Question:
Hello. We’ll I’ve had my fish in pond for 1 week now and have some questions. First off I should qualify my statement. The pond is actually at my folks house and really is my mothers project. I will claim it as mine here however, because I do have an interest in it and two of the fish are mine. I go over to visit and help make improvements. I’ve read and learned several tips from this group. These are my current questions if someone can help, I appreciate it. Pond located in Central Valley of Ca. Water temp. is 50 degrees. 1. We forgot to ask how old the fish are when we purchased them. The Koi are about 5 inches long (their bodies excluding tails). How old do you think this is? 2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little (mostly chop peas). 3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are. 4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were). It is solid, not transparent like the other Koi. His other little fin is underdeveloped or is just plain missing. Do they grow new ones or can he get by as he grows with just one? I don’t want to return him as he has bonded with others and anyway, he’s perfect like he is. I just am curious if others have any suggestions or information about this. 5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. Sandra :>)
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Can’t help with any of your questions but one…. And yes, it is normal to name your fish! ~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
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Hi Sandra I’m in the central valley also. All of my fish Indoor and outdoor have names. Koi 5" long not counting fins probably 1 year or less. I bought some nice little Koi 18 months ago they were 3"to 4" long including fins. Its Strange but they all grew at different speeds, they now range from 8" to 18". Some feed more aggressively than others and grow quicker. I just bought a Red Cap Oranda this week from Koi & Country in Visalia they had them on sale. She was so cute I couldn’t resist , snow white with a bright red head, I named her Lucy ( because she’s a red head ) Lucy is just a little smaller than a tennis ball and just as round. 
I’m not sure how long they live, but I’m sure someone here does. I have my Goldfish in a 60 gal aquarium in the house, This cures my ponding withdrawals during winter. Inspect your koi’s fin carefully , Is the fin deteriorating or just deformed? If it is fin rot you need to treat it right away. Michael USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 9 My Pond Page http://home.inreach.com/garden4u – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hello. >We’ll I’ve had my fish in pond for 1 week now and have some questions. First >off I should qualify my statement. The pond is actually at my folks house >and really is my mothers project. I will claim it as mine here however, >because I do have an interest in it and two of the fish are mine. I go over >to visit and help make improvements. I’ve read and learned several tips from >this group. These are my current questions if someone can help, I appreciate >it. Pond located in Central Valley of Ca. Water temp. is 50 degrees. >1. We forgot to ask how old the fish are when we purchased them. The Koi are >about 5 inches long (their bodies excluding tails). How old do you think >this is? >2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas). >3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be >interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are. >4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is >Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I >noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were). It is >solid, not transparent like the other Koi. His other little fin is >underdeveloped or is just plain missing. Do they grow new ones or can he get >by as he grows with just one? I don’t want to return him as he has bonded >with others and anyway, he’s perfect like he is. I just am curious if others >have any suggestions or information about this. >5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. >Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. >Sandra :>)
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Here goes; >Hello. >We’ll I’ve had my fish in pond for 1 week now and have some questions. First >off I should qualify my statement. The pond is actually at my folks house >and really is my mothers project. I will claim it as mine here however, >because I do have an interest in it and two of the fish are mine. I go over >to visit and help make improvements. I’ve read and learned several tips from >this group. These are my current questions if someone can help, I appreciate >it. Pond located in Central Valley of Ca. Water temp. is 50 degrees. >1. We forgot to ask how old the fish are when we purchased them. The Koi are >about 5 inches long (their bodies excluding tails). How old do you think >this is?
Most likely about 7 to 9 months. >2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).
I don’t do goldfish. >3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be >interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are.
My oldest koi are about the same as me (40 years). They can live to be much older, oldest documented, about 228 years. >4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is >Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I >noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were). It is >solid, not transparent like the other Koi. His other little fin is >underdeveloped or is just plain missing. Do they grow new ones or can he get >by as he grows with just one? I don’t want to return him as he has bonded >with others and anyway, he’s perfect like he is. I just am curious if others >have any suggestions or information about this.
Most likely a congenital deformity. This can be genetic, a problem during hatching (too hot or too cold), or a spontaneous defect. If it is a fin that was cut off for some reason, it might grow back. Usually this is not a big problem for "pond" grade fish. If you like the fish, who cares it is missing a fin? If you are to show the fish, it will be DQed and not judged. >5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name.
