Koi fish is one of the beautiful aquarium fish that most aquarists love keeping. However, owning a koi fish can be a huge commitment. Not because they are high maintenance, but because of the lifespan of the koi fish. Want to know how long do koi fish live? Let us try finding the facts on an average koi lifespan and find the factor that can improve its lifespan.
Koi fish is known to live for 25 to 50 years. The average Japanese koi’s lifespan can range up to 40 years or even longer. Non-Japanese koi fish can live for up to 15 years. Koi and its close cousin, Carp can live longer if they get proper living conditions in the pond.
The Average Koi Fish Lifespan – How Long Do Koi Live?
The average lifespan of a koi fish would be between 15 to 20 years in the wild. However, if kept in captivity, you can find your domestic koi living up to 25 to 40 years. According to an International seminar, the koi live longer to up to 200 years.
In fact, the recorded history shows that the oldest living koi fish was koi Hanako. It was born in 1751 and it lived up to 226 years old. The longest living koi died in 1977. Hanako wasn’t just the longest living koi fish, but it was the longest living freshwater fish ever.
Having learned about the world’s oldest koi fish, we will now try finding details on the factors that can help help increase the koi’s life expectancy.
How to Extend the Lifespan of Koi Fish?
Fish, whether koi or any other fish, are easy to keep and less costly. That is why people tend to keep them, but they would still need to opt for the best koi care to help their koi live longer.
Maintain the proper temperature
The koi fish is known to be climate resistant. However, they may not be able to tolerate it if your koi fish pond has freezing water. It is advisable to use a heater during the winter months. The best temperature for the koi fish live longer is around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are good koi parents, you will need to maintain the temperature in your pond.
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Set the proper size of the pond
The size of your koi pond will also be a deciding factor in improving the lifespan of your koi. Koi fish are often known to grow into bigger sizes, and they would need a larger space to swim. The best proportions would be one inch of fish per ten gallons. If you are looking to keep a large number of fish, it is advisable to have a larger fish pond. Maybe it is advisable to use an outdoor pond.
Feed them properly
The type of fish food and the amount of food can also be a few factors that decide how long they live. Koi fish is an omnivore, which means they eat both vegetables and meat. A good option to improve koi fish lifespan is to feed your koi with a combination of mealworms, brine shrimp, and plenty of vegetables. Do note that koi fish need the best koi food and the quality of the food will determine how long they can live.
Oxygen levels in the pond
Any sort of depletion of oxygen in the pond water can also affect koi fish’s lifespan. One of the prime reasons that can deplete the oxygen levels can be the growth of algae in your pond. Using the diffusers and pumps can help you retain the proper levels of oxygen in the pond.
The genetics
Well, that’s what we have already learned. Different type of koi can have different lifespan. It has been observed that the Japanese koi fish tend to live longer than the other varieties of koi fish. Of course, the koi breeders have been known for coming up with different options to enhance the lifespan of the different varieties of koi fish. Even when Japanese koi live longer, there are attempts to improve the koi that are outside of Japan. Why Do Japanese Koi Fish Tend to Live Longer?
Why Do Japanese Koi Fish Tend to Live Longer?
Japanese koi can live for up to 100 years or even more because of several factors. Some of the specific reasons why Japanese koi can live longer can include
Breeding
Japanese breeders are known to be using stronger and healthier fish for breeding. They are raised in well-maintained pond conditions. Clean water and good oxygen levels can help you make the koi fish live around 100 years or even more.
Genetics
Japan has been raising koi fish for long. Thus they have been able to enhance their gene performance. Since koi fish with better genetics can help you achieve better standards in terms of lifespan.
Hibernation
Japanese winters are quite strong and colder. Thus they can spend more time in hibernation. Since breeders do not warm the ponds most of the time, they can go into hibernation easily.
Pond environment
If you have a superior quality pond with better filtration, this would extend the lifespan and help your koi live longer. That would make the fish live really longer.
Are Koi Aquarium Fish?
Koi are not actually aquarium fish. They are typically kept in the outdoor ponds for decorative purposes. However, new breeds of koi fish can be kept in an indoor aquarium or backyard pond.
In fact, koi fish are best for outdoor ponds that is maintained with proper care. However, you can keep them in an aquarium when young. If they grow beyond the size of your aquarium, they can be released into the proper water body.
The growth of your koi fish can be stunted if they are kept in an aquarium. The koi fish may not live a long life if the water quality and conditions are not well-maintained.
Can Koi Fish live up to 200 years in An Aquarium?
Ideally no. The koi lifespan is 40 years or so if it is kept in an aquarium. Hanako, the oldest koi fish could live up to the shocking 226 years of age by hibernating during winters and foraging in the summer season. The atmosphere in the aquarium is not suitable for hibernation.
Koi goes into hibernation when the temperature of the water goes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. For your koi fish to go into hibernation, your koi would need a deeper pond.
In Conclusion
Well, under ideal conditions in an aquarium, koi fish life span can be around 15 years of age. If you can maintain the ideal condition in the aquarium, it may live up to 40 years. However, the koi fish is resilient and can withstand a wide range of weather conditions.
Do you have a koi in your aquarium? Let us know what is the age of your koi fish.
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