Several weeks ago I noticed a couple of Koi small fries in the pond. Now I have dozens in addition to the 10 we put in. Doing a bit of web searching, one site stated:
One way is to stop feeding your Koi the minute you realize that spawning has occurred. Do this for about three weeks. Do not worry about your Koi starving, as they will focus more on natural foods if you are not feeding them daily. This “natural” diet includes their young. The adult Koi will eat their young when they are still eggs or if they are small and resemble insects. Once the baby Koi actually resemble real fish and the adult fish recognize this, they will no longer eat them, so it is important to start this process as soon as you notice spawning.
Therefore, this morning's feeding will be the last until on, or about September 7. I'll put it on my calendar.
If this doesn't work, they suggest giving them away.
I have noticed that the horn wort (it actually may be parrot feather)in the pond is receding. Maybe this is due to the small fries feeding on it. It had, at one point this summer, had occupied almost one-half the lower pond. I pulled some out, but it has receded on its own.
Also, yesterday, I noticed a Koi small fry in the upper pond! No way to get up there except through the circulation pump. Would have been quite a ride!!
Oh no! They eat their young?! :( I hope you have to give them away and they don't eat the little ones.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your sentiment. May I ship or bring some of them to you? I would love to give them away and have offered them to my next door neighbor, who has a pool. I don't think they will survive the chlorine however. By the behavior of two of the koi I added this Spring, I think I know the source of the small fries. I may separate them to see if this reduces the propagation. I might try to put one of them in an aquarium if I can find all the parts.
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