Things to Consider
Before Choosing Koi Goldfish For Your Pond

When you are choosing between regular goldfish and koi goldfish, there is some goldfish info that you will need to consider.

The first consideration should be the size of the pond that the fish will be placed in.

Regular goldfish are preferred in the smaller ponds. This includes ponds that range in size from 50 gallons to 500 gallons. The size and nature, along with the ease of care, makes the regular goldfish the perfect choice for the person who is new to pond ownership. Starting out with a small pond helps you to learn how to properly care for both the fish and the pond itself.

Ponds over 500 gallons are considered to be larger ponds and are recommended if you choose koi goldfish over regular goldfish. The large size of the koi goldfish requires that you have as large of a water capacity as is possible. Koi have special needs are can be very difficult to care for. They require much cleaner water and having a larger pond will give you a better rate of decomposition of the waste materials produced by the koi.

Plant life must be another consideration when setting up your pond.

Potted plants and large amounts of decorative vegetation are not generally recommended for koi goldfish. One of the biggest reasons for this is the habit of digging that the koi is famous for. A koi goldfish will dig in the dirt of a potted plant and uproot the plant and sometimes even know the pot over. Some pond owners who insist on placing potted plants in their pond will choose to place a layer of pea gravel and a layer of river rock over the dirt to discourage the koi from digging. Also, koi grow to be very large fish and the size of the koi is just naturally destructive to decorative plant life.

Ponds with lots of plant life, especially the kinds that are potted, are much better suited to the regular goldfish. Their size and nature makes them capable of playing in and under the plants and pots without destroying any of their natural beauty.

Some people choose to combine both koi goldfish and regular goldfish in their pond. This is fine, just as long as the needs and requirements and habits of each fish is considered individually when initially setting the pond up.

by Dane J Stanton - 10/03/08

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