Koi physiology

A ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at what makes your koi tick.

How Koi see and hear.

There may be a chance that last year’s hit movie, starring Bruce Willis was inspired the extraordinary sensory physiology that is shared by all fish (including koi). That is, their lateral line, often referred to as their sixth sense.

A koi’s sixth sense capitalises on the physical . . . → Read More: How Koi see and hear.

Koi Digestion Excretion

The ‘living Koi pond’, whether a clear and circulating or natural and clay-based, consists of a living highway of biological processes that interact with each other to form an aquatic environment. In a natural water body, food and energy will cycle through a chain of closely . . . → Read More: Koi Digestion Excretion

Koi digestive system. How it works

The more we know and understand about certain aspects of our life, the more we can appreciate them. I remember the first time I learnt and understood how an engine worked, I was amazed that our family car actually worked knowing its old age and history. . . . → Read More: Koi digestive system. How it works

Koi goldfish digestion

Koi eat to live (except Chagoi that obviously live to eat!) and a koi’s physiology is adapted to be able to consume and digest a vast array of living and dead food materials. The processed and manufactured artificial diets that are routinely offered to koi bear . . . → Read More: Koi goldfish digestion

Koi goldfish digestion – Stomachless fish.

We have already seen how the carp is an adaptable fish by being so productive in a varied and changing food environment. The carp’s productivity is even more remarkable when taking a closer look at its digestive system.

Generally, digestion takes place in the gut by way . . . → Read More: Koi goldfish digestion – Stomachless fish.

Koi Goldfish Digestion.

Koi eat to live (except Chagoi that obviously live to eat!) and a koi’s physiology is adapted to be able to consume and digest a vast array of living and dead food materials. The processed and manufactured artificial diets that are routinely offered to koi bear . . . → Read More: Koi Goldfish Digestion.

Koi pond oxygen

Koi breathe by pumping water over their gills to extract essential oxygen, which is invisibly dissolved in the pond water.

Fortunately, compared to other fish species, koi do not require an especially high level of dissolved oxygen (DO) which makes them relatively undemanding in this area. Even . . . → Read More: Koi pond oxygen

Koi skeleton

Koi are vertebrates, clearly benefiting from having an internal backbone and skeleton. Koi belong to the most advanced group of fish called teleosts which describes their bony skeleton (compared to a less rigid cartilaginous skeletons found in sharks and rays). We should not think of the . . . → Read More: Koi skeleton

Koi skin scales

Koi are blessed with a multi-layered external barrier consisting of both skin and scales that protects them from the perils of pond life as well as gracing them with a magnificent livery. We can be guilty of regarding scales a the koi’s primary means of protection, . . . → Read More: Koi skin scales

Koi, goldfish natural pond diet

The naturally occurring high quality livefood encountered by fish in the natural pond environment is the envy of commercial food manufacturers who try to match the high standard set by nature in an artificial bait. In a totally natural pond or lake situation the success of . . . → Read More: Koi, goldfish natural pond diet



Kill blanketweed and string algae.