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fish size vs. pond size (and more)
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Posted by old_house_j_i_m 40214 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 2, 09 at 18:21
| hi all, this spring we finally completed getting the pond in the backyard of our new house. It's about 6500 gals and we have only a handful of fish (koi and some comet "feeder fish" that we use to ensure the water and our efforts were working before introducing the koi)
Heres my concern: We had a tiny pond at our previous house and brought a few of the koi with us. We kept them in a 100 gal aquarium till we were able to get the big pond in ground. One factor we did not account for was all the work the new house needed (buying an old house is always a gamble, hu? and this was serious stuff, foundations and roofs and falling ceilings) and we were pressed into keeping the fish in the aquarium for 2 years while the house repairs were being made (no worries, they are completely healthy and happy).
I have heard the old adage about fish growing to suit their environment, but have I stunted these few fish since they are now 4 years old and only about 9 inches long ? They are otherwise healthy and active and normal koi. can they recover now that they are in a considerably larger pond ?
I heard that there is a hormone released by the fish and due to pond size/concentrations of the hormone, the fish can be stunted, but if the pond is larger and the concentration diffuse can they pick up and continue to grow "normally" ? is this the real reason for fish growth (it appeases my scientific side) ? We are changing pond water in hopes of greater diffusion of this hormone. Finally, its been only 3 weeks since moving all the fish and there is no way we could see real growth yet, so any of your educated thoughts are welcome. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: fish size vs. pond size (and more)
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| As the years pass they will grow. Have plenty of vegetation for them to eat. Does not happen over night, but one day you will say wow look how big they have gotten! |
RE: fish size vs. pond size (and more)
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| Thanks Teddcandy, I have been thinking that, but was not 100% sure. hes a similar size to the other koi in the pond, but I am guessing in a few years hell be the runt - thankfully i think hes really beautiful as he is (im not sure, but I think hes a Kin Matsuba "butterfly") |
RE: fish size vs. pond size (and more)
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| I had the same situation where somebody actually gave me a small koi to put into my pond because they were leaving the area. I was shocked to see the fish was only about 6" at 2yrs of age (I've seen Koi growing to 18-20" in 2 years.) Since that time, the little koi has done remarkably well and has grown 12 inches in my pond. You might be right about stunting their growth for all the reasons you've already mentioned, but if you get them in the proper environment I agree with Tedd... your koi should grow. |
RE: fish size vs. pond size (and more)
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| It is goldfish that heard about not koi. Koi usually keep growing unless stunted for other reasons such as poor water quality, poor nutrition or inability to properly develop their muscles from too shallow of water. (they need deep water to swim up and down, not just back and forth) Over the decade that I've been ponding and online I've seen sooo many pictures of huge koi in tiny ponds.....and everyone says "but I was told they will only grow to fit the pond" not true.... |
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