Of course not. Its not even "normal" to have a fish pond. All that work? All that money? Anybody in thier right mind would not have a fish pond, let alone be crazy enough to name their fish. However, you are in a fine company of nuts and crazies, consider yourself assimilated. Welcome to the collective. Resistance is futile. Brett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. >Sandra :>)
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>Of course not. Its not even "normal" to have a fish pond. All that work? >All that money? Anybody in thier right mind would not have a fish pond, let >alone be crazy enough to name their fish. However, you are in a fine >company of nuts and crazies, consider yourself assimilated. Welcome to the >collective. Resistance is futile. >Brett
LOL! Ah, but Brett, the more we assimilate the pondless, the more abnormal it will be NOT to have a pond. ;o) ~ jan
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>2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).
If it’s swimming & looking normal I wouldn’t worry, if not, you’ll have to move it inside and see if that helps. These fish aren’t as winter hardy as koi or regular goldfish. Were they in an outside pond when you bought them? >3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be >interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are.
I’ve heard the average is 6-8 years, but can go to 20 years. I haven’t had too many survive for long due to more mechanical than illness problems. A couple have been sucked in the filter and then some of my longest lived were put in a toxic patio pond two years ago and they all died. So right now the oldest ones I have are in the house and I’ve had them about 2 years. >4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is >Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I >noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were).
If the fin is totally gone, I’d be surprised if it grows back. If it still has at least the front, 1st bone of the fin there is more hope. Usually any goldfish or koi that we ‘ordinary’ people buy from pet shops have some defect. I have a long fin, with one pectoral fin shorter than the other. This didn’t become obvious until the second year I had it, but I bet the culler saw it and said, pretty enough to go to PetsMart, but deformed and can’t go to the better places >5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name.
I have a few with names, after I’ve noticed a personalty. See my ponds thru the seasons: http://home.earthlink.net/~alanjordan1/jjspond/index.html ~Keep ‘em Wet!~ ~jan~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a Remove Z to E-mail
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Michael Thanks. I like your pond gallery photos. Nice quality shots! Sandra :>) K30 What is most unusual name for one of your fish? I need to think of two more names. Sandra :>) We are Borg, huh brett? Sandra :>)
Welcome to the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->collective. Resistance is futile. >Brett >Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. >Sandra :>)
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My most unusual name?? I used to have Spot and No Spot. But now only have Spot. Also used to have Monstro and I still miss him. The rest are Captain Ahab, Hi Ho Silver, Thing One and Thing Two. A goldfish named Angelfish as she is white with long white fins. The rest of the goldfish are named ’the rest of ‘em’. One strange fish that is white and gold with a black tail, appeared as a baby this year named ‘that ugly fish’. And the Sushi Brothers – the golden orphe. ~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
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>>Of course not. Its not even "normal" to have a fish pond. All that work? >All that money? Anybody in thier right mind would not have a fish pond, let >alone be crazy enough to name their fish. However, you are in a fine >company of nuts and crazies, consider yourself assimilated. Welcome to the >collective. Resistance is futile. >Brett >LOL! Ah, but Brett, the more we assimilate the pondless, the more >abnormal it will be NOT to have a pond. ;o) ~ jan
And indeed, that is my goal! Brett
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>My most unusual name?? >I used to have Spot and No Spot. But now only have Spot. >Also used to have Monstro and I still miss him. >The rest are Captain Ahab, Hi Ho Silver, Thing One and Thing Two. >A goldfish named Angelfish as she is white with long white fins. >The rest of the goldfish are named ’the rest of ‘em’. >One strange fish that is white and gold with a black tail, appeared as a baby >this year named ‘that ugly fish’. >And the Sushi Brothers – the golden orphe. >~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
Some koi names I’ve heard: Bozo, a red nosed kohaku, won many prizes. My Fair Lady, a breeder friend’s sanke. Mokoto (the truth), a collector’s sanke. Ringer, another collector’s sanke, name fits. Darth Vader, a dark longfin. Peony, a collector’s kohaku. I’ve got a million more. Funny thing, most of my koi keeping friends only name a few or certain ones. The rest are "that fish" or called by breed. Brett
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>We are Borg, huh brett? >Sandra :>)
No, we are _Porg_. The Borg don’t have nice ponds…
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>Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve go
NORMAL??! heck, we name our dogs, our fish, even our bamboo plants. it makes it a little harder to say goodbye when they leave, (but we did it with our kids) but the bond is good while they’re here, and they’re here now. (and it’s easier to refer to them by name at the breakfast table than to say "you know, the one that used to be 3 inches but is now 3.5 and had the black spot on it’s pectoral until the racoon tore it off… ", especially before coffee!
