Andrew started off by explaining about the origins of the Koi Carp and mentioned that while thought by many to come from Japan they are in fact originally from China. Andrew then went on to discuss the types and size of ponds required to properly house and look after these fish and covered the pro’s and cons of each type as well as giving us a fascinating look at the indoor and outdoor ponds he has himself . Next up was filtration and while it would seem obvious that a pond needs a bigger filter than a standard tank many members were suprised by just how large and advanced the filter solutions for ponds of these size actually were.
Andrew then went on to cover the effects of the seasons on the fishes metabolism over the course of the year and how this affected both the types of food given, but also the quantities fed. Also discussed was how the seasons affect diseases and the fishes ability to deal with them and what is needed for when a fish does become ill. To finish the talk Andrew showed us a brief but very interesting look at how the Koi are farmed in Japan and how throughout the first few years of their lives are continually graded to ensure the best of the best is retained for breeding.
On behalf of KAS I would like to thank Andrew for taking the time to come back to the club and give such an informative and enjoyable talk.
