Koi Forum (Nishikigoi - Japanese Koi Fish): Koi Health: Koi Feeding, Nutrition and Diet: How to make koi tame to humans ?

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How to make koi tame to humans ?

l_z_w
Koi Lover

Mar 5, 2003, 6:14 PM

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How to make koi tame to humans ?	Can't Post

Hi,

I'm from PJ and is new to koi rearing. I just got a batch of medium sized koi but they just don't come up and eat while i am standing there. Unsure

I have to walk away only then they come up. What's the problem ? I saw some posts here that shows the koi eating from the hand, how do you guys do that ?

koifun
Koi Kichi

Mar 6, 2003, 12:00 AM

Post #2 of 25 (4030 views)
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Re: [l_z_w] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, I_z_w ( what a name ! )

Welcome!

This is a very interesting topic and the ultimate joy for any koi keeper to be close to the kois by way of hand feeding. In fact, it is quite a simple task when u know the trick.

I was so thrilled in a koi keeper's house once, seeing with my own eyes for the 1st time kois coming up to me sucking my fingers and allowed to be fondled - wow!! it is finger sucking good!! Sly

Then on, I vow to learn the method imparted to me both from him and the forum and now my kois are very tame and willingly come to me each time I put my hand inside the pond. I even play with them each time without having pellets in my hand. They are just like any one of your pet dog - u can stroke their head and body and they will graciously swim away and then come back again after making an about turn like asking to be stroked again. A lot of fun indeed.

First and formost, u must have a chagoi which must be bigger than the rest of the kois. The chagoi is the boldest type of koi and a leader. After a week or two if you try to handfeed them during this period, the chagoi should give some response and will try coming to u slowly. However, if he doesn't come do not be too anxious or u will scare him away. Just do the same act naturally and patiently and at the same place each time. You may feed them less or starve them a little initially to help speed up the training.

Having said that you kois must be at least 1 ft size - it may take a longer time if the kois or the chagoi is too small as I was told. Generally, I think the bigger the kois, the bolder they are - other pls correct me if I am wrong.

Sly

"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. - Euripides"

l_z_w
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2003, 4:53 PM

Post #3 of 25 (4013 views)
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Re: [koifun] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks,

So thats the trick eh....but how do i know that the koi is a chagoi ? any special characteristics ? I don't buy my koi from the professional farm but from the cheaper fish shops...hehe..cheaper...... Sly

so it would help me identify the chagoi if there are any special characteristics..... Smile

CRaider
Koi Lover

Mar 6, 2003, 8:37 PM

Post #4 of 25 (4001 views)
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Re: [l_z_w] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I_z_w,
Chagoi is usually quite plain, from light brown to green with heavy scale reticulation. u hv to be sure ur chagoi is the biggest or at least the 2nd biggest in the pool. starving them for a few days would bring any koi to u Smile

Hope u can succeed.

"Ancora Imparo"

koifun
Koi Kichi

Mar 6, 2003, 10:16 PM

Post #5 of 25 (3996 views)
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Hi, lzw

I do not see any fish shop here selling chagoi only specialised koi shop or farm keep chagoi. Chagoi is not expensive - in Singapore, I probably can get a 1- 1.5 ft green or brown chagoi at not more than $100.

Chagoi can grow very fast so u can start with not too big one at around 1 ft may be good enough.

You may check the following threads which some of the members in KL has given much informative descriptions about the farm or centres for kois : http://www.koi.com.my/cgi-bin/koiforum/gforum.cgi?post=22067;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

Good luck. Sly

"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. - Euripides"

oggy
New User

May 15, 2003, 1:29 AM

Post #6 of 25 (3874 views)
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Re: [koifun] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

hello there

i am new to koi i just bought my first koi 3 of them 7to 8 inch long i got them 6 days ago and i could not beleve it when i put my hand in the pond holding a koi health pelet ,it took a few minuets then they were all eating from my hand ,is this normal? im olso not sure how much food to give them and how often please could you tell me

thanks

graham

BranMuffin
Koi Kichi

May 15, 2003, 3:18 AM

Post #7 of 25 (3868 views)
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Re: [oggy] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

it took a few minuets then they were all eating from my hand ,is this normal?

No, that's not normal but ain't it fun! Sly

Generally it takes time for koi to get accustomed to strangers, and once they realize that they're not in any danger they become very tame.

Either they immediately took a liking to you or they could have been hand feed as well while in the dealers shop.