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Sandra, > We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes
those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little (mostly chop peas).<< I have two oranda bot at the same time, same age and we for all intent and purpose twins. I names them Frick and Frack. Well, Frick is now twice the size of Frack. They get the same things to eat and live in the same environment, so I guess it’s in the genes. > My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name.
I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome to world of fish pets. :-) Karen Houston, TX Zone 9a Member Internet Pond Society – IPS Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
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>>Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve go >NORMAL??! heck, we name our dogs, our fish, even our bamboo plants. it makes >it a little harder to say goodbye when they leave, (but we did it with our >kids) but the bond is good while they’re here, and they’re here now. (and it’s >easier to refer to them by name at the breakfast table than to say "you know, >the one that used to be 3 inches but is now 3.5 and had the black spot on it’s >pectoral until the racoon tore it off… ", especially before coffee!
When I lived on a farm in E. Texas we raised a few pigs. I lived next to several grain storage bins and when they ran the driers a lot of grain dust collected in a pile outside, perfect pig food. Anyway, when we got the first little porkers from a nearby farm I was adamant that nobody could name them, and I was always right because I was the manager. They lived in a yard behind the Mexican’s house (another funny story in here about the boss/owner who had to keep different housing for all the races, E. Texas, you know). Well, it wasn’t half a day before we had Petunia, Maria, and Sun Li (we had two white families, a crew of five Mexicans and a Chinaman at the time on the farm). We all collected slop in buckets for the pigs, which one of the guys had as a chore to collect each day and feed with the cracked grain. Sometimes we would go up to the pig yard and watch the pigs, especially on Friday nights after coming home from Wal-Mart (not much doing in Crockett in those days). After about six months or so it came time to send the pigs away to the butcher. You would have thought we had all lost our dogs that day. Every time we had bacon or pork chops somebody would have to say something along the lines of "I wonder if this is Petunia?" We didn’t learn our lesson, though, we named every damn pig we ever raised. Sometimes, I really miss living in E. Texas. Brett
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: >Sandra, >> We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).<< >I have two oranda bot at the same time, same age and we for all intent and >purpose twins. I names them Frick and Frack. Well, Frick is now twice the >size of Frack. They get the same things to eat and live in the same >environment, so I guess it’s in the genes. >> My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >>Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. >I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-) >Karen >Houston, TX Zone 9a >Member Internet Pond Society – IPS >Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html >and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at >http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
Very interesting comment on Karen’s part. Something that bears pointing out. Most Japanese and many Americans do not keep fish as pets. They keep them as pieces of art work. If something happens to the fish, such as the colors fading in old age, that fish is unceremoniously destroyed to make room for another. Sometimes, they still have names for the fish. Sometimes, they say they don’t keep pets, but I know better. Mostly, for me, the fish are not pets. Many represent huge sums of investment capital. Some of my fish I own as part of a consortium as they cost way more than any one of us could come up with. When I lose a fish, it is a great loss of money in many cases, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. However, it is still just a fish. I’ve lost dogs that were given to me and my heart was broken. Brett
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writes: >I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-)
Woe is me! I’m a ‘false’ ponder . I have never named my fish. Sometimes others have named some of my tropicals (which definitely _are_ pets), but nobody has ever given names to my pond fish (which are pretty, and they’re mosquito control, but they’re not pets). If I named them, I’d have to worry about them when they disappear. Of the six that went into the pond in spring (who I’d been keeping for 7+ years), there are only three left. No sign of predators other than the neighborhood cats (including mine). I’m glad I didn’t know their names. As it is, there’s a few hundred replacements there for the ones I put in. The oldest are almost 4" long already. — rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html O! a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! <Shakespeare>
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> When I lived on a farm in E. Texas we raised a few pigs. I lived next to >several grain storage bins and when they ran the driers a lot of grain dust >collected in a pile outside, perfect pig food.
