Status Koi.

[Catahoula Ranch]

a few Cyprinus Carpio posing, I just call them Koi. Scooped these out of the pond mid summer just after they were born, Just picked 5 I liked for their color, and kept them in a tank indoors to avoid winter, and to mature. They range from 4-6 inches long now. We will release them into the pond with the others in spring in time to mate.
:Smile: http://catahoularanch.com/pond/koi%20babes.jpg

[CACAdmin]

Hi Don, good to see you. It's been a while. Pretty koi. Sounds like they've done well over the winter. Little did you know at the time that we'd have such a mild winter this year. But it gave you a chance to enjoy the young'uns indoors.

[Catahoula Ranch]

yes, what a mild winter indeed Jay. The pond was frozen over for about 1 week only, in mid December.
The fry I picked are doing very well and growing fast, unlike the outdoor ones hibernating in the pond. This gives them a much better start at life, they should be hardy enough to endure next Winter outside.
:Smile:

[Pamelajo]

Very pretty Koi.

[Catahoula Ranch]

Thanks Pamelajo.
I have found them to be a nice fish to keep. They love brocolli.

[Namor]

Great pic CR, and lucky fish to be headed back to that pond of yours.:yes:

[neon]

those are just gorjous!

[Mrs.JP]

Beautiful fish.
I love the white one.

[Catahoula Ranch]

thanks Mrs.JP.
we call her Tikka, after the Beluga Whale at Vancouver Aquarium.

[neon]

thanks Mrs.JP.
we call her Tikka, after the Beluga Whale at Vancouver Aquarium.


that's cute!

[CACAdmin]

Don, has the pond warmed up enough that the koi out there are active now? or still hibernating?

[Catahoula Ranch]

Hi Jay, the pond has been some trouble this year. I raised the level up a foot, which increased the pond by about 5000 gallons, it was great at the begiining of summer, the pond looks so much bigger. but has been hard to maintain with the extra seepage at the top. I'm having to add about a 1000 gallons of water a day and not really keeping up with water rotation out the overflow drain, with all the sun the water has turned quite green, I know the fish are there, but they are not showing themselves, the fish aren't feeding as much as past years. I think one problem I face is that the water in the pond is very warm and somewhat stagnent, and then I turn the hose on and the water coming out is 53*, so the pond temp flucuates alot, not sure, I have never really checked the temperature.
I have had a Blue Heron in here most days and the fish are quite timid to surface, as well they are been terrorized at night by our local Barred Owl who seems to have a taste for fish. Teresa and I have sat by the pond in the evening and the Owl will fly in and land 15ft away from us, he turns his head around in cicles watching the fish, and then looking at us, if hes going to eat my fish, I at least want to see him do it, but he sees we are there and flys away every time.
It definately has not been the typical summer here, preceded by the longest spring I can recall...
its been 35 degrees most every day for the past 60 days, with very little precipitation. Nothing but water bombers and helicopters with buckets flying by, we have had a lot of smoky days too.
Praying for some significant rainfall to get a good exchange of water happening.
cheers, Don.

[CACAdmin]

Hi Don! Good to hear from you. It definitely hasn't be a 'normal' summer. I'm sure the fish are quite enjoying the green water... good stuff to eat (especially if there are fry). You may not be seeing much of the fish but if that heron is there much of the time, you can be sure there's lots of fish.

I agree with you that it's very inconsiderate of the owl not to at least hunt down the fish while you're watching... after all, you're the one providing the food.

The few light showers we had one day last week weren't even enough to soak into the soil and there isn't really any sign of rain except it is PNE time (Pacific National Exhibition for those of you not familiar with our local fair), so it is possible we'll see some rain. What we really need is a good heavy rainfall overnight.

[Catahoula Ranch]

well the pond is coming back to life, iced over a few times this past winter, I set up a fountain in the longer cold periods to clear some ice. The fish are now swimming around, and eating fish food daily, although very few of last years fry made it through winter. I bought a couple larger Koi to keep indoors this winter, they are now very large and really too small for the 20gal aquarium that they are housed in, they will be released into the pond soon.:Smile:

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the update, Don. Sorry to hear most of the fry didn't make it through the winter. As long as some survive, it will keep the population growing. Will your daughter be helping you release the two in the 20g into the pond? Or is she getting past the stage of being interested in helping out?

Once it warms up a bit more, I wonder if you'll see any mudskippers again this year?

[Catahoula Ranch]

Hi Jay, geez, did I say too small, I meant too big for the tank. : )
Releasing the Koi into the pond is a family affair, they spend some time indoors, aquire a name, and into the pond. : )