Lighting for Koi under Shade

[Alan T]

Need advise on type of lighting for koi. My pond is under shade and koi starts to lose their colour.

Is the lighting the only solution to restore their colour?

 

[mrsclem]

There are koi foods that enhance the coloration of the fish. Not sure what is available in Malaysia

 

[Alan T]

The food that I used is with colour enhancement-Misaki brand. The issue is that my pond is under shade.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome! How much shade is there, and how big is the pond — just curious?

 

[j.w]

@Alan T
I read that stress, water quality, food, predator attacks, injury, sickness, changes in water temp can dull their colors. Also read that koi get duller as they get old. Females may lose some color during spawning. Said koi are also more colorful in cold water. So in Summer when the temps are higher the koi may become duller.
Nowhere did I see where more sunshine would help w/more colors.

 

[mrsclem]

Differ on that- with them not eating during winter, the color can fade. Once they start munching on plants the color builds. Starting to get some really vibrant colors on some of mine now and other than a few cheerios, they haven't been fed. I'm not sure if the colors are different in shade or if its the sunlight that brings out the colors.

 

[Alan T]

Hello and welcome! How much shade is there, and how big is the pond — just curious?

The pond is covered under building. Will 9nky receive slight sunlight in the early morning. Mine is 7ft length, 4.5ft wide and 3 ft depth.

 

[Alan T]

Differ on that- with them not eating during winter, the color can fade. Once they start munching on plants the color builds. Starting to get some really vibrant colors on some of mine now and other than a few cheerios, they haven't been fed. I'm not sure if the colors are different in shade or if its the sunlight that brings out the colors

 

[Alan T]

No winter here. It is sunshine whole year long. My water lily almost destroyed by them..

 

[Alan T]

View attachment 148575@Alan T
I read that stress, water quality, food, predator attacks, injury, sickness, changes in water temp can dull their colors. Also read that koi get duller as they get old. Females may lose some color during spawning. Said koi are also more colorful in cold water. So in Summer when the temps are higher the koi may become duller.
Nowhere did I see where more sunshine would help w/more colors.

Your pond is at open space or indoor? It is recommended by the koi expert here that particular koi species like Ogon and Ochiba will need sunlight to have brighter colour..