We have the big mill across the road from us, and we get the bran floating around at this time of year. It’s been a bit of a worry for me since the pond is practically at freezing point now, and there’s all this corn bran coming down on it – the fish are getting more food now than they ever get the rest of the year, when they shouldn’t be being fed at all. — rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html O! a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! <Shakespeare>
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ponder. I’ve never named my fish. Derek, Looks like you and I have one more thing in common…I’ve never named my koi either. I look on them as works of art as someone mentioned. Nedra Crow St. Louis, Missouri
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ponder. I’ve never named my fish. Derek, Looks like you and I have one more thing in common…I’ve never named my koi either. I look on them as works of art as someone mentioned. Nedra Crow St. Louis, Missouri OK Nedra. So now I have a name for one of the remaining two. Abstract. Sandra :>)
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I like Sushi Bros. best. Sandra :>) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >My most unusual name?? >I used to have Spot and No Spot. But now only have Spot. >Also used to have Monstro and I still miss him. >The rest are Captain Ahab, Hi Ho Silver, Thing One and Thing Two. >A goldfish named Angelfish as she is white with long white fins. >The rest of the goldfish are named ’the rest of ‘em’. >One strange fish that is white and gold with a black tail, appeared as a baby >this year named ‘that ugly fish’. >And the Sushi Brothers – the golden orphe. >~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
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Thanks Karen! Sandra :>) p.s.Wilbur still living up to his name. Some of those peas sink into a flat rock crevice at pond bottom and Wilbur has to stand on his nose with his bright orange behind stuck straight up, in order to snag those peas. It’s a hoot. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-) >Karen >Houston, TX Zone 9a >Member Internet Pond Society – IPS >Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html >and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at >http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >writes: >Sandra, >>> We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really >likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. >Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).<< >I have two oranda bot at the same time, same age and we for all intent and >purpose twins. I names them Frick and Frack. Well, Frick is now twice the >size of Frack. They get the same things to eat and live in the same >environment, so I guess it’s in the genes. >>> My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >>>Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. >I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. >Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-) >Karen >Houston, TX Zone 9a >Member Internet Pond Society – IPS >Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html >and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at >http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html > Very interesting comment on Karen’s part. Something that bears pointing >out. Most Japanese and many Americans do not keep fish as pets. They keep >them as pieces of art work. If something happens to the fish, such as the >colors fading in old age, that fish is unceremoniously destroyed to make >room for another. Sometimes, they still have names for the fish. >Sometimes, they say they don’t keep pets, but I know better. >Mostly, for me, the fish are not pets. Many represent huge sums of >investment capital. Some of my fish I own as part of a consortium as they >cost way more than any one of us could come up with. When I lose a fish, it >is a great loss of money in many cases, sometimes tens of thousands of >dollars. However, it is still just a fish. I’ve lost dogs that were given >to me and my heart was broken. >Brett
I’ve got a cat that is very important to me but I think these fish will grow on me too. As for investments, I prefer stocks, they don’t croak …(usually). Sandra :>)
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>Looks like you and I have one more thing in common…I’ve never named my >koi either. I look on them as works of art as someone mentioned. >So now I have a name for one of the remaining two. >Abstract.
LOL! It almost makes the idea of naming them seem worth it. To tell the truth, if I’d made the jump to Koi, I’d probably have names too. I just can’t see naming (or putting too much effort into protecting) feeder comets. Even if they are over 8". — rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere. – Voltaire
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>>Abstract. >LOL! It almost makes the idea of naming them seem worth it. >To tell the truth, if I’d made the jump to Koi, I’d probably have >names too. I just can’t see naming (or putting too much effort into >protecting) feeder comets. Even if they are over 8".
