Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Koi

Last year I put around 6 or 7 koi into my 1.25 acre pond. I went months without seeing them but now all of a sudden I see 3 different ones and they have gotten pretty big. They went from about 6" to what looks to be around 14" in about a year.

What (if any) are the down sides to having them? I searched PB and really didn't see much info other than a comment about them possibly eating BG eggs.....or maybe that was goldfish that ate the eggs.

Anyway, I am sure I could erraticate them if necessary but is it necessary? I have 2 fish feeders that feed 2 or 3 times per day each so they should never get hungry.

One potential downside is that they stir up the bottom of the pond foraging for food.

If they are left unchecked, without a predator fish to control them, they can overpopulate, and I don't think the offspring are very 'pretty' fish.

Search for Bruce Condello's posts on koipond.com

(kidding, just kidding!)

I am far from an expert, but I will share my thoughts and experiences with koi and carp in ponds.

If you have bass, you shouldn't have too big a risk of issues. Koi are just fancy colored carp. They are actually the exact same species. Most of the koi offspring will also be brightly colored like their parents and make easy targets for bass in your pond. It's those few who have the genetics of the natural wild color that can cause a problem. These fish may not make as easy a target because their natural colors are harder for bass to prey on. This could establish carp in your pond. I think these odds in the average pond are not very high though. Especially if you have a decent bass population without an over abundance of vegetation.

As Sunil said, koi do feed on the bottom and stir up muck and sediments. Even a handul of large adults can begin affecting the clarity of your pond. Koi can reach lengths over 3 feet and live over 20 years. If you're only seeing 3 regularly in a 1.25 acre pond, that is a low number and I wouldn't stress over them. My dad's friend has had several in his trout and catfish ponds and they love to eat the pellets with them and several have been around for 20 years. They are like pets to him and are quite sociable. Allowing you to touch them and handle them.