Koi are a legendary fish. Graceful, vibrant, and one of the most recognizable fish in the world, koi are well-loved and respected. Often associated with Japan, koi actually originated from Central Asia in China. They were introduced to Japan by Chinese invaders. The koi got their name around 500 B.C, but the fish itself has been around for much longer. Fossils of ancient koi date back 20 million years. Natural genetic mutation brought about the brilliant colors in koi known today, and in the early 1800s Japanese farmers began keeping them for aesthetics. Over the years, koi fish meaning and symbolism has become iconic around the world.

While koi fish may be known for their grace and beauty, few know that they are also one of the dirtiest and high-maintenance fish to own. Because they like to root up the pond’s bottom surface, and because they produce a lot of waste, koi pond water can easily become mucky and dingy. However, it’s extremely important for you to keep up with your koi’s environment. Keeping on top of maintenance ensures a proactive approach to any problems in the pond, and if problems do arise, you’ll catch them before they become even worse. Koi pond maintenance, while changing from season to season, is essential for the health and wellbeing of your entire koi population.

Adding a new koi to your pond is an exciting experience for any koi keeper, beginner or seasoned. However, when bringing a new koi home to the pond, many koi keepers make one fatal mistake – failure to quarantine. By skipping this essential step, an owner risks the health and wellbeing of the entire pond population. Read ahead to see why a koi quarantine tank is an essential in your koi keeping!

Do you or someone you know have an unused or underutilized backyard swimming pool? If you’re no longer getting the most out of your pool, consider an update! Makeover that neglected pool into something that will add serenity and beauty in your backyard. Converting a swimming pool into a koi pond creates a welcoming addition to any space. And the conversion is much easier than starting a pond from scratch. So ask yourself – swimming pool or koi pool?

The Tancho is one of the most popular koi varieties in the world. A vision of simplicity, this sleek white koi is known for its trademark red pigmentation on the head. Striking and subtle, the Tancho is a vision of the Japanese flag – a white backdrop with a red centered sun. Tancho koi are also named after the Japanese Crane, or Red Crowned Crane, because of their shared red-spotted head.