You can call your group of feeders the Petshop Survivors, or Pound Fishies? Hmmm, is there a beanie baby out there for us? How come there are no koi beanie babies? I want a koi beanie baby!!!!! ~ jan
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> >>Abstract. >LOL! It almost makes the idea of naming them seem worth it. >To tell the truth, if I’d made the jump to Koi, I’d probably have >names too. I just can’t see naming (or putting too much effort into >protecting) feeder comets. Even if they are over 8". > You can call your group of feeders the Petshop Survivors, or Pound > Fishies? Hmmm, is there a beanie baby out there for us? How come there > are no koi beanie babies? I want a koi beanie baby!!!!! ~ jan
Just what type of koi beanie baby would you like? I think I’ll try to make one. A tancho might be fairly easy – much easier than trying to breed one. — Bonnie NJ http://www.users.fast.net/~maebe/index.htm
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Hello. We’ll I’ve had my fish in pond for 1 week now and have some questions. First off I should qualify my statement. The pond is actually at my folks house and really is my mothers project. I will claim it as mine here however, because I do have an interest in it and two of the fish are mine. I go over to visit and help make improvements. I’ve read and learned several tips from this group. These are my current questions if someone can help, I appreciate it. Pond located in Central Valley of Ca. Water temp. is 50 degrees. 1. We forgot to ask how old the fish are when we purchased them. The Koi are about 5 inches long (their bodies excluding tails). How old do you think this is? 2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little (mostly chop peas). 3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are. 4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were). It is solid, not transparent like the other Koi. His other little fin is underdeveloped or is just plain missing. Do they grow new ones or can he get by as he grows with just one? I don’t want to return him as he has bonded with others and anyway, he’s perfect like he is. I just am curious if others have any suggestions or information about this. 5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. Sandra :>)
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Can’t help with any of your questions but one…. And yes, it is normal to name your fish! ~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
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Hi Sandra I’m in the central valley also. All of my fish Indoor and outdoor have names. Koi 5" long not counting fins probably 1 year or less. I bought some nice little Koi 18 months ago they were 3"to 4" long including fins. Its Strange but they all grew at different speeds, they now range from 8" to 18". Some feed more aggressively than others and grow quicker. I just bought a Red Cap Oranda this week from Koi & Country in Visalia they had them on sale. She was so cute I couldn’t resist , snow white with a bright red head, I named her Lucy ( because she’s a red head ) Lucy is just a little smaller than a tennis ball and just as round. I’m not sure how long they live, but I’m sure someone here does. I have my Goldfish in a 60 gal aquarium in the house, This cures my ponding withdrawals during winter. Inspect your koi’s fin carefully , Is the fin deteriorating or just deformed? If it is fin rot you need to treat it right away. Michael USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 9 My Pond Page http://home.inreach.com/garden4u – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hello. >We’ll I’ve had my fish in pond for 1 week now and have some questions. First >off I should qualify my statement. The pond is actually at my folks house >and really is my mothers project. I will claim it as mine here however, >because I do have an interest in it and two of the fish are mine. I go over >to visit and help make improvements. I’ve read and learned several tips from >this group. These are my current questions if someone can help, I appreciate >it. Pond located in Central Valley of Ca. Water temp. is 50 degrees. >1. We forgot to ask how old the fish are when we purchased them. The Koi are >about 5 inches long (their bodies excluding tails). How old do you think >this is? >2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas). >3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be >interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are. >4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is >Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I >noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were). It is >solid, not transparent like the other Koi. His other little fin is >underdeveloped or is just plain missing. Do they grow new ones or can he get >by as he grows with just one? I don’t want to return him as he has bonded >with others and anyway, he’s perfect like he is. I just am curious if others >have any suggestions or information about this. >5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. >Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. >Sandra :>)
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Here goes; >Hello. >We’ll I’ve had my fish in pond for 1 week now and have some questions. First >off I should qualify my statement. The pond is actually at my folks house >and really is my mothers project. I will claim it as mine here however, >because I do have an interest in it and two of the fish are mine. I go over >to visit and help make improvements. I’ve read and learned several tips from >this group. These are my current questions if someone can help, I appreciate >it. Pond located in Central Valley of Ca. Water temp. is 50 degrees. >1. We forgot to ask how old the fish are when we purchased them. The Koi are >about 5 inches long (their bodies excluding tails). How old do you think >this is?
Most likely about 7 to 9 months. >2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).
I don’t do goldfish. >3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be >interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are.
My oldest koi are about the same as me (40 years). They can live to be much older, oldest documented, about 228 years. >4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is >Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I >noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were). It is >solid, not transparent like the other Koi. His other little fin is >underdeveloped or is just plain missing. Do they grow new ones or can he get >by as he grows with just one? I don’t want to return him as he has bonded >with others and anyway, he’s perfect like he is. I just am curious if others >have any suggestions or information about this.
Most likely a congenital deformity. This can be genetic, a problem during hatching (too hot or too cold), or a spontaneous defect. If it is a fin that was cut off for some reason, it might grow back. Usually this is not a big problem for "pond" grade fish. If you like the fish, who cares it is missing a fin? If you are to show the fish, it will be DQed and not judged. >5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name.
Of course not. Its not even "normal" to have a fish pond. All that work? All that money? Anybody in thier right mind would not have a fish pond, let alone be crazy enough to name their fish. However, you are in a fine company of nuts and crazies, consider yourself assimilated. Welcome to the collective. Resistance is futile. Brett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. >Sandra :>)
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>Of course not. Its not even "normal" to have a fish pond. All that work? >All that money? Anybody in thier right mind would not have a fish pond, let >alone be crazy enough to name their fish. However, you are in a fine >company of nuts and crazies, consider yourself assimilated. Welcome to the >collective. Resistance is futile. >Brett
LOL! Ah, but Brett, the more we assimilate the pondless, the more abnormal it will be NOT to have a pond. ;o) ~ jan
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>2. We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).
