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10-09-2019, 06:45 PM #1
Small bit of advice for noob to koi
I've always had fish since I was a kid. One of my ponds has 2 mirrors, 2 golden orfe, 1 shubunkin, 1 kikokuryu koi/ghost carp(same scale pattern and of the koi but colour of a ghostie) plus some gold fish. Now my other pond is where I need help. I've got two butterfly koi, 1 shusui koi(I think) and two goldfish, all the fish are so skittish in this pond, just go and hide by the lily pad. Now I've tried showing that when they see me to associate me with food etc but nothing just swim and hide. Anyone got any suggestions? I was thinking about adding a chagoi or soragoi around the same size to the pond as I've heard these will be the first to feed and ain't as skittish.
Last edited by Benjie; 10-09-2019 at 08:16 PM.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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11-09-2019, 06:43 AM #2
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11-09-2019, 04:32 PM #3
Muscles, what sort of muscles? Used to have a swam muscle but it got ate in the bigger pond.
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11-09-2019, 05:09 PM #4
They like mussels then .
Fred means the frozen Mussels you get from the supermarket or prawns, that's another favourite .
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11-09-2019, 05:59 PM #5
Ahhh now that makes better sense lol. This was in the bigger pond still not 100% what are it. The butterfly, koi and goldfish are only about 2-4" so not big at all and I've only had them about a month now but I'd thought they shouldve got used to me by now.
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11-09-2019, 07:08 PM #6
Need more fish for them to come out their shell safety in numbers and all that
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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11-09-2019, 07:43 PM #7
I was thinking that has theres only like 4 or 5 in there, just need to find a chag that's the same size and a ochiba.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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11-09-2019, 08:52 PM #8
Try a floating feeding ring, put there food inside the ring and leave them to it , it helps them build confidence.
Colin
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11-09-2019, 09:07 PM #9
You've only had them a month, that's not very long really for them to feel settled .
Is it a raised or in ground pond, maybe cats or a Heron has had a little look and
put the fear of god into them . If you can, try and feed them around the same time
each day, mine seem to know when ''grubs up '' and gather around feeding time .
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11-09-2019, 09:11 PM #10
Pre built in the ground 30odd years ago I think if not longer. Same time every day I go down there to feed them. I do have a heron fountain about 3foot away from the pond so that could be scaring them. There are a few herons around my area due to the river and lakes.
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11-09-2019, 09:35 PM #11
Hi
My fish took ages to get to associate me with food now they come straight away, try this, only feed a small amount into a feeding ring, take the uneaten food away and come back a couple of times each evening, I put a small bonsai tree between me and the feeding ring and stood well back to start with and get closer as they get more confident, I was also told to tap the pond gently near the ring each time I fed them this again seems to work, I can now hand feed them and the pond is only twelve months and they are growing well. I keep it covered with a net to stop cats and herons getting close as I feel the fish will come up to the predator as they are so interested in things around the pond. If I'm working in the garden or cleaning the filters they all come to the corner where I'm standing to see if there's anything on offer to eat
Good luck and be patient, the wife thought I was mad stood there talking to the fish, she now feeds the fish by hand too with bread
KevTLast edited by KevT; 11-09-2019 at 09:37 PM.
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11-09-2019, 11:26 PM #12
I sit there with a bottle of bud talking to the new ones and my old girl kikokuryu/ghostie shes gotta be 23 years old now maybe more, was my grandads before he moved house and didn't wanna leave the fish behind. I have noticed that the gold fish bolts first then the koi then the butterflies bolt last like a chain reaction.
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12-09-2019, 07:24 AM #13John
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12-09-2019, 01:10 PM #14
Quick update so stuck my hand in the pond with a small handful of their food so they can see me realising the food. They didn't come out but I walked about 5ft away so they could clearly see me and well that actually came out and started eating while I was there. Slowly but surely i think they are recognising that i mean them no harm etc.
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12-09-2019, 01:15 PM #15
Quick update so stuck my hand in the pond with a small handful of their food so they can see me realising the food. They didn't come out but I walked about 5ft away so they could clearly see me and well that actually came out and started eating while I was there. Slowly but surely i think they are recognising that i mean them no harm etc.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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12-09-2019, 01:18 PM #16
Brilliant mate all steps in the right direction mate as said mussles prawns and a chag . But it's all just time with them feeding sitting at pond or even just working around the pond .
Sent from my SM-N950F using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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12-09-2019, 01:26 PM #17
The pond is part of a rockery, which I am weeding and keeping tidy as spent a bit of money on plants as years ago when my grandad lived here was always looking nice but then once he died it got left same as the pond both have been left for about 10 years now but I thought its about time to get it back up and looking nice again.20190903_155720.jpg
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12-09-2019, 01:32 PM #18
Nice looking pond mate . Might rethink the chag tho and they grow big and fast pond dosent look very big ?? And watch out for water tests as the pressure filter on the top waterfall they anit great for koi pond. But lovely pond and am sure you have it looking it's best again for your grandar
Sent from my SM-N950F using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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12-09-2019, 01:37 PM #19
I do have another pond that's about 4x times bigger thats not got many fish in but that's for the bigger fish or when the little ones out grow it. I'm still playing about with the whole waterfall part and the filter. Been looking for a chag that's about 2-4" to match the size of the others but atm haven't found one as small yet.
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12-09-2019, 02:51 PM #20
Ah sorry mate didnt realise not trying to tel you how to suck eggs sorry . Some one might out me right but would a 6 to 8 inch chag not have more confidence and some times the little ones stick to a bigger fish . I thought size was only a problem when your talking 1 inch and 25 inch fish
Sent from my SM-N950F using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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