24 replies to this topic

[Julius Leonid Maestral]

I consistently read that a pond needs to be at least four feet deep. My question is, is it possible to raise a koi to its adult maximum size in a shallower pond, say two feet deep and having 6 feet by 6 feet as its area?

[DrDave]

My ponds for the first 38 years were all 18" or less deep. My current deep pond is 30".
That said, deeper is better, but not required, unless you are where it is very cold and you get deep freezes.

[DrCase]

I am 2 ft on my top pond and go from 2 ft to 3 ft on lower pond . I think its enough here

[Julius Leonid Maestral]

Thanks DrDave and DrCase!! Anyway my continuous research somehow made me imply that the deep pond was for the effects of a colder climate. But will the ponds with the dimensions I mentioned in my previous query (6 x 6, 2 feet deep) would be able to produce an adult koi? (say, a feet in length) :100:

[koiguy1969]

a foot long koi is no where near a full grown koi. i have 2 dozen koi 10" and up in a 6'x6' 2' deep pond in my basement. 35+ in total, but at 2' long, i would not be able to support them in that enviroment. you can keep a couple in that size pond to full maturity if you compensate the lack of pond size with high volume, quality filtration,and lots of circulation. by the way thats 540gallons

[c2c7390]

im 5'x5'x2.5' deep but where im from it doesnt freeze...ive seen a 2.5 foot koi come out of a 100 gallon pond...and it was raise from a 5inch fingerling

[Julius Leonid Maestral]

Thanks koiguy1969 and c2c7390! A new problem crept up though = I used to feed my Koi pellets which sink. But since I read overwhelmingly that these fishes should be fed with floating feeds, I myself shifted to such floating feeds. The problem is, after shifting to the ones that float, it seems that the koi are unable to recognize that they are being fed!! they just ignore them. what's up with that?

[DrCase]

When they figure it out they will eat it...start with a mix of the two.

[oldmarine]

Here in Tacoma we are over run with urban racoons. To have a pond here, the pond needs to be a minumum of three feet deep, or be caged in either by netting, or some kind of fencing the coons can't climb over.

I would imagine if Koi were to live in a natural habitat, they would be happier in a body of waterwith some depth to it. Just trying to think like a fish.

[DrDave]

Julius Leonid Maestral said:

Thanks koiguy1969 and c2c7390! A new problem crept up though = I used to feed my Koi pellets which sink. But since I read overwhelmingly that these fishes should be fed with floating feeds, I myself shifted to such floating feeds. The problem is, after shifting to the ones that float, it seems that the koi are unable to recognize that they are being fed!! they just ignore them. what's up with that?

When they get hungry enough, they will figure it out.

[c2c7390]

i dont see a problem with feeding sinking pellets...i feed floating and sinking algae crisps...they eat either

[Julius Leonid Maestral]

you were right on DrDave. I was not able to feed my fishes for a day due to work demands. When I came home the next day which was then already in the afternoon. lo and behold they ate the floaters... :icon_smile:

[Julius Leonid Maestral]

I think the common consensus for feeding koi with floating feeds is mainly for the purpose of consistent and easy monitoring of "how healthy" or "how much" the fish feeds...... just speculating here.

[koiguy1969]

and bonding with your fish is another benefit, they grow to recognise you and will come to greet you as you approach, even get excited to see you, or the food anyways.

[oldmarine]

Good point. Hopefully the neighbers are feeding them enough cat food so they won't make the effort.