persilangan pertama (F1) belum bisa diperkenalkan kepada umum. Sebab, biasanya belum memiliki karakter warna yang tetap sehingga keturunannya bisa saja memiliki warna yang berbeda dengan induknya. Karena itu, para breeder berusaha terus untuk mengawinkan sesama induk F1 sampai diperoleh keturunan yang karakternya bersifat tetap. Koi hasil persilangan itu baru diperkenalkan kepada umum setelah memiliki karakter tetap, biasanya terjadi setelah persilangan F5.

- Benarkah bentuk garis luar tubuh atau jitai juga berpengaruh pada kualitas koi?
+ Garis luar tubuh dikenal dengan sebutan frame, tetapi di Jepang lebih populer dengan istilah jitai. Koi yang berkualitas prima memiliki pola jitai standar. Pada jenis kohaku, pola jitai terdapat jelas pada tobi-hi-nya
(pola warna), pada taisho sanke dengan pola sumi pada bagian kepala serta Shiro utsuri dengan pola hi-nya (garis punggung) yang merupakan faktor pembawaan. Koi itu sendiri tidak memiliki pola warna dan ukuran yang bisa dibentuk melalul cara pembuahan (genetik).
Di ajang kontes koi, unsur penilaian biasanya hanya berdasarkan pada kriteria standar, seperti warna, bentuk tubuh, dan sisik. Jarang yang memperhatikan garis luar tubuh atau jitai. Padahal garis luar tubuh inilah yang memberi ketegasan pada bentuk tubuh koi sehingga bentuk tubuhnya tampak proporsional dan keseimbangan pola warnanya menjadi lebih jelas. Dalam proses penjurian yang lama, kriteria pertama yang dinilai oleh juri adalah jitai, bukan pola warna, sisik, atau ukurannya.

Bentuk jitai yang paling ideal terdapat pada jenis cagoi, magoi, dan asagi. Bentuk tubuhnya ramping atau berbentuk gelondong, mirip gulungan benang obras. Keserasian bentuk garis luar tubuh dipengaruhi oleh hal-hal sebagai berikut.
- Garis tulang belakang lurus. Jika dilihat dari sampmig, garis badan tampak melengkung, tidak berbentuk kurva atau lurus.
- Sirip pektoral berbentuk bulat dan berukuran besar. jlka bentuk sirippektoral persegi dan berukuran kecil, kualitas koi dianggap rendah.
- Faktor apa saja yang harus diperhatikan dalam membeli koi?
+ Beberapa faktor yang harus diperhatikan dalam membeli koi dapat diuraikan sebagai berikut.
- Belilah koi di tempat yang bisa dipercaya atau pada breeder dan pedagang yang bonafit.
- Pilihlah pedagang yang tempat usahanya terbuka, karena pada tempat seperti itu, warna asli koi akan tampak jelas.
- Belilah pada penangkar yang memellhara koinya dalam air bersih dan bersirkulasi lancar. Sebab, kesehatan koi lebih terjamin jika kondisi airnya bersih.
- jika membeli koi dari tenaga kerja asing (khususnya Jepang), pakailah sistem borongan. Biasanya, tenaga kerja asing yang masa kontrak kerjanya sudah habis dan harus pulang ke negerinya akan menjual koi­koinya secara borongan.

- Koi yang baik memiliki warna-warna yang cerah dan murni. Artinya warna putihnya harus benar-benar putih, tidak tercemar warna lain walau setitik pun.
- Pilih koi yang pola warnanya simetris, antara warna tubuh bagian kiri dan warna tubuh bagian kanan.
- Hati-hati dengan efek yang ditimbulkan sinar lampu karena dapat mengubah keaslian warna koi. Karena itu, pilihlah koi pada Siang hari.
- Belilah koi saat musim panas karena warna koi bisa teruji. Alasannya, pada musim panas pertumbuhan koi sedang pesat sehingga jika terjadi perubahan warna akan tampak jelas. Pada musim panas, warna koi jenis ogon yang hitam metalik akan tampil lebih prima.


Bagaimana cara mengenal dan membedakan antara koi lokal dan koi impor?
+ Untuk memperoleh koi lokal yang bermutu prima, disarankan mendatangi sentra perdagangan koi lokal di Tulungagung, Blitar, Cianjur, atau Sukabumi. Koi lokal tersebut sebenarnya adalah hasil persilangan antara koi impor dan ikan mas (karper). Karena dilahirkan di dalam negeri, nama koi tersebut diberi tambahan lokal. Koi dengan strain berkualitas tidak bisa diperoleh dari satu tempat saja, melainkan harus rajin "berburu" ke berbagai sentra penjualan ikan hias. Secara garis besar, cara membedakan koi lokal dengan koi impor sebagai berikut.

- Warna koi lokal kurang cemerlang dibandingkan dengan koi impor.
- Warna koi impor lebih murni dibandingkan dengan koi lokal. Misalnya,warna putih pada koi impor tidak pudar atau tidak kekuningan.
- Bentuk tubuh koi lokal agak pipih, sedangkan koi impor bentuk tubuhnya lebih bulat tetapi tidak tampak gemuk.
- Sifat koi lokal lebih liar dibandingkan dengan koi impor. Buktinya, koiimpor lebih gampang ditangkap dibandingkan dengan koi lokal.

Sumber : KOI agromedia pustaka