 Nishikigoi are not common Carp !
Nishikigoi are not Common Carp,
Nishikigoi ( Koi ) are in fact semi tropical,
which is why so many are lost each year between Autumn and Summer,
when temperatures in unheated ponds fluctuate so much.
Below 15 degrees C the natural immune system begins to deteriorate,
Below 12 degrees C it is very weak,
Below 10 degrees C it is no match for any parasites, bacterial disease / ulcers etc.
The worst problems occur in Spring, as temperatures begin to rise and fluctuate wildly, between sunny and cold days, the bad bacteria and parasites start to increase quite dramatically,
MUCH faster than the nitrifying and de-nitryfying bacteria we are trying to grow in our filter media,
and MUCH faster than the immune system of Nishikigoi takes to get going again,
hence the horrendous amount of serious problems and fatalities !
Although NOT a popular thing to say to our " non - heated " hobbyists,
I would go as far as to say,
if you are not prepared to heat in winter, to at least 15C, then do NOT keep Nishikigoi at all, choose some other species / hobby.
It is on a par with gardening,
e.g. trying to grow ericacious plants in alkaline soil,
yes you can " barely " keep them alive with chemicals,
BUT they will NEVER thrive,
so best to grow plants to suit your conditions.
You can " barely" keep Nishikigoi alive in UK winters in unheated ponds by using chemicals to combat disease etc,
but it is not only risky,
in my opinion it is cruel !
putting aside the costs, after all these are our pets !
would yoy keep your parrot / budgie outside this winter ?
No ? ........ then why Nishikigoi ?
Incidentally a registered reputable dealer would NOT sell Nishikigoi at this time of year to go in an unheated pond !
So as for talk of sales and Koi going from inside to out in unheated ponds,
I would love to know who ????
Peter.
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