Shusui Koi Carp Grade A

Overview

Everything you need to know about Shusui Koi Carp Grade A, at a glance:

• Common Names: -
• Scientific Name: Cyprinus carpio
• Max Size: ~90cm
• Temperature Range: 15-25°C, though can survive temperatures close to freezing
• pH Range: 7-8.5
• Compatibility: Peaceful, can be kept alongside other large pond fish
• Area Of Origin: Japan
• Suitable Foods: Specialist Koi foods, high-protein pond treats, and wheatgerm.
• Special Requirements: At least 1,000L per Koi, feed foods high in wheatgerm during winter

What is a Shusui Koi Carp Grade A?

Koi are some of, if not the most popular fish in the pond keeping hobby. They’re available in a countless number of shapes, sizes, colours, and patterns. Some varieties are relatively affordable, whereas others can sell for more than six figures!

These large fish are close relatives of the Common Carp and can grow to sizes of ~90cm if properly cared for. They can live for a long, long time too, with the oldest Koi on record – a female Higoi named Hanako – living until the grand old age of 226. Most, however, live for 25-35 years in captivity.

Koi can trace their roots back to 4th century China where they were initially bred by rice farmers for food. In the 1800s they were introduced to Japan where they began selectively breeding them for specific, desirable traits. Now, 200+ years later, there are dozens of types of Koi – all graded on their colours, patterns, and overall body shape.

Some types of Koi carry a Japanese name that describes their specific set of traits. Shusui are largely scaleless Koi, save for a distinct row of dark-coloured scales that adorns their backs. Shusui are grey-blue in colour and have red patterns along their sides, cheeks, and fins. They’re essentially a scaleless version of an Asagi (another grey-blue Koi).

How do I care for Shusui Koi Carp Grade A?

While Koi are very hardy and can be kept in a wide range of different aquatic settings, they do require a degree of specialist care. As long as you’re ready to provide this specialist care, Koi are a great choice of fish for a garden pond – even if you’re a first-time pond keeper!

The most important thing to consider if you’re planning to keep Koi is space. As youngsters, Koi don’t need lots of space, but as adults they require a large garden pond that can hold thousands of litres of water. As a rule of thumb, aim to keep one Koi for every 1,000L of water.

Another important thing to consider is filtration. Koi eat a lot of food and, as a result, produce a lot of waste. To process this waste and make sure your pond is kept healthy, you’ll need a large pond filter. We stock a wide range of pond filters, but the best for these kinds of fish are Koi pond filters. For more information about Koi pond filters and how they work, check out our help guide here.

As large pond fish, Koi consume a lot of oxygen and therefore need to be kept in a garden pond where oxygen is readily available. To increase the amount of oxygen in your pond, create a waterfall, install a pond fountain, or run a powerful air pump. All of these methods will introduce additional oxygen to your pond and, in doing so, keep your Koi healthy and happy.

When it comes to food, Koi aren’t fussy and will eat a wide range of sticks and pellets. They’ll also go crazy for high-protein pond treats, though be careful not to overfeed these. As temperatures get cooler, offer your Koi some wheatgerm foods to aid their digestive systems as they slow down.

It’s worth noting that Koi are known to eat pond plants and may, if given the chance, snack on your prized waterlilies. If you want to keep pond plants with Koi, consider putting them alongside the shallow margins of your pond where they’re less likely to be eaten.

How is this Shusui Koi Carp Grade A delivered?

All of our aquatic animals are dispatched from our livestock distributor and delivered directly to your doorstep. Our distributor dispatches and delivers livestock packages Tuesday through Friday to avoid animals being in transit over the weekend. To further minimise time spent travelling, all livestock deliveries are made before 1pm on the day of delivery.

After placing your livestock order, you’ll receive all the information needed to track your livestock order via email. If you have any problems regarding delivery, or concerns about the health/wellbeing of your animal(s) upon arrival, please contact us, Swell UK Ltd, immediately, or at least within 48 hours of receiving your livestock order.

Any other, non-livestock items that you purchase alongside livestock will be sent via standard or express delivery and arrive at your delivery address in a different package. This means that, depending on when you place your order, you may receive your non-livestock items before or after your livestock package.

For a detailed breakdown of when you can expect to receive your livestock package depending on the day you placed your order, be sure to check the delivery details in the specifications below.

How do you acclimate a Shusui Koi Carp Grade A to a pond?

It’s very important that you acclimatise new fish to your pond. This is the process of gradually adjusting an animal to its new environment and it’s especially important in an aquatic setting where sudden changes in water temperature, pH, and nitrates can cause stress, illness and, in some cases, even death.

To acclimatise your Koi, add it to a large, dimly lit container and add a small amount of pond water every few minutes. Do this until water temperatures in this container match water temperatures in your pond, and for at least 20 minutes. If you don’t have a large container to hand, you can float the bag containing your fish in your pond instead.

You should always set up your pond and make sure it’s ready for fish prior to purchasing any. It’s also a good idea to let your pond filter mature for a few months before adding Koi. A single Koi can produce a lot of mess; your pond filter needs to be able to handle this if it’s to maintain a healthy environment. For more information about keeping Koi, check out our help guide here.

Above photos are for illustration purposes only; livestock received may not exactly match those photographed.