Hi, I'm new to posting, but have read this forum for awhile.
I have a question pertaining to my koi. I live in Michigan..they
overwintered in the pond and did fine. I kept an overturned
milk crate in there so they'd have some protection. Problem
is now it's spring, they seem afraid to come out of the milk
crate. Shouldn't they be swimming around like crazy
and trying to breed now?
If anyone aproaches the pond they high tail it back
to the milkcrate....should I remove the crate? or let them be?
Thanks for any help....
gnirps

What is your water temp????? Welcome to the forum!

If the water is above 50 degrees F, they should be pretty active. Do you have other cover in the pond like plants (at any stage of growth), pots, etc.? If there is other cover, and the fish have been in the pond for a while, then they may be hiding because a predator such as a heron or raccoon has visited lately. That would make them skittish. You may want to net the pond just in case. If the fish were actually attacked (with some killed), they may want to hide for weeks but will have to eventually come out. Have you lost any fish or noticed anything amiss? If not, and there's not much cover in the pond, I suggest adding more plants and cover to make them more comfortable. For whatever reason, they're scared. Don't remove the crate. Do they actively swim around when they don't know you're there? Sometimes, they're scared of people or any shadows and not hiding all the time.

I can stand in my back room and watch them swim around, but
as soon as someone gets right up to the pond they skittle away.
As far as lost fish...not a one was lost over the winter. The plants
haven't covered the pond yet...that might be a factor. I'll try to fix
that. Haven't had any upset to the pond either. Guess I'm just
a little too eager to see them in "summer mode"...
Thanks for your answers and welcoming me to the forum...
thanks
gnirps

Yes, I bet they are just shy, especially if they haven't seen people, shadows etc. all winter. It must be hard for fish to come out of hibernation, I can't imagine what mine thought yesterday when I pumped the water out after not seeing anything but darkness for 6 1/2 months. I hope I didn't shock them too bad!

My fish last year would nearly jump in your hand when you came by. After the winter (central ohio) sorry you are in michigan) :P They are a lot more shy. They are up at the surface when I am away but when I sit it takes a while for them to come around and when they do nothing like last year. Just feed and sit there there hunger always gets the best of them. Be patient they will come round


GO BUCKS!!!!!! (sorry had to do that)
C2

Mine are always shy since I have not in the past directly fed them. It's hard for me to get pics cause when I get close they run.... or swim that is for cover. :rolleyes: I just admire them from a distance and when I have fed them worms this spring I toss them from a distance.

Ditto C2 ... Go Bucks !!!!!! FM3

Thanks for the help....I think maybe the water temp might have something to do
with it also. Altho last year the minute they saw me they were right there, this year I'm chopped liver....
Go Michigan!! :D

GO BUCKS

i put some floaters in the pond thsi last 2 weeks and with more surface coverage the fish have taken on new personalities maybe they dont feel so vulnerable. Even the new little butterfly Koi (mocha) is commingto the top and I have only had her 2 weeks


C2

In the last couple days I have noticed the fish being less shy. A few of the really shy ones are acting like show off's now! Guess they are coming out of there hibernation more. I had 5 little kids come to see the pond yesterday ( I am a pond celebrity as no one else is dumb enough to have one up here :blink: ) Anyways, they came at feeding time and I think the fish new all those little faces were watching cause they all got really shy. The kids were giggling and pointing and laughing at their names. Soon as the kids left, you should have seen the show the fish put on. Funny how they know a stranger, I can't believe they can even see through all that green! I am enjoying them so much and can't wait to put the 3 indoor koi out there.

KK you may not like that green water now but your comment about how much they grew over the winter is due to the algae that sustained them all winter. ;)

Go Bucks!!!!! Fm3