I don't know what the temp is in your area, but if they've been active for a few weeks (have gone through winterization) .. then you can feed them a lot. Before I continue I want to mention that your filtration system will have a lot to do with the amount of food that you feed as well as the feeding frequency. Keep in mind that your filtration system will be handling all the waste, and if your filter system isn't capable of handling all the waste, you will wind up with an unhealthy condition. If you feel that you have a large enough and sufficient enough filtration system, then you can feed them a lot.

Feed them only as much as they can eat in 5-10 minutes time but feed often, especially during the summer which is their growing season . I feed my koi at least 3 times a day, but during the summer ..I may increase it to 6 times a day. Feed them a variety of foods. In other words don't just stick to one kind of koi pellets.

Enjoy your new hobby!

Best Regards
Bran

A Koi Pond is never FINISHED, it's always subject to improvement.
Drives the Spouse Crazy!

koifun
Koi Kichi

May 15, 2003, 7:20 PM

Post #8 of 25 (3853 views)
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Re: [oggy] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, Oggy

Bran is right it is not normal for kois to get accustomed to human in such a short time. However, it is on your plus side so cheers Sly

!

Feeding of kois is in fact quite flexible and can be tailored to your need and conditions of your pond. If your filter system is efficient, u can feed them relatively more times a day but if your filter system can not cope feed less. If u want your kois to grow to beauties of your desire, feed them with high grade foods. Generally most ppl feed their kois 2 to 3 times daily giving 5 mins to consume each time as a yardstick. Kois generally do not die without food for few days so for some reasons, like taming them etc.., it is common to starve them 1-2 days.

Hope this info is helpful to you. Enjoy you koi keeping.

"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. - Euripides"

oggy
New User

May 16, 2003, 3:19 AM

Post #9 of 25 (3846 views)
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Re: [BranMuffin] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

thank u so much for your reply, but please can u help me in ,the matter of how many pelets i give each koi its koi health pelets, because the dealer i bought them from(who as a very good reputation said 3 pelets a day ) will that be for all (meaning 1 each or 3v each )

i just dont know and i am worried about feeding to much ,or to little

best wishes graham

oggy
New User

May 16, 2003, 3:31 AM

Post #10 of 25 (3845 views)
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Re: [koifun] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

hELLO

AND THANK U FOR YOUR PEPLY

MY POND (FOR NOW THAT IS1) IS 1600 GAL,THE FILTER IS A KF4000-V IT IS A VORTEX WITH 4 CHAMBERS IST CHAMBER BRUSHES,2ND BRUSHES 3RD JAP MAT, FOR ALFORGROG PLUS AIR STONE AND A UV .the point im getting to is how much and how often can i feed .A ll im feeding with at the m,o is koi health pelets ,

THANKS AGAIN

GRAHAM

BranMuffin
Koi Kichi

May 16, 2003, 4:56 AM

Post #11 of 25 (3840 views)
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Re: [oggy] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Graham;

I'm sorry but I've never heard of Koi Health Pellets. Are they regular koi food or some type of specialized Heath food for koi? I don't want to give you the wrong advise if that's not regular koi food.

Most of us here use regular but good quality koi food. And if you only have 3 koi in a 1,600 gal tank, it wouldn't hurt to feed them 2 or 3 times a day as much as they can eat within 2-5 mins.

I would go back to the dealer and ask him the difference between his koi health pellets and regular good quality koi food. I'm also puzzled by the 3 pellets per day instruction. Are they some kind of large tablets that break up when you feed them? Some concentrated form of dietary supplement?

I tried looking up KOI HEALTH PELLETS by I'm not coming up with anything. We really do need some further info on that Koi Health Pellet.

Bran

Best Regards
Bran

A Koi Pond is never FINISHED, it's always subject to improvement.
Drives the Spouse Crazy!

(This post was edited by BranMuffin on May 16, 2003, 4:57 AM)

koifun
Koi Kichi

May 16, 2003, 10:06 AM

Post #12 of 25 (3832 views)
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HI, Oggy

Bran is right to feel uneasy to give advice on health pellets. Unless u are talking about some pellets that is lightly medicated to prevent ulcer formation. If that is the case u have to follow the instruction given on the wrapper becoz each brand has it own dossage. Having said that I ever feed my koi a type of pellet called "Medi-koi" which is said to have preventive ingradient to ward off ulcer. I treat it as normal food and feed them by the rule of thumb. They are ok and not showing any sign of over dossage. However, at hind sight, I actually should have followed the instruction given on the packing closely since it is medicated.

So read the packing carefully, if the pellets are normal food with ingradient to boost health like vitamins and mineral, I think they are intended for normal feeding, then apply the rule of thumb. Cheers and enjoy koi feeding!

