Caring for koi fry

<p><span style="font-size: small;">Depending on the temperature of the water the eggs will hatch within 4-7 days but not all at the same time. After hatching the fry live off their yolk sac for the first two to three days, after this they will need a constant supply of fry food which is available in either a liquid or powdered form. It is important to feed a high protein food but be careful not to foul the water. It is good practice to feed little and often and test the water regularly for ammonia, nitrite and oxygen. The water must be well aerated but not so much that it damages the delicate fry. If strong water currents build up around the airstones they can easily damage the fry by banging them against the sides of the tank. Filtration should also be kept at a low flow rate so as not to drag the fry into the filter media. To keep the water quality at it's best and avoid a build up of ammonia and nitrites, consider emulating the Japanese and having a constant water change via a trickle feed of fresh water. This will avoid the need for major water changes and stress to the young fry. Liquid and dry food is available from aquatic centers and koi dealers. Choose food that is specifically for egglayers. They contain extracts that help to produce infusoria (see professional Japanese methods) on which the minute fry thrive. The liquid is added to the water via a droplet bottle and should be given two to four times each day, the dry version is a dust like powder and works the same way as the liquid. If conditions are ideal you would expect the fry to be accepting broken up flaked food after a few weeks, alternatively good quality powdered koi pellets can also be given. Some breeders regularly add Montmorillionite clay (a very soft phyllosilicate group of minerals that typically form in microscopic crystals, forming a clay) to the water to supply valuable trace elements. These are easily absorbed by the fry, giving them a really healthy start. Because koi do not have a stomach feeding should continue to be little and often. Another useful addition to the diet is a good quality tropical fish food as again this contains many vital trace elements, plus animal and vegetable extracts. It is important to check for fry that seem to be larger than the average as they may be eating the smaller fry. Remove these to a separate tank or cull them if they show any deformity or are of poor quality. As the koi reach 5cm (2") in length they should be fed on good quality dry food, either in the form of flakes or mini pellets. From this point on use your regular feeding regime. As always, water condition should be monitored regularly as problems can result from poor water quality. Countries outside of Japan do not enjoy their long and very hot summers. In more temperate climates the shorter summers have an impact on the fry as they do not have such a long period of time to develop and grow stronger before winter. Therefore in the autumn it may be necessary to provide heat in the breeding pond/tank or bring the fish indoors. A large aquarium placed in a garage, shed or greenhouse would be suitable for overwintering, returning the fish to the outdoor pond when spring comes.</span></p>