Tuesday, April 12, 2011

K is for Koi Fish


I could not possibly pass by K without blogging about our favorite aquatic pets...our Japanese Koi. My husband has had a love affair with Koi and has been breeding and raising them for years. He's had many ponds built for the sole purpose of providing a happy summer home for his pets, but collaterally, the ponds have served to bring us humans joy as well.

This is Brad acclimatizing and releasing some of the Koi into their new summer home...

Oh, they were happy in there...

They didn't even mind SmellyCat hanging around...

Koi need oxygen, just like humans, so Brad built a little waterfall to aerate the water...

One of Brad's favorite breed of Koi is called an Asagi, which looks like this...

One of my favorite breeds is the Platinum Ginrin (shiny, large scales).  We had one like this that was about 18" long...

Koi are veracious eaters and can even be trained to eat right from your hand... 

This Yondon (four-step) Kohaku will give you an idea of the average size healthy, well-cared for Koi can grow...

I hope you enjoyed my pictorial essay about Koi.  They are a joy to raise and to watch.

See you on L day.
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20 comments:

mooderino said...

Interesting, didn't realise they got so big.
mood
Moody Writing

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Wonderful post , wonderful pictures,Thanks for sharing,

Yvonne,

Alison Pearce Stevens said...

Our neighbors have a koi pond that my boys and I like to watch on the way home from school. They're so soothing. :)

Robyn Campbell said...

Excellent post. I never knew anything about Koi. They are lovely, but I have to wonder about the cat. SmellyCat doesn't bother them?

I've been wanting to build a pond. With a waterfall. Must get hubby to work on that.

Kristal Lee said...

Hi Kelly!
Thanks for stopping by it's Kristal Kleer. I hope you enjoyed browsing.

Your Koi pictures are beautiful. I didn't realize that there are different breeds of Koi. Thank you for sharing!

~k

Sylvia Ney said...

I have always like Koi. The Asagi looks really neat. I'm so glad I found your blog. I'm stopping by from the A to Z challenge and I look forward to reading more from you.

Pearson Report said...

I really enjoyed your photo essay on Koi. It was nice to see the variety and the size of them!

We have some ponds here at our Conservatory and when I am doing a walk-about in it I often sit on a little bench and watch the Koi swim - very hypnotic, very calming.

Lovely post,
Jenny

Sherri Lackey said...

Cool koi!

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Hi Kelly - Thanks for visiting my blog and following. I followed you right back here. :)

Thanks for the Koi facts. I didn't know any of that, and I am especially intrigued that they will eat from your hands! Great post.

Trisha said...

I have to say, I love it when fluffy cats have been shorn. They feel so clean!! :) I'm a cat "ownee" too :D

Fish are great!

And from your bio, you sound like you have a very interesting life!

Misha Gerrick said...

I love Koi. They are so calming to watch. :-)

baygirl32 said...

had no idea they got so big. Very pretty too

http://baygirl32.blogspot.com
visiting from the A to Z

Michael Di Gesu said...

Such beautiful fish. I live in Chicago, a short walking distance from the conservatory and inside is a gorgeous Koi pond. So I can visit them any time I want all year around even in the winter.

Such a great way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.

Anonymous said...

love the pond,
amazing shots.

Anonymous said...

Awards for you, thanks for the support!

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xox

Anonymous said...

This is so interesting. I had no idea there were so many different kinds. What a cool hobby--it's so peaceful to watch fish swimming. Thanks for sharing this!

David Macaulay said...

Koi are pretty, nice post - glad you are surviving the A-Z challenge

Jeff Beesler said...

I'm not sure I want Koi eating right out of my hands. Those fish look like they could take off a finger or two in the attempt!

G.~ said...

Hello Kelly. Those are absolutely beautiful fish. It makes me want to get some and build ponds. Seriously.

Well, it took me a while to get here, but I'm here and so glad I made it.

I forgot about the A-Z. I signed up back in January. So I started today on O. O well.

I'll be back.

Pearson Report said...

Hi Kelly,

Drop by my site I've got a little treat for you!

Cheers, Jenny