I dont know if I mentioned this.... But, I managed to kill everything in my pond this past week.....

I needed a new filter media and could not wait until payday, so I used what I had.... I had a foam media which I used for my filter (as I make my own)....

I failed to check to see if the media had any chemicals in it and it did.... My pond inhabitants died overnight...

I practically killed me!!!.... I couldn't look at my pond for about 4 days....

After intensive cleansing....


I went out and bought two new koi..... They are 8-10 inch koi..... One is Kohaku and the other orenji....

These guys have been in the pond for less than 24 hours and this morning, i noticed this Kohaku chasing the Orenji.....

It circles it, and chases it, corners it, and flaps against it as they enter my water hyacinths...... This poor Orengi is only trying to get away from it.....

Now, i would have thought they were both males because they are somewhat slender in stature..... But, are they fighting or mating.... ???

The Kohaku gets by the Orenji's side and flaps it against the plants.... I don't know if this is a sign of a fight or a mating....

Please advise.....

Adreamer2

i dont know what they arer doing but it sounds weird. Protect the orenji!

When I first put them in there, they seemed to be the best of buddies... Seemed they were always swimming side-by-side...... Wherever the other swam, there the other was also.... Yet, this morning, I noticed the "cornering" attribute from the kohaku.... Seemed the Orenji only tried to get away....

Maybe I should examine it for the "tubercules" that males have and see if they both have them...

Otherwise, I am inclined to believe that one of them is female...

When I ordered them, I did not know what I was getting.... But, I mentioned to the seller what had happened... Maybe, they wanted me to have the option to replenish my stock with a male and female...

But, this other is not round like a female.... Maybe I should just get in the pond and see....


Adreamer

I'm sorry your fish died. What kind of media did you use? Was it made for a pond? I guess not if it had something toxic in it. What was the chemical(s)?

It sounds like your Kohaku is male. The Orengi may be female or less likely, a male. How big are they? A mature male koi with only one other koi to "play with" may try to spawn with the koi even if it's a male or immature female. Only mature older female koi are really fat. The younger ones may be almost as skinny as a male. It does sound like spawning to me.

poor koi :( .

Well, I am uncertain about the "kind" of media it was... It was foam.... I used it without thinking about it.... and it cost me greatly.....

I don't even know what kind of chemicals were on it... I thought it was clean, but I guess I was wrong....

Anyhoo...

My Orenji went into hiding under the floating plants....

It came back out after a couple of days and the kohaku still goes after it...

I think they are mating...

But, it still looks male to me.... That "torpedo" shape about it...

They're both about 10 inches long....


Adreamer2

i think they are too young to mate. how big is the pond? get more koi so the kohuka has more to worry about.

They are a bit small to breed but males mature faster than females so he might be in the mood. If so, he will chase a male koi if there are no females around. Both goldfish and koi like to chase each other regardless of sex or desire.

i have 5 koi about 5-10 inches. when will they start chasing eachother.

Mid Spring when temps reach about 75 - 80.....

I think the temperature does it....

Usually early in the morning... I have observed my (previous) koi "chasing" between 7:00am and 12:00pm....

After that it's business as usual to resume again next day.... :rolleyes:


Adreamer2

thanks, i dont think some of mine will be ready till next year.

Koi normally don't do much chasing until males are over say 8" but there may be some that are more excited. I only have a pair of koi but never saw them do any chasing until they were a foot long. I still haven't gotten any verified fry from them so perhaps they aren't male and female (one is skinny, and one is fat so I assumed so).

i have some fat ones but they just eat alot :P .