How Long Can A Koi Fish Grow?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Most domestic Koi usually grow about

12 to 15 inches

long. Japanese Koi usually grow 22 to 26 inches in long. Jumbo sized Koi grow up to 34 to 36 inches long. Does the size of the pond hinder a Koi’s growth?

How old is a 2 inch Koi?

Age Koi Fish Size 6 months 5.1 inches 12 months 9.2 inches 18 months 12.6 inches
2 years

15.6 inches

How big is the biggest Koi fish?

Fun fact: The world’s largest koi carp ever in history is known as Big Girl, a gigantic koi

4.1 feet long and weighing in at 91 lbs

. Big Girl is owned by Geoff Lawton in Wiltshire, England, and she eats a half kilo of pedigree food every day in order to maintain her body weight.

Do Koi grow to the size of their tank?

Fish Myth Buster!


It is, for the most part, a myth

. It is true that if you place a fish in a small environment, it will not reach its full-size potential, but this does not mean that the said fish will not outgrow this relatively small environment.

How fast do baby koi fish grow?

Want to know how fast that baby koi of yours is going to grow? Or how big your adult koi will be this time next year? Then you are in the right place. The short answer is about

0.66mm per day

or almost an inch (2 cm) per month which translates into about 9 inches the first year of life.

Will koi eat smaller koi?

For more information, read our article on wintering Koi. Will big Koi eat smaller Koi? Can I have mixed sizes in my pond? Koi are omnivorous and they may eat Koi fry or eggs, but

they will leave smaller fish alone

.

What is a ghost koi?

Ghost Koi are

a mix between a mirror carp and a metallic Ogon Koi

. Ghost Koi grow faster than standard koi and will have either a metallic shine, yellow scales or a ghost white appearance. Koi thrive in a stable environment.

What is the oldest living koi fish?

A Japanese fish called Hanako is believed to be the longest living Koi fish ever recorded. It lived for

226 years

before her death in 1977. The scarlet-coloured female fish was born in 1751 in Japan.

How much is a koi fish worth?

The cost for koi fish can range depending on if you buy one at a time or more than one. They can be

$20 each or even $85 each depending on the type

.

Can koi fish bite?

Are My Fingers Safe?

Koi won’t bite while you feed them

, but may harmlessly pull on your finger as they try to get food. Koi have very muscular mouths and will be able to give your fingers a noticeable “pull” if they manage to get ahold of any while feeding.

Can you eat koi?

US Angler agrees that

koi are edible

because folks eat carp all over the world. Koi are Amur carp that have been specifically culled for their unique coloration and carp, despite their meager reputation as table fare, can be delicious.

Do koi fish like to be petted?

Not only are koi friendly to other fish, but they may also come up to the surface to say hello when they see their owner or when it’s time to eat.

Some koi even like to be pet

and will come to the surface for a little pat on the head.

Why are koi fish so expensive?

The main reason why koi prices can go so high is largely due to

the prevalence of koi breeding

, which began in Japan in the 1700s by rice farmers. Just as dogs are bred for their specific traits, so were these koi selected for their distinctive colors and patterns.

Can koi and goldfish live together?


You should not keep goldfish and koi in a tank together permanently; however, it can be done temporarily, and only when the koi aren’t fully grown

. Koi can grow up to 3 feet in length, so the vast majority of tanks aren’t going to be suitable for them. In fact, it’s only commercial tanks that they can live happily in.

Are koi smart?

How Intelligent are Koi fish?

Koi are actually very intelligent

– they have trained you to feed them on demand! All joking aside, Koi fish are known for their great memory, loyalty to their owners, and for their striking personalities.

How long does a koi fish stay pregnant?

They don’t give live birth, and the eggs are fertilized outside of the body, so there really aren’t baby koi in your fish either way. However, your koi will appear bloated and pregnant for

up to several days

before she’s ready to release her eggs.

Do koi fish eat their babies?

The simple answer to the question of whether or not koi eat their young is

yes, they are known to eat their babies

. However, they don’t necessarily do it on purpose. As omnivores, koi eat both plant and animal matter, such as algae, bugs, and flies.

How do you make koi grow faster?

You can encourage rapid growth in your koi by

providing them a large, warm habitat and a high-quality diet

. But regardless of the care you provide, their family trees may limit their growth rate and size. While they keep growing for most of their lives, the bulk of their growth occurs while they are young.

What time of year do koi lay eggs?

When Do Koi Spawn? Temperature and time of year matter when it comes to koi breeding. Fish typically spawn when water temperatures are 65° to 70°F. In many ponds, this usually happens in

late spring or early summer between May and June

.

How often should I feed koi?

How Often to Feed your Koi Fish. We recommend that you feed your fish

once a day

. This will provide enough nutrients for healthy fish and a healthy pond. Feeding them too often can put an excess amount of nutrients into your pond which can cause algae issues.

At what age do koi breed?

Koi will start breeding when they reach sexual maturity. This happens when they are

at least two years old

and about 12 inches long. If you plan on breeding your Koi, it is better to wait until they are around 4 or 5 years old.

How do you tell if a koi is a boy or girl?

The easiest way to tell is from fin shape and color. Male koi have smaller, more pointed fins that are opaque and generally colorful. Female koi, on the other hand, have larger, rounded fins that are partly or completely translucent or even transparent.

Can common carp breed with koi?


Common carp and koi will breed and produce fertile offspring

. Bighead carp, grass carp, and black carp might be able to produce viable hybrids with koi (like goldfish do), but the hybrids are likely to be sterile (like mules or koi x goldfish).

Is it hard to breed koi fish?

Koi fish can be fun and valuable to breed, but

the process can be time consuming

. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! To get your koi to breed, you need to create the right environment for them. A clean pond is important for the health of the koi and their spawn.

Can koi live 200 years?

Reportedly, koi fish can live for much longer in the optimal conditions and there are supposedly many koi who live over 100 years. For the most part these are just rumors and most koi only live for a few decades. However,

the oldest koi on this list lived for over 200 years and had its age scientifically verified.

Do koi fish fight each other?

Most pond owners who are new to this arena, are shocked to see their Koi “fighting” each other one day, when in fact

they are NOT fighting but rushing at each other in a spawn

. Understandably, some females during this “amorous roughhousing” will endure a few abrasions, mainly on the face and flanks.

Do koi live forever?


Koi fish are known to have a long lifespan

. However, their lifespan can vary widely depending on the fish’s environment and genetics. In the wild, life expectancy of the common carp is approximately 30 – 40 years. In captivity, the average koi lifespan is 70 years.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.