If it’s swimming & looking normal I wouldn’t worry, if not, you’ll have to move it inside and see if that helps. These fish aren’t as winter hardy as koi or regular goldfish. Were they in an outside pond when you bought them? >3. How long do Oranda’s live? I know Koi’s can get old. I would be >interested in knowing how old your oldest fish are.
I’ve heard the average is 6-8 years, but can go to 20 years. I haven’t had too many survive for long due to more mechanical than illness problems. A couple have been sucked in the filter and then some of my longest lived were put in a toxic patio pond two years ago and they all died. So right now the oldest ones I have are in the house and I’ve had them about 2 years. >4. My main question regards a Koi with a white body and yellow head (name is >Lester). He doesn’t have a fancy "butterfly?" tail like the 2 other Koi. I >noticed today that he only uses one side fin (his arm as it were).
If the fin is totally gone, I’d be surprised if it grows back. If it still has at least the front, 1st bone of the fin there is more hope. Usually any goldfish or koi that we ‘ordinary’ people buy from pet shops have some defect. I have a long fin, with one pectoral fin shorter than the other. This didn’t become obvious until the second year I had it, but I bet the culler saw it and said, pretty enough to go to PetsMart, but deformed and can’t go to the better places >5. My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name.
I have a few with names, after I’ve noticed a personalty. See my ponds thru the seasons: http://home.earthlink.net/~alanjordan1/jjspond/index.html ~Keep ‘em Wet!~ ~jan~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a Remove Z to E-mail
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Michael Thanks. I like your pond gallery photos. Nice quality shots! Sandra :>) K30 What is most unusual name for one of your fish? I need to think of two more names. Sandra :>) We are Borg, huh brett? Sandra :>)
Welcome to the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->collective. Resistance is futile. >Brett >Thanks and sorry for lengthy post. Need lots of advise at this stage. >Sandra :>)
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My most unusual name?? I used to have Spot and No Spot. But now only have Spot. Also used to have Monstro and I still miss him. The rest are Captain Ahab, Hi Ho Silver, Thing One and Thing Two. A goldfish named Angelfish as she is white with long white fins. The rest of the goldfish are named ’the rest of ‘em’. One strange fish that is white and gold with a black tail, appeared as a baby this year named ‘that ugly fish’. And the Sushi Brothers – the golden orphe. ~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
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>>Of course not. Its not even "normal" to have a fish pond. All that work? >All that money? Anybody in thier right mind would not have a fish pond, let >alone be crazy enough to name their fish. However, you are in a fine >company of nuts and crazies, consider yourself assimilated. Welcome to the >collective. Resistance is futile. >Brett >LOL! Ah, but Brett, the more we assimilate the pondless, the more >abnormal it will be NOT to have a pond. ;o) ~ jan
And indeed, that is my goal! Brett
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>My most unusual name?? >I used to have Spot and No Spot. But now only have Spot. >Also used to have Monstro and I still miss him. >The rest are Captain Ahab, Hi Ho Silver, Thing One and Thing Two. >A goldfish named Angelfish as she is white with long white fins. >The rest of the goldfish are named ’the rest of ‘em’. >One strange fish that is white and gold with a black tail, appeared as a baby >this year named ‘that ugly fish’. >And the Sushi Brothers – the golden orphe. >~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
Some koi names I’ve heard: Bozo, a red nosed kohaku, won many prizes. My Fair Lady, a breeder friend’s sanke. Mokoto (the truth), a collector’s sanke. Ringer, another collector’s sanke, name fits. Darth Vader, a dark longfin. Peony, a collector’s kohaku. I’ve got a million more. Funny thing, most of my koi keeping friends only name a few or certain ones. The rest are "that fish" or called by breed. Brett
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>We are Borg, huh brett? >Sandra :>)
No, we are _Porg_. The Borg don’t have nice ponds…
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>Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve go
NORMAL??! heck, we name our dogs, our fish, even our bamboo plants. it makes it a little harder to say goodbye when they leave, (but we did it with our kids) but the bond is good while they’re here, and they’re here now. (and it’s easier to refer to them by name at the breakfast table than to say "you know, the one that used to be 3 inches but is now 3.5 and had the black spot on it’s pectoral until the racoon tore it off… ", especially before coffee!
