I was enjoying my small koi pond this evening and noticed fish babies. I was aware of eggs earlier this spring but did not think they were old enough to spawn. Here is my problem. I have six koi and one #$% goldfish that somehow got in there. How do I tell if they are really koi or half breeds that I want to cull asap? The babies are just barely big enough to see. The koi are probably about 3-4 years old and the goldfish is from last year. If I need to cull them I will have to pretty much drain the little pond as I intentionally set it up to allow cover for the fish with some large tubs and I know there is no way I will be able to catch them otherwise.
I have fish babies!
From what I've read koi babies will have different colors even early on while the goldfish start more brown. The baby koi will also grow and develop much quicker. But they could be goldfish/koi cross too. I would look and see which ones have color or a begining of a pattern and cull accordingly.
Congratulations Momma! My koi ate all their eggs. I didnt pull any out to let them develop. I thought surely some eggs would survive as the pond was chuck full of them. Stupid! evesta's right. Goldfish fry are mostly brown or bronze with no pattern. I finally got rid of all my goldfish last fall. Whew! Now I have to be careful I don't accidentally reintroduce them by bringing in eggs on pond plants from the local pond store. That's the one thing I don't like about my otherwise great local pond store. They keep goldfish in their plant tanks.
That is how the one goldfish got in. I moved some water lettuce/water hyacinth to provide early shade last year and this one hitchhiked. The ones that I have seen so far appear to be very light in color. They are probably about a quarter inch long right now.
My money's on koi fry.
When you catch them, put each one in a glass jar. Then you will be able to see if they have little barbels....they look like wiskers. The glass jar will magnify the fish making it easier to see. But the fish need to be a little bit bigger, about 3/4 of an inch to see the barbels.
Snapple you might still have babies in your pond. They hide really good!!
I had been moving some and looking for barbels but not seeing any. From what you said they just me be a little to small. There is still hope!
I just could not stand it so I drained the pond and took out all of the babies a while back. While watching the fish I noticed babies. YAAY! These HAVE to be koi as the koi were the only ones left in the pond.
I had started to treat with SAB powder because the fish were not touching the fish food so got rid of a lot of the algea that was on the pots and sides of the pond. I have stopped that now 'cause I do not want the babies to starve. I still throw a small handful of the koi sticks in the pond but have never seen anyone eat it. I also seldom see the koi, they just hide in the bottom along the sides of the large lily tubs. I know they are all still alive because I catch a glimpse every now and then. Do you all think these guys will ever get friendly enough to at least swim around a little? I do not think predators are a problem, it is a stock tank with straight sides that has been sunk into the ground.
This message was edited Aug 8, 2008 6:32 PM
Tetley: How are your babies? It would be real exciting if I heard the splishy-splashy of little koi fins in the near future!
LOL!
Linda
Fish babies seem to be doing well. There are lots of colors and patterns starting to emerge. The babies have figured out that the koi sticks are food and within a few minutes will start to swarm around and pick at the koi sticks. I will see if they are big enough to get a pic of them this weekend. They look to be an inch or so long now although some appear to be a little larger and some a little smaller. They all dart around like they are healthy. Really enjoy visiting them after I get home from work just to watch the little ones. Most of the time I get a visit from my fairly friendly feral boy cat and he will sit in my lap to be petted while I watch the fish.
MM what kind of fish do you have and what kind? Goldfish can spawn at a year old and Koi are supposed to start spawning at three to five years of age. I was suprised by my bunch as I have only had them for two years. They were probably about a year old when I got them though.
Koi fish and some are 3 years old but I don't know their sex . . . I think the more experience I get with my current fish family the more I will be ready for babies. Isn't this a new venture for you as well?
I have more babies then I thought... I moved a few plants into a small container on the deck. On Saturday I was going to drain it out. Stuck a bucket in and it was full of fry!!! Many of them died since then but the few remaining I pulled out and put them in another container. Plus I have more in the pond, all sizes. Plus I have a fry tub of larger captures. PLUS I have two big babies sharing my new 20 gallon long aquarium with my new baby calico fantail... because I NEEDED more fish!!!
How do you fry proof a fountain pump???
I just bought a 55 gallon aquarium for the winter. I'm thinking its time to look into some Wakin;)
Yes, I had never had koi before and really have enjoyed what I can see of them. They are always hiding. The babies however are fascinating as the dart around during dinner time.