Sly

"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. - Euripides"

koipt
Koi Lover

May 24, 2003, 12:02 PM

Post #13 of 25 (3758 views)
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hi all,

i have similar problem.

my kois are still frightened by my presence. sometimes they dare to approach me when i dropped pellets for them. Somethime they stayed there for a while, but sometimes they will dash away.

i have a chaikoi (15cm, thin) which i bought from summerkoi. it is not doing the trick, instead the small (12cm) kuhaku is daring enough, it's alway the first to grab the food.

Please advice.

Cheers,
Paul
--
Cheers,
Paul

lhchng
Koi Lover

May 24, 2003, 4:15 PM

Post #14 of 25 (3748 views)
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Re: [koipt] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Paul,

I am bemused by the approaches that being used to tame kois. a) starve them and let them succumb to temptation to eat, b)play and hide seek and approach slowly during feeding, c) buy a chagoi to lead.

There is no trick required. All u need is to maintain your filter so that the pond water is in good and stable condition for the kois to be comfortable. By nature kois are friendly and extremely extremely greedy and will come to feed when they are hungry.

lhchng

douglezzz
Koi Lover

Jun 22, 2003, 2:13 AM

Post #15 of 25 (3627 views)
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Re: [lhchng] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

What I generally do is this :
When I feed /trim my water lilies, the Koi scatter but I will spend an extra 10 minutes slowly walking around the pond(in the pond) and dropping pellets from my shirt pocket.
Soon they follow me around waiting for the pellets to appear.
I can only touch a couple but can get my hand within 1-2 inches of many..nearly all of them.
They know who dad is !
I even have a bufo toad who seems to own a clock.. he sits on the edge at 4 pm waiting for the boss (wife) to do the afternoon feeding and she can get within 3 feet of it.
He then jumps in and cruises the top with the koi and eats the pellets. He thinks he is one of them.
They get used to you in time. Move very slow and quiet and when they see you, they know there will be a reward coming.
If you have to capture one it takes forever to regain their trust. They see you as a danger instead of a source of help or food.

(This post was edited by douglezzz on Jun 22, 2003, 2:18 AM)

TanSL
Member

Jun 26, 2003, 4:49 PM

Post #16 of 25 (3586 views)
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Just to share my case, the hand feeding with my Kois started with a brave ogon. Since this fella was removed a week ago due to sickness (due to dropsy?), the rest of them just hide away - probably in fear they may be next in line to get barbecued. Hoping for quick recovery of this leader and hand feeding can continue.

LINUS
New User

Jun 25, 2006, 10:33 PM

Post #17 of 25 (2335 views)
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Re: [l_z_w] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

When we started out with our pond we knew nothing about koi or hand feeding them. It was my 10 yr old son that amazed us when one day we saw him hand-feeding them and actually stroking them!!! I think its a matter of taking lots of time and the fish getting used to your presence. They soon equate you with food and are more than a little happy to see you!! My son spends alot of time by the edge of the pond and feeds them lots of earthworms and bees that he catches. Also we have some fancy-tailed gold-fish who are a little braver and always go for any new treat first. As soon as one fish starts munching away the rest will be curious and come a little closer and eventually will join in. Also try to be consistent and release pellets from your hand resting in the water one or two at a time to attract the fish. They will get used to your hand in the water and will eventually start nibbling your fingers to get more!!

MakubeXXX
Koi Lover

Aug 10, 2006, 1:19 AM

Post #18 of 25 (2023 views)
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Re: [koifun] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, I'm kind of new to this hand-feeding theory. I own KOIs for more than 1 years but never attempt to hand feed them.
Currently I feed them 4-6 times daily and because I have to work to buy the food, I only get chance to see them on their last supper.

My question are that:
1. Is it too late to start the hand-feeding theory (considering they have been feeding for more than a year without anyone looking at them)?
2. I have a doitsu Chagoi, would that help? or only Chagoi variety does the trick?
3. Further more, although all of my KOI are larger than 55cm, BUT I always give them 2mm pellets since it's more expensive so I assume its better.
Does the pellet size mattered?
4. I have read that some of hobbys give mealworm to their KOI, is it really OK? Will they create problems (health/water problems) later on?

Sorry for throwing you with lots of questions, its just that after reading this thread, I also would like to hand feed my KOI, not just admiring them.

Thank you so much.

Koi38
Senior Member

Aug 10, 2006, 8:31 AM

Post #19 of 25 (2020 views)
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Re: [MakubeXXX] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Koifun is in hibernation so I'll chime in for him Wink

1. Is it too late to start the hand-feeding theory (considering they have been feeding for more than a year without anyone looking at them)?
It's never too late to tame your koi

I started mine last year after 4 yrs of koi keeping. All you need is to tame one and the rest will follow. You need to spend time in your pond so your koi will get used to you. It may take you a day or a year to tame them but patience is our key for success

2. I have a doitsu Chagoi, would that help? or only Chagoi variety does the trick?
Chagoi they say are easy to tame but you'll be surprise if other virieties will be tamed first.

