What is the secret of rearing koi or goldfish

[yang88]

Dear cecil,
My friends son has a small fish tank and he is trying to rear a single goldfish for almost a year now but the fish does not survive more than a few months and its turning out to be pretty expensive hobby. I was wondering how the people who rear koi or goldfish in Hong Kong, Taiwan make the fish survive since they have a pond full of it. Read the article about the fish and fishes there seemed to be pretty expensive. In short I want to know what is the secret of rearing koi or goldfish. Thanks.

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
I do agree with you on the goldfish. Personally, I tried rearing goldfish, and they die mostly around 6 months.
I am not sure, like your friend, whether this is a common occurence or not ie. do they live not more than 6 months to a year? I wonder myself.
But, for kois, they can last for several or more years. I have reared kois and the ones that I bought 3 years ago (from 6 to 7 inches) have grown, I mean really grown to 2 or more feet.
I believe, kois can last more than 10 years or more (I guess so) maybe I am wrong. Must go and find a copy of Encylopedia of Koi Fishes, which I placed somewhere to confirm this.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 5/31/00 12:08:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear cecil,
My friends son has a small
fish tank and he is trying to
rear a single goldfish for
almost a year now but the fish
does not survive more than a
few months and its turning out
to be pretty expensive hobby.
I was wondering how the people
who rear koi or goldfish in
Hong Kong, Taiwan make the
fish survive since they have a
pond full of it. Read the
article about the fish and
fishes there seemed to be
pretty expensive. In short I
want to know what is the
secret of rearing koi or
goldfish. Thanks.