WIN PRO BITES KOI FOOD SPONSORED BY
OTSUKA
MR INNOVATOR
SEPT/OCT 2015 £4.20 WWW.KOIMAG.CO.UK
WE HAVE THIS MONTH... Sept/Oct 2015 6 POND OF THE MONTH
21 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Two parasites you need to keep an eye on Apiosoma and Epistylis.
Paul and Linda Fell have created their own little paradise in Essex. Lions can even be heard when the winds blows in the right direction.
SIMPLE THINGS Nishikigoi – those beautiful, c ol o u r f ul , ornamental fish that we love so much – have a fascinating h i s t o r y. A mutation of the edible koi, their birthplace was indeed Yamakoshi Village in Niigata some 200 years ago. Being surrounded by mountains, the people who lived there were pretty much self-sufficient. They worked the land, built rice paddies, grew vegetables and lived very simple lives, keeping koi as a food source in ponds that were primarily used to keep the rice paddies watered. Nobody took much notice of these koi, or Magoi, until they suddenly began to mutate. The farmers became fascinated by their different colours and patterns and their importance took a massive step forward. Such was their appeal they were even used as a bartering tool when buying goods from other regions and, as a result, they became more widely available. As we have learned in many of our Breeder Profle articles, the koi breeders of today have descended from those rice farmers who saw the true potential of Nishikigoi. For generations they have perfected their art of developing some of the most beautiful fish in the world; a fish that is now prized as a national treasure. Even today they pass on their vast realms of knowledge onto their children, and indeed their children’s children, keeping this special art alive for generations to come. Nishikigoi are a symbol of strength, of determination, of perseverance through adversity – all the traits of the breeders who produce them.
Mark Nuttall, editor Tel: 01929 459288 Email: mark@koi-carp.com Your comments welcome at www.koimag.co.uk
30 CALCULATING DOSAGES
12 KOI ANATOMY
Dr P Burgess focuses on skin and how it protects the koi from infection and what to look out for.
You will surprised at the number of koi keepers who struggle to calculate the right dosages crating even more problems.
32 WATER QUALITY
AMMONIUM
Keeping healthy water is the key to keeping healthy koi.
16 HOW TO MANAGE
FILTER MEDIA
There are many types of filter media it all works. Do you need to upgrade or change your current sustem.
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS PAULA REYNOLDS
4 Koi Carp Magazine SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
KEITH HOLMES
DR PETER BURGESS
38 KOI BREEDER
Otsuka koi farm where onnovation is the name of the game.
CHRIS WILLIAMS
MARTIN SYMONDS
25 COMPETITION
52 REAL PONDS
A beautiful selections of ponds to inspire your next upgrade or better still pond number 2!!!
CONTENTS
OUR FANTASTIC MONTHLY WINS COMPETITION SPONSORED BY
BEST REAL POND PHOTOS EANH MONTH
THIS GIANT BOTTLE OF NISHIKOI GROWTH FOOD BEST RUNNER UP REAL PONDS PHOTOS
WINS
THIS BOTTLE OF NISHIKOI GROWTH FOOD
ALL YOUR FAVOURITE REGULARS:
46 MAKING RIPPLES All the latest news and views. 58 KOI SERVICES DIRECTORY Your regional
guide to koi businesses around the UK.
61 CLUB LISTINGS Comprehensive list of koi
clubs in the UK.
62 BKKS UPDATE The latest news from the British
Koi Keepers Society.
LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON!
NEXT MONTHS MAGAZINE ON SALE 14TH DECEMBER
SEPTTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 Koi Carp Magazine 5
POND
PERFECT
OWNER PROFILE: Paul and Linda Fell live in a small picturesque village near to Colchester, North Essex - on a calm day you can even hear the lions roar from the local zoo. Linda has been local to the area all of her life and Paul, originally from Peckham, moved to Essex when he was nine. Both are now retired with time on their hands and have created a garden that would be the envy of most - but on a modest budget hence giving inspiration to all! Paul responded to a post on the Koi Mag forum mag asking for people to get in touch if they would like to have their pond featured in the magazine. When I was asked to cover this I was quite excited as the pictures I had seen of the pond looked amazing. So after battling the dreaded M25 I eventually arrived at Paul and Linda’s a n d wa s m a de we l c o m e fro m the start.
An amazing pond in a wonderfull location
6 Koi Carp Magazine SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
POND OF THE MONTH
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 Koi Carp Magazine 7