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koi and plants? depends on the pond size.... and the koi's diet...
Koi and plants have been getting along fine for thousands of years.
Koi's that are overstocked in a tiny space and sadly lacking in decent meals will turn on plants when desperate. As a matter of routine, koi like munching on plant roots and anything else they can fit in their mouths... With koi growth rates as much as 2ft in two years, sooner or later they will outgrow many preform tub sized ponds, it might take a well planted area 10'x10' to keep them occupied with plants growing as fast as the koi nibbles them. There are many plants which have koi proof roots. cattails, carex, iris, nuphars are but a few varieties of aquatic plant that can cope with the worst fish grazing. Creating cordoned areas within a pond can create a 'nursery' area for small starts of plants Some like nymphaeas, the water lilies have brittle feeder roots, which, guess what, are sold with weave baskets often, (to make an extra buck) knowing full well your kois will destroy the roots and you will be back for another water lily (kerchung) If you plant water lilies in solid sided containers (a.k.a. buckets) the koi can't get at the brittle feeder roots, they do grow fine in koi pools, unless the lily is way small and delicate. There are several 'vigorous' water lilies that can cope with koi, no problem. Gladstonia, Attraction, alba, AJ Welch, etc spring to mind All in all, a careful selection of aquatic plants will do more for your water quality and koi than any of the way pricey filters and sterilisers ....a lot less bother.... Its not a bad idea to grow plants on, away from the koi pool, in say, large water butts, so when they have established roots and growth, they are strong enough to cope with aggresive fish.... Nicer to look at, too... andy http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html (andys aquatic plant list for interesting swaps) ---------------------oo------------------------ "LYNN FORRES" wrote in message ... the local experts tell us that you never put plants in with koi because they tear them up and make a mess. |
#2
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koi and plants? depends on the pond size.... and the koi's diet...
snip
th koi growth rates as much as 2ft in two years, sooner or later they will outgrow many preform tub sized ponds, it might take a well planted area 10'x10' to keep them occupied with plants growing as fast as the koi nibbles them. snip Nice piece of information Andy - thanks. But I am astonished to learn that koi can grow 2ft per year !!! (Thinks... In years time I will have to look after 16 x 10ft fish! what the heck am I going to feed them on?) Steve. - - Milk floats, stainless steel sinks... |
#3
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koi and plants? depends on the pond size.... and the koi's diet...
Biker2 wrote: snip th koi growth rates as much as 2ft in two years, sooner or later they will outgrow many preform tub sized ponds, it might take a well planted area 10'x10' to keep them occupied with plants growing as fast as the koi nibbles them. snip Nice piece of information Andy - thanks. But I am astonished to learn that koi can grow 2ft per year !!! (Thinks... In years time I will have to look after 16 x 10ft fish! what the heck am I going to feed them on?) Steve. - - Milk floats, stainless steel sinks... -- if Koi are kept in a good environment they can grow to 2 ft in the first year or two then growth slows after several more years they can get to 3 ft see http:/www.coloradokoi for growth charts etc. John Rutz Z5 New Mexico never miss a good oportunity to shut up see my pond at: http://www.fuerjefe.com |
#4
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koi and plants? depends on the pond size.... and the koi's diet...
-- if Koi are kept in a good environment they can grow to 2 ft in the
first year or two then growth slows after several more years they can get to 3 ft John Rutz I recently sold in mid-June 2 butterfly koi that were about 20 inches and 5-6 years old. They went to a much bigger pond, I saw them yesterday and they've not only added girth, but grown 4 more inches! So much for slowing growth after age 3. I guess as the Subject says, "depends on the pond size... and diet.... ~ jan See my ponds and filter design: http://users.owt.com/jjspond/ ~Keep 'em Wet!~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a To e-mail see website |
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