It is often a simple matter for pet owners to control how their pets reproduce. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Koi. Koi can spawn in ponds when the right conditions and season arise. These conditions are generally easy for Koi to meet and can result in a sudden increase in your fish population. This can cause many problems for the health of your pond.

Because Koi can get so large, it is important that you take the time to monitor how many fish are in your pond. While you may think it’s cruel to hinder reproduction, it’s much, much worse to overpopulate your pond. The more fish in a pond, the lower the level of water quality. In addition to this, Koi do not suffer from stunted growth like some species of fish. This means that they can reach their full growth in non-optimal conditions. This can result in illness and death. Koi need space to swim. If you start out in a ten foot by ten foot pond with two Koi that can grow up to 3 feet long each, swimming conditions can quickly become cramped. Now imagine your ten foot by ten foot pond with 50 fish that can grow to be three feet long. These are not good conditions for your fish.

If your Koi has already bred, there are ways you can manage your fish. First of all, a large number of small fish do not usually cause much trouble in a pond if you are prepared for it. Watch how you feed your fish carefully. In addition to this, make sure you stick to your cleaning and maintenance schedules. Finally, be sure to test your water at least once a month to monitor the quality of your water. 20% water changes in your pond can significantly increase water quality if needed. As your fish grow, it will be necessary to remove them from the pond. It is suggested that you contact a water garden and ask if they want your Koi or not. The older the Koi, the more likely a breeder or store will want them. The largest and most colorful specimens can sell for hundreds of dollars to the right buyer. However, do not farm your fish with the intention of trying to sell them for a lot of money unless you have the facilities to do so. Breeding for color and size takes effort and planning. It can also take years for a Koi to grow large enough for sale.

If you have a sudden population increase in your Koi pond, it may be necessary to cull fish. Culling, or the process of selecting and killing fish with genetic mutations or little chance of a healthy life, is an unfortunate but necessary part of keeping pet fish. If you have the space and time to care for sick or mutated fish, you may be able to get away without having to sacrifice any of your fish.