Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

*sigh*

In Feb. my bigges koi apparently jumped out of the tank and died. Was laden with eggs, which we only found out after we decided to clear our doubts and cut her open. Another koi that was there in the tank had the same shape, so we realised she was full as well, however without any mature males to do anything it more or less would be wasted.


Now the second one has jumped out. Found it this morning dead. Someone told me that the eggs would still be good, so I cut her open and took them out...and.....have absolutely no clue what to do now. I pushed it in the freezer thinking that may keep them dormant but is that a good thing to do? Anybody has any experience or guidance in this matter? And even if I do save them, how can they be used to respawn? Searched the net and really didnt get anything I could work from.

Do not hatch from dead fish, for it will be devils spawn!

I am not postive, but I believe the freezer will kill them. I know with chicken eggs the only way to keep the fertile is to leave them at room temp.

I figured that might happen as any moisture would expand and rupture things when frozen. If I leave them at room temp...how long would they survive for?

No idea with fish, but you would have to keep them wet.

some fish eggs "water harden" (at least yellow perch, the only one i know for sure) and if the eggs aren't fertilized almost immediately after being laid, it's too late

PM troutman or Dunder, both have experience in this area


but get them to post here

I imagine Koi eggs would be similar to goldfish eggs and they go off very quickly if not fertilised, in water at least. The infertile eggs can be seen turning opaque