3. Further more, although all of my KOI are larger than 55cm, BUT I always give them 2mm pellets since it's more expensive so I assume its better. Does the pellet size mattered?
Expensive food doesn't mean healthy food. Check the back label and see what are the contents of this food. For me size of pellets doesn't matter as long as they eat them Tongue

4. I have read that some of hobbys give mealworm to their KOI, is it really OK? Will they create problems (health/water problems) later on?
You can give them brown bread, prawns, blood worm or even meal worm. Remember that these type of food are for treats only

With good filtration and regular maintenance, it shouldn't create problems.

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

MakubeXXX
Koi Lover

Aug 10, 2006, 12:07 PM

Post #20 of 25 (2016 views)
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Re: [Koi38] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Koi 38, it�s really great to have you around. Thank you so much for the advices.

I'll try to spend a little more time with my KOI, since I have to go to work from their first meal (08.00) to their last meal (17.00) can I
give them extra meal during the night? I have tried once but they tend to jump when I give them food at night, is it OK (and no I can assure you
that its not from the warm thing on their body)?

My final goal is to hand feed all of them which I hope can help me to select which KOI to give what brand of pellets,
since I have BeniGoi (55cm) and Yamabuki Ogon (55cm) which I assume giving it a Saki Color is just a waste of money (they don�t brighten / get better).
Also I have Kohaku reaching 75cm (5 y.o. is the age that my seller told me) but it has a "helicopter / pot belly" body Frown

(its genetic isn't it) coz it still growing
Do you have any suggestion as to how I can make this Kohaku of mine slim (since it's body conformation is ugly but the rest are definitely show quality
i.e. clean, sharp and bright color)

Thank you so much.

Koi38
Senior Member

Aug 10, 2006, 1:02 PM

Post #21 of 25 (2014 views)
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Re: [MakubeXXX] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi there,

Maybe having some pond lights will prevent spooking them. You can give them some pellets at night as long as they eat them, if they don't get scoop the pellets out to avoid fouling your water. Try droping few pellets at a time, this will minimise the noise(like droplets) in the water surface Smile

Do you have waterfalls???

Do you have a pic of this helicopter?

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

MakubeXXX
Koi Lover

Aug 10, 2006, 9:36 PM

Post #22 of 25 (1996 views)
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Re: [Koi38] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes I do have waterfall although it isn�t worth the name

I'm terribly sorry but it seems to me that I can not up load my KOI photos
I tried it 3X and have to wait for 30 minutes with no result Frown

so I might have to do it some other time, sorry for that

thank you

Koi38
Senior Member

Aug 11, 2006, 8:27 AM

Post #23 of 25 (1993 views)
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Re: [MakubeXXX] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Makube,

The reason I ask if you have waterfalls is coz koi do have very sensitive hearing/feeling. They can feel the things we don't and will spook them. So when you want to feed your koi for they last meal of the day, drop a few pellets at a time to avoid spooking them Smile

To upload pics, file size must be less than 92kb Wink

This might help read the last part Cool

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

ayranjim
Koi Lover

Jan 6, 2007, 9:18 PM

Post #24 of 25 (1518 views)
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Re: [l_z_w] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Time, more time and alot of patience! This is how one builds trust! And this does not only apply to koi!

Wayde
Koi Lover

Jan 15, 2007, 3:44 AM

Post #25 of 25 (1478 views)
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Re: [ayranjim] How to make koi tame to humans ? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I got lucky with hand feeding. Last spring I bought a year old 16" Shiro Utsuri.. She had quite a bit of girth and 16" isn't exactly small for a yearling, so I knew she was no stranger to food. Sure enough, the day after I brought her home she was sucking food from my hand as soon as it touched the water. She's the friendliest koi I've ever owned! A few months ago a heron found a gap in my net and attacked her, but she was too big for the bird and it dropped her back in the water with some serious injuries. After weeks of nursing and sitting on the bottom she's finally swimming again (just started swimming 2 weeks ago, actually) and she's already eating from my hands again. Her friendliness got her into trouble, but I can assure you it won't happen again! She's shown an example for my other fish, but none of them are as nice as her. They'll only eat from my hand if she does it first, and when they do they usually just snatch it and floor it to the other end of the pond. I'm buying a Chagoi this spring, so hopefully that will help the other fish see how it works.

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