The Japanese Koi fish

The Carpa Koi fish is a large Asian ornamental fish. This race belongs to the subspecies of carp Cyprinus carpio carpio Linnaeus. Very popular and loved in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, this freshwater fish has been obtained from crosses between a selection of common carps (Cyprinus carpio) that originally lived in paddy fields.

The first signs of its existence are found in China around 500 BC. With the Chinese invasions to Japan this fish arrives in the Japanese country. The first breeding techniques were also found in China, and the first chromatic variations went from red to gray. The first interesting color variation is found at the beginning of the 19th century, with combinations of red, white and yellow.

The Koi Carp are omnivores with a herbivorous tendency. These are fish of a peaceful and sociable nature. Grouped in banks, they go back and forth between their resting places and their feeding areas.

The Koi prefer muddy or sandy bottoms in search of food thanks to their two large pairs of barbels. The higher the temperature of the water, the higher the hunger of the carp. When the temperature drops below 6 ° C, the carp practically stops feeding and goes into a semi-hibernation phase, which can last all winter. At that moment they hide in the bottom of the pond, almost buried in the mud, to protect themselves from the cold.

The carp is known for its longevity. They can usually live between 18-20 years, but some specimens have lived up to 70 years.

Type of aquarium

Koi Carp can only live in ponds, swimming pools or outdoor gardens. They are not able to survive in an aquarium, since each of the adult carps needs at least one cubic meter of water.

Food and diet

This species of fish is fed with any type of fish pond food. The amount absorbed depends on the temperature of the water, and they usually feed better if the food floats. During the winter months, when the water temperature drops below 6-8 degrees, it is not necessary to feed them.

Curiosities of the Carpa Koi fish

Essentially vegetarian, the Koi Carp are not predators despite their large size, something that a priori may surprise. In Southeast Asia, koi carps are considered a symbol of love and virility.

These fish can be found in different colors, being red, white, black and yellow the most common. Some varieties of colors are very appreciated by collectors and reach enormous prices, as long as the fish is not older than two years.

Before we talked about the longevity of the Koi Carp and we have even affirmed that they have lived up to 70 years. But there is a legend that says that a red carp named Hanako lived 226 years.

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