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Sandra, > We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes
those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little (mostly chop peas).<< I have two oranda bot at the same time, same age and we for all intent and purpose twins. I names them Frick and Frack. Well, Frick is now twice the size of Frack. They get the same things to eat and live in the same environment, so I guess it’s in the genes. > My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name.
I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome to world of fish pets. :-) Karen Houston, TX Zone 9a Member Internet Pond Society – IPS Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
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>>Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve go >NORMAL??! heck, we name our dogs, our fish, even our bamboo plants. it makes >it a little harder to say goodbye when they leave, (but we did it with our >kids) but the bond is good while they’re here, and they’re here now. (and it’s >easier to refer to them by name at the breakfast table than to say "you know, >the one that used to be 3 inches but is now 3.5 and had the black spot on it’s >pectoral until the racoon tore it off… ", especially before coffee!
When I lived on a farm in E. Texas we raised a few pigs. I lived next to several grain storage bins and when they ran the driers a lot of grain dust collected in a pile outside, perfect pig food. Anyway, when we got the first little porkers from a nearby farm I was adamant that nobody could name them, and I was always right because I was the manager. They lived in a yard behind the Mexican’s house (another funny story in here about the boss/owner who had to keep different housing for all the races, E. Texas, you know). Well, it wasn’t half a day before we had Petunia, Maria, and Sun Li (we had two white families, a crew of five Mexicans and a Chinaman at the time on the farm). We all collected slop in buckets for the pigs, which one of the guys had as a chore to collect each day and feed with the cracked grain. Sometimes we would go up to the pig yard and watch the pigs, especially on Friday nights after coming home from Wal-Mart (not much doing in Crockett in those days). After about six months or so it came time to send the pigs away to the butcher. You would have thought we had all lost our dogs that day. Every time we had bacon or pork chops somebody would have to say something along the lines of "I wonder if this is Petunia?" We didn’t learn our lesson, though, we named every damn pig we ever raised. Sometimes, I really miss living in E. Texas. Brett
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: >Sandra, >> We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).<< >I have two oranda bot at the same time, same age and we for all intent and >purpose twins. I names them Frick and Frack. Well, Frick is now twice the >size of Frack. They get the same things to eat and live in the same >environment, so I guess it’s in the genes. >> My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >>Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. >I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-) >Karen >Houston, TX Zone 9a >Member Internet Pond Society – IPS >Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html >and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at >http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
Very interesting comment on Karen’s part. Something that bears pointing out. Most Japanese and many Americans do not keep fish as pets. They keep them as pieces of art work. If something happens to the fish, such as the colors fading in old age, that fish is unceremoniously destroyed to make room for another. Sometimes, they still have names for the fish. Sometimes, they say they don’t keep pets, but I know better. Mostly, for me, the fish are not pets. Many represent huge sums of investment capital. Some of my fish I own as part of a consortium as they cost way more than any one of us could come up with. When I lose a fish, it is a great loss of money in many cases, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. However, it is still just a fish. I’ve lost dogs that were given to me and my heart was broken. Brett
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writes: >I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-)
Woe is me! I’m a ‘false’ ponder . I have never named my fish. Sometimes others have named some of my tropicals (which definitely _are_ pets), but nobody has ever given names to my pond fish (which are pretty, and they’re mosquito control, but they’re not pets). If I named them, I’d have to worry about them when they disappear. Of the six that went into the pond in spring (who I’d been keeping for 7+ years), there are only three left. No sign of predators other than the neighborhood cats (including mine). I’m glad I didn’t know their names. As it is, there’s a few hundred replacements there for the ones I put in. The oldest are almost 4" long already. — rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html O! a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! <Shakespeare>
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> When I lived on a farm in E. Texas we raised a few pigs. I lived next to >several grain storage bins and when they ran the driers a lot of grain dust >collected in a pile outside, perfect pig food.
We have the big mill across the road from us, and we get the bran floating around at this time of year. It’s been a bit of a worry for me since the pond is practically at freezing point now, and there’s all this corn bran coming down on it – the fish are getting more food now than they ever get the rest of the year, when they shouldn’t be being fed at all. — rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html O! a kiss Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge! <Shakespeare>
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ponder. I’ve never named my fish. Derek, Looks like you and I have one more thing in common…I’ve never named my koi either. I look on them as works of art as someone mentioned. Nedra Crow St. Louis, Missouri
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ponder. I’ve never named my fish. Derek, Looks like you and I have one more thing in common…I’ve never named my koi either. I look on them as works of art as someone mentioned. Nedra Crow St. Louis, Missouri OK Nedra. So now I have a name for one of the remaining two. Abstract. Sandra :>)
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I like Sushi Bros. best. Sandra :>) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >My most unusual name?? >I used to have Spot and No Spot. But now only have Spot. >Also used to have Monstro and I still miss him. >The rest are Captain Ahab, Hi Ho Silver, Thing One and Thing Two. >A goldfish named Angelfish as she is white with long white fins. >The rest of the goldfish are named ’the rest of ‘em’. >One strange fish that is white and gold with a black tail, appeared as a baby >this year named ‘that ugly fish’. >And the Sushi Brothers – the golden orphe. >~~k30~~and the watergardening labradors
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Thanks Karen! Sandra :>) p.s.Wilbur still living up to his name. Some of those peas sink into a flat rock crevice at pond bottom and Wilbur has to stand on his nose with his bright orange behind stuck straight up, in order to snag those peas. It’s a hoot. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-) >Karen >Houston, TX Zone 9a >Member Internet Pond Society – IPS >Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html >and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at >http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >writes: >Sandra, >>> We have 3 Orandas. In one week, one is quite abit larger and really >likes >those peas (name is Wilber). One is very much smaller than other two. >Should >we worry about the small one? We’ve never seen it eat. Feeding little >(mostly chop peas).<< >I have two oranda bot at the same time, same age and we for all intent and >purpose twins. I names them Frick and Frack. Well, Frick is now twice the >size of Frack. They get the same things to eat and live in the same >environment, so I guess it’s in the genes. >>> My last question is: Is it "normal" to name your fish? So far we’ve got >>>Wilber, Lester, Mr. Limpet, and Fandango with 2 others to name. >I’d be worried about your fish if you didn’t give them names. True ponders >with an affection for their fish give them (each and every one) names. >Welcome >to world of fish pets. :-) >Karen >Houston, TX Zone 9a >Member Internet Pond Society – IPS >Visit my pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html >and My Art Studio, specializing in Pet Portraits at >http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html > Very interesting comment on Karen’s part. Something that bears pointing >out. Most Japanese and many Americans do not keep fish as pets. They keep >them as pieces of art work. If something happens to the fish, such as the >colors fading in old age, that fish is unceremoniously destroyed to make >room for another. Sometimes, they still have names for the fish. >Sometimes, they say they don’t keep pets, but I know better. >Mostly, for me, the fish are not pets. Many represent huge sums of >investment capital. Some of my fish I own as part of a consortium as they >cost way more than any one of us could come up with. When I lose a fish, it >is a great loss of money in many cases, sometimes tens of thousands of >dollars. However, it is still just a fish. I’ve lost dogs that were given >to me and my heart was broken. >Brett
I’ve got a cat that is very important to me but I think these fish will grow on me too. As for investments, I prefer stocks, they don’t croak …(usually). Sandra :>)
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>Looks like you and I have one more thing in common…I’ve never named my >koi either. I look on them as works of art as someone mentioned. >So now I have a name for one of the remaining two. >Abstract.
LOL! It almost makes the idea of naming them seem worth it. To tell the truth, if I’d made the jump to Koi, I’d probably have names too. I just can’t see naming (or putting too much effort into protecting) feeder comets. Even if they are over 8". — rec.ponds FAQ http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/faq.html It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere. – Voltaire
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>>Abstract. >LOL! It almost makes the idea of naming them seem worth it. >To tell the truth, if I’d made the jump to Koi, I’d probably have >names too. I just can’t see naming (or putting too much effort into >protecting) feeder comets. Even if they are over 8".
You can call your group of feeders the Petshop Survivors, or Pound Fishies? Hmmm, is there a beanie baby out there for us? How come there are no koi beanie babies? I want a koi beanie baby!!!!! ~ jan
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> >>Abstract. >LOL! It almost makes the idea of naming them seem worth it. >To tell the truth, if I’d made the jump to Koi, I’d probably have >names too. I just can’t see naming (or putting too much effort into >protecting) feeder comets. Even if they are over 8". > You can call your group of feeders the Petshop Survivors, or Pound > Fishies? Hmmm, is there a beanie baby out there for us? How come there > are no koi beanie babies? I want a koi beanie baby!!!!! ~ jan
Just what type of koi beanie baby would you like? I think I’ll try to make one. A tancho might be fairly easy – much easier than trying to breed one. — Bonnie NJ http://www.users.fast.net/~maebe/index.htm
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