Although koi were known in China, Japan has become the home of Nishikigoi. Japanese farmers developed koi from early color mutations found in their stocks of common food carp (Cyprinus carpio) over the two hundred years ago.
The word koi was first used about 2500 years ago in China, but brocaded carp, or Nishikigoi as we know them today, were created in Japan and bred for appreciation. The phrase living jewel was coined by the Japanese to describe the wonderful, colorful fish that graced their ponds. Some early specimens were given as gifts to the Emperor and many are seen in the public gardens around Japan. Nishikigoi first appeared in the fish farming region of Niigata, Japan, when the first colored mutants were extracted from the fish food stocks.
These colored carp were interbred to produce the koi we have today. Although the home of koi is in the Niigata area, koi are now bred across Japan. With modern breeding techniques and the warmer climate in the south, it is possible to achieve excellent growth rates from young fish; a length of 60cm or 24 inches is not uncommon in three years.
New koi breeding begins in April each year. After culling, the best of the fry are put into natural ponds to grow and improve. Older koi are also placed in natural ponds to improve their color and skin quality. These mud, or field, ponds as they are generally known, are found in the mountainous regions and fed by streams or springs. The ponds are harvested in autumn and the koi are taken to a retail outlet for grading and sale.
Dealers from around the world, as well as collectors, visit the koi farms from the middle of October to buy the pick of the newly harvested koi. The invention of the plastic bag in the late 1960s made it possible to transport koi around the world. To ensure that they have a safe journey in unpolluted water, they are not fed for several days before packing to minimize water pollution. The bag is inflated with pure oxygen before the journey to ensure that the koi have an adequate supply.
For more information on Koi, Koi Fish, Koi Pond, and everything related to Koi, please visit http://www.MyOwnKoiPond.com/ which is an educational website devoted to helping people understand Koi, Koi Pond, Koi Fish, and how to take care of their Koi, from the Fish to the Pond. You will also be able to learn how to build a Koi Pond.
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