tattoo art designs :: koi tattoo art

The Japanese koi fish is perhaps the most popular ornamental pond fish in the world. People who are curious about this species and those who are interested in becoming owners usually have several general questions about koi (also known as Japanese carp, koi, and nishikigoi). Here I will address several concerns related to the care, feeding, history, domestication, breeding, and symbolism of the Japanese koi fish.

Koi fish are a domesticated variety of the common carp. The common carp was (and is) a wild fish which was bred in Eastern Asia and China thousands of years ago. When people from the East and China began to migrate to the island of Japan they also took with them an important food source– the common carp. These were introduced in Japan in their black form, known as “Magoi”. Magoi were kept and bred in farmers’ rice paddies where, over centuries, they began to develop color variations. The fish with color variations were separated from the rest and bred separately. This selective breeding domesticated the species and eventually produced the numerous color variations we see in modern Japanese koi fish.

Over time the color variations of koi began to vary more and more, and in the 1820′s the colors of today’s koi fish evolved and koi became more popular. There are about 19 major categories for koi colorations, though color combinations are practically limitless. The most popular (and perhaps the most familiar) is “Gosanke,” a white, orange, and black colored koi. The most common colors are cream, yellow, blue, red, and black. However, Japanese koi fish are usually two or more colors.

People often wonder whether koi are the same as goldfish. The answer is a bit complicated, though the short answer is no. Goldfish and koi fish are actually two different species because although both are descended from carp, they both come from different types of carp. As you now know, koi were bred from the common carp, while goldfish are the descendants of Prussian carp which were bred more than a thousand years ago in China for color mutations. Their history and looks may be similar, but they are still two different types of fish. Koi fish are much larger and have greater color variations while goldfish have a wider variety of body shapes.

Another question that often comes up is– “do koi fish make good pets?” Koi fish enthusiasts and owners the world over would shout a resounding “yes!” Just as with any other animal, if you treat them like your pets and take good care of them koi will naturally become more than just baubles in your garden pond. In fact, koi have been known to eat food out of the hands of their owners, and are said to have personalities as unique as their colorings. However, keep in mind that with proper care Japanese koi fish will live longer than their owners– often more than 100 years. The longest living known koi fish was said to have lived for more than 250 years in Japan.

This brings us to the proper care of koi. They are adaptable cold-water fish, but they still require proper care of their environment and healthy food. It is recommended that a koi pond be at least 4 feet deep and that the temperature of the water should be between 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 25 degrees Celsius). Koi don’t do well in prolonged winter temperatures of below 59 degrees F. Feeding should correspond with temperature; the lower the temperature they less you should feed them. Most importantly, Japanese koi fish should not be fed under 46 degrees F because in very low temperatures their digestive system shuts down and they are unable to digest food.

Koi fish are omnivores, which means they eat both meat and plants. They have been known to enjoy everything from shrimp to watermelon pieces and a large variety of fresh veggies, fruits, seafood, and even moss. A popular alternative is floating koi fish meal, though fresh food is always more appealing and nutritious to any animal. It is also important to be aware of foods koi fish should not be fed: regular meat (i.e. beef, pork), bread, pasta, sugar, and especially corn (and products containing corn). Koi will eat more in hotter temperatures and less in colder. Remember that the more they eat the more waste they produce. A good pond filtration system should take care of most of the waste.

Another oft-asked topic– koi breeding. Japanese koi fish reproduce by spawning. A female koi will lay eggs (thousands at a time), which a male koi or two will fertilize. However, taking care and raising the offspring (fry) is a difficult task, and often left up to professional koi breeders. The breeders have special techniques and skills with which they choose specific koi to breed with which they want to reproduce certain characteristics in their offspring. However, this is no guarantee that interesting color variations will appear. Only a small number of fry are chosen to be raised and sold.

As I’ve mentioned before koi fish are hardy, which means they are adapt to changes in their environment fairly well and they are able to survive in the wilderness. In fact, koi have been (accidentally or intentionally) released into the environment on every continent except Antarctica. In this situation they lose their unique colorings within a few generations as there is no selective breeding. And because they are bottom feeders, koi have been known to cause great damage to water systems and have ruined water quality. In countries where they are abundant in the wild, Japanese koi fish are considered to be an invasive species. Efforts to eradicate them have been mostly unsuccessful.

And so, as the popularity of koi fish steadily grows all over the world, so does the knowledge and interest in the species. Koi fish beauty and allure makes them especially prominent in today’s pop culture. They make very popular tattoos, are the subjects of many kinds of paintings and drawings, and are the topic of numerous Japanese and Chinese myths and folktales. In Japan, koi is a symbol of perseverance, worldly aspiration, and achievement. In China they are a symbol of wealth and success.

For more information on the symbolism of koi fish, koi fish tattoo designs, paintings, and drawings visithttp://www.arted4life.com/nature-art/koi_fish_drawings

by: (c) CopyrightDoroteja Perse 2009, worldwide