What kind of lights do you use for koi to keep their color?

Question

We have 4 indoor koi and 1 is a show kohaku with very deep hi markings. What lights should we use to keep them from losing their color?

Answer 1

Light is not what creates good color, it is feeding the koi the proper food and providing them with the proper environment. If you have show koi, I am assuming that you have already done your research as to what is the best environment for koi, the first being that they are not indoor fish. Having said that, however, if you intend on keeping these koi indoors, you could keep them well enough with the proper environment. For four koi, you will need a 400 gallon tank and, as light is actually more for a mental health, which does, ultimately, play a part in the physical quality of the fish, you would need excellent lighting that simulates outdoor sunlight. Blue lights best simulate sunlight, and actinic bulbs in combination with full spectrum bulbs are often used. Check your water quality too, as this is also a big part of the koi's overall health which translates to good color. Also, feed them a high quality koi food made specifically for color enhancement and give them various snacks such as dark green lettuces, spinach, grapes, oranges, kiwis, brine shrimp, blood worms, krill, etc.

Answer 2

Lighting isn't your concern here, food is. Different foods contain different chemicals and pigments that the fishes body uses to create color in their skin. Frankly, I'm not up on all the examples, especially where koi are concerned.

I would highly suggest you search for a gold fish / koi specific website to check and to ask such specific questions. The answers you gfet from the long time keepers and serious hobbyist there would probably be worth more to you. A search for a Goldfish / Koi club near you would be a great start too. Here's a site that has a pretty good list, but no doubt there are other clubs not on this specific list.

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/Clubs.html

Best of luck with the great fish!

Answer 3

Use a UV light. When the koi start getting a few feet long you will have to keep them outdoors, where most breeders keep them. Natural UV is what they get. It's one of the few things that will help keep the black color as well. Consider feeding bloodworms as a main part of the diet to keep the color deep.

Answer 4

Reason for colorloss:
The natural conditions in a mud pond provide koi with a constant, high-quality source of Carotenoids, which are the colour producing and enhancing compounds that koi require to display their vivid colours. The mud pond environment it is also packed full of minerals that support and enhance the overall health of koi as well as the pond itself.

There are a number of reasons why the colours of your koi may be fading, some of which we can intervene and respond to, but others which are not environmental, but merely a sign of 'age'. The most likely cause is related to the Carotenoids available to them in their diet and environment, especially if all of your koi appear to be fadiCarotenoids are provided in the diet, and koi can manipulate and change a number of pigments in the diet to those expressed in their skin. In a mud pond, koi obtain carotenoids from animal and vegetable matter that they consume when browsing on natural flora and fauna - Hence the unparalleled success of a mud pond. As this is not possible in the typical highly filtered koi pond, carotenoids must be provided in the diet we offer. Ensure that the food your koi are fed has a good balance of natural and artificial colour enhancers that can provide your koi with sufficient quality and quantity of colour enhancers. Look out for foods that contain colour enhancing ingredients such as spirulina, paprika, marigold etc. These natural sources of pigment contain a wide range of carotenoids that koi can manipulate into those that they express in their skin. Some koi foods also contain the precise pigments (astaxanthin, canthaxanthin) that koi can store directly in their colour cells (chromatophores).

Answer 5

each and every Goldfish desires 10 Gallons, each and every added Goldfish desires 20 Gallons. Dojo Loaches, Minnows, Pond Snails, Cory Cats, Hillstream Loach, Rubbernose/Rubberlip Pleco, Bristlenose Pleco.

Answer 6

natural sunlight -they need to be outside in a pond for full color