Koi Ponds: Summer Care For Your Fish

Your Koi pond will be at its best during the summer season. Also because of the wonderful temperature, you are able to enjoy it more than during the cold months of winter. But this doesn’t mean that you will be able to stop maintaining your pond’s cleanliness during this time. Here are some reminders one needs to keep in mind when tending to his pond during summer:

Temperatures and Oxygen Supply

Proper precautions should be taken against the decrease in the oxygen level in your ponds during these months. When you notice that your Koi is hanging toward the top of the water or they may look like they’re gasping for air, this could mean that your pond does not have the right oxygen concentration. Waterfalls and fountains are a couple of solutions to this problem. Because they keep the water constantly moving, more oxygen is infused into the system. If such water features are not available, changing your water frequently will also help to do the trick.

Evaporation

Be very alert to the water levels in your pond. Hot temperatures will cause your pond water to evaporate at a much faster rate. Make necessary adjustments to solve this and make sure that your water is chlorine fee when you add it to your pond.

Parasites

Other worries that the summer heat may bring upon your pond is its higher susceptibility to parasites and therefore illnesses for your fish. But since these parasites cannot be seen by your naked eye, the only thing that will help you check is your Koi. Your Koi will show strange behaviors like shaking, shivering, and even rubbing against objects. These are symptoms that will indicate a particular kind of illness, so you need to watch them closely. Other symptoms include spots and bodily changes in your Koi such as losing their fins. In the event that you notice these things, immediately get in touch with your local vet as some of these illnesses (like Koi herpes virus)may prove fatal to your Koi.

Feeding

Feeding your Koi is not only important during the summer months but all throughout the year. But during summer they will need less food and lower protein. Give them just a little more if they still seem hungry even after feeding. Make sure not to give them too much as Koi will only eat what is necessary for them to survive. Spoiled food will only contribute to pollution in your pond.

Because the kids are out of school at this time, you may want to have them involved in feeding and caring for the Koi. This is something every kid would love to do.

Sun,04 Jan 2009 (Hindustan Times)

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