Expert Care
Koi Keeping Made Simple
Whether you're building your first pond or expanding a collection, this guide covers everything your koi need to thrive from day one. Questions at any point? Our team is a phone call away.
Before Your Koi Arrives
- •Pond size: plan on at least 250 gallons per adult koi; 1,000+ gallons is ideal for a small collection.
- •Filtration: a biological filter rated for your pond volume, fully cycled before fish arrive.
- •Aeration: an air pump or waterfall — koi are oxygen-hungry, especially in warm weather.
- •Test your water: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate under 40 ppm, pH stable between 7.0–8.5.
Acclimation Day
- •Float the sealed shipping bag in your pond for 20–30 minutes to equalize temperature.
- •Open the bag and add a cup of pond water every 5 minutes, three or four times.
- •Net the koi gently from the bag into the pond — never pour the shipping water in.
- •Use the acclimation kit included free with every order; skip feeding for the first 24 hours.
Feeding
- •Feed a quality pellet 1–2 times daily, only what they finish in five minutes.
- •Above 68°F: growth or color-enhancing food. 50–68°F: wheat-germ-based food.
- •Below 50°F: stop feeding entirely — koi metabolism slows and food can rot in the gut.
Seasonal Care
- •Spring: restart feeding slowly, check equipment, watch closely for signs of stress.
- •Summer: prime growing season — feed well, keep aeration strong, top off evaporation.
- •Fall: taper food as temperatures drop, remove leaves before they decay.
- •Winter: keep a hole in any ice for gas exchange; healthy koi winter safely under ice.
Quarantine New Fish
- •Every koi we ship has completed a 14-day professional quarantine — but if you keep other fish, a 2–3 week home quarantine tank is still best practice.
- •Watch for flashing, clamped fins, or sitting on the bottom; contact us at the first sign of trouble.
- •Our support line is available 24/7 for the life of your fish — you're never on your own.