Table Of ContentBrewster • Steve Hickling • Keith Holmes • Nick Fletcher • Mick Martin • Tony Pitham
If you have chosen to bring the
splendor of keeping koi into your life,
you are ready to invest time and effort
into creating a pond for these wonderful
and serene fish. But how do you go
about creating your ideal garden pond,
or identify koi, or how do you keep
them healthy and safe? How do you
ensure success? Enter this book.
Broken into two sections, The Essential
Book of Koi is a comprehensive guide
to buying, keeping, showing, and
differentiating your koi. The first section
gives you the essential facts on keeping
this ornamental fish: a history of the
fish, filtration techniques, water
parameters, commonly seen parasites
and viruses (and methods on how to
combat them), husbandry techniques,
and a step-by-step guide to pond
construction that doesn’t overrun your
backyard, but accentuates and
beautifies it.
The second section of the book
presents a review of the main color
varieties of koi, from the elegantly
simple red-and-white Kohaku to the
metallic intricacy of a Gin Matsuba. Also
included in each chapter are word keys
that define the Japanese teems used to
describe each variety. Before you know
it, you will become a koi expert and will
be able to identify any variety you
encounter!
This book will assist you in starting up
your pond and maintaining your koi. It
will be a source of knowledge you can
return to again and again while keeping
these brilliant ornamental fish.
The Essential Book of
The Essential Book of
A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care
Authors
Bernice Brewster runs an aquatic consultancy, with
Published by
a major interest in the koi hobby She writes for koi
TF.H. Publications, Inc.
magazines and contributes papers to scientific and OneTFH Plaza
veterinary journals on fish husbandry Bernice has written Third and Union Avenues
Neptune City, NJ 07753
the chapters on water quality and feeding and
contributed to the ones on physiology and health care.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form, or by
Steve Hickling is a leading authority on koi. At any means electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without
World of Koi in the UK, Steve and his team built a written permission from T.F.H. Publications, except
where permitted by law. Bequests for permission or
reputation for constructing state of the art koi ponds,
further information should be directed to the above
incorporating filtration systems that are now available
address.
worldwide. Steve has contributed chapters on filtration
and pond design and construction. Copyright © 2007 by Interpet Publishing, Ltd.
All rights reserved
Keith Holmes is manager of Koi Water Barn in the
ISBN 978-0-7938-0623-2
UK. Koi health has always been an area of particular
interest for him and his practical experience, combined Printed and Bound in China
with the advice and guidance of numerous experts, 05 06 07 08 09 13 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
have made a major contribution to the chapter on
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
physiology and health care.
The essential book of koi I Bernice Brewster ... [et al.],
p. cm.
Nick Fletcher, former editor of the UK aquatic Includes index.
monthly Practical Fishkeeping, still regularly contributes ISBN 978-0-7938-0623-2
articles to this and other fish-related publications. He I. Koi. I. Brewster; Bernice.
SF458.K64E87 2007
has kept koi for 30 years and is actively involved in his
639.3'7483—dc22
local koi club. Nick has contributed the chapters on
buying koi, showing koi, and the koi varieties section. 2007026291
Mick Martin has been an avid koi-keeper for more This book has been published with the intent to provide
accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject
than 20 years, gaining invaluable practical experience matter within. While every reasonable precaution has been
of koi husbandry through breeding his own koi, visiting taken in preparation of this book, the author and publisher
expressly disclaim responsibility for any errors, omissions, or
Japan, and buying high-grade koi on behalf of World of
adverse effects arising from the use or application of the
Koi. He has contributed the chapters on koi-keeping information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions
and breeding. are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered
a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical
problem, consult your veterinarian.
Tony Pitham is the owner of Koi Water Barn in the
UK and is one of the most respected koi dealers
working in Japan. He has judged and photographed
the prestigious All Japan Shinkokai show and supplied The Leader In Responsible Animal Care For Over 50 Years!®
many show-winning koi. www.tfh.com
* CENTRAL
Consultants uilil/i Garden & Pet
Dr. Peter Burgess is a fish health consultant and
University lecturer; specializing in ornamental fish. He
holds degrees in parasitology, microbiology, and fish
biology and was awarded a PhD for research on white
spot disease in tropical marine fish.
Dr. Paula Reynolds is an aquatic pathobiologist and
proprietor of Lincolnshire Fish Health Laboratories
and Research Center. As well as offering a fish health
service, her center carries out health screening on koi
from around the world.
Contents
Contents
Part One
Introduction to Part One 6
Koi-keeping - the
enduring hobby 8
Water quality 16
Filtration 32
Designing and building
a koi pond 50
Physiology and health care 72
Buying koi 144
Feeding koi 150
Showing koi 156
Breeding koi 164
Part Two
Introduction to Part Two 172
Kohaku 174
Sanke 182
Showa 188
Utsurimono 194
Bekko 200
Asagi and Shusui 204
Koromo 208
Kawarimono 214
Hikarimuji 222
Hikarimoyo 226
Hikariutsuri 232
Kin-Gin-Rin 236
Tancho 238
Doitsu 242
Index and Credits 246
