Will they be o.k.?

[suzysaver]

I have two Koi they are very large...each about 7-9 inches in length head to tail. They have out grown there 55 gallon tank and they dirty it up faster then I can clean it. We have a large duck pond, I plan on letting them go today. The pond is so large that I will not be able to successfully feed them, what will they eat ?...bugs. They have lived in this tank together for about 6 years and they will lose each other in there new home. Funny I'm a little worried about them........we also have hawks and a hering that stops by in the mornings....will they get eaten right away I think if they could swim and be happy and free for a little while, this would make me feel better. They can't even just swim around and stretch there fins so to speak, in this tank. I've been battling this decision for months, the weather is nice, one of the pumps just quit the other day, I can't afforn to buy a larger tank...."it's time".

[marym]

They should be fine. I have a koi pond. (It only has goldfish right now because of the %#@#$# blue heron) I don't feed the goldfish at all, there is enough bugs, plants and algea for them to eat in the pond. If you are turning them loose in a large pond. I read if you put up a artifical heron (sold in garden centers or online, and move it around the pond every few days, other heron should not bother it. They are solitary feeders, so you need to fake them out. If I get more koi, I am going to try this. Good luck. The koi grow FAST!!!

[guest7]

I think it's very kind of you to consider the comfort of the Koi.

I know I'd feel as though- I'm sending them to the death chamber. But Koi belong in the water- need the space. and hopefully if you were a good momma, and I'm sure you were- they will flourish.

What is going to happen when you send your children off? LOL!
Let them be free and let nature take it's course. It is Earth Day after all! LOL!

[Michelle]

Koi need a lot of room and will do much better in the pond than in the 55 gal tank.

You can buy Koi food (pellets) at your local pet store, and you can even train them to eat out of your hand

My dh had a Koi pond for several years, so if you have any more questions, please feel free to PM or email me.

There are lots of Koi resources on the web; here is just one of many:

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/koi.htm

[suzysaver]

Thank you all, I'm feeling better. We just let them go...funny I wanted to watch them swim around a while and say goodbye
They hit that water and both swam of in different directions and didn't look back. I never thought I could feel that way about fish, good greef...there in fishy heaven and that pond is so deep...they will have a chance to stay safe. My little water babies were spoiled and very fat, but I'm sure they will figure it out and be very happy..for as long as nature lets them.

I cleaned up the mess and tossed it all...I'm so done with fish. Cleaning those tanks is no fun. My house will smell good again, the past couple months it smelled like pond water

Thank you!

[Darlene]

Hope they live long & prosper in their new home.

[suzysaver]

Update ..I just walked out there again and saw the large white one...swimming with someone else Someone found a boyfriend already I guess nature is taking it's course alreadyI thought there might be other fish in there, but wasn't sure...I am now.

[Darlene]

Lol, how cool is that.

[madhen]

Well, if some other fish is doing fine out there already, without your help, it sounds like your fish will do just fine. I have some feeder goldfish out in a large pool to help keep the mosquito population down. I put them in about a year and a half ago, and thought they had all died, since I never saw them. So I went about a year without doing anything at all to the pool, then decided, one nice spring day, to drain it out and throw it away. As I'm pouring the water out, all of a sudden, I see a fin flick the surface!! All but one of the fish were still alive and well!! So of course, now I have to keep the pool full of water, and I do feed them about every third day or so.

[guest7]

Great job letting them go! See, know you can go visit the pond and see your own prodigy right there!

I hope you find the other one. I think it would be fun to watch thier progress over time.

[FrugalMomof3]

[Missy]

if you are still worried, i'd get the pelletised food and head on down there a few times a week. when you catch the glint off their scales, it might make you feel better. I bet they're doing great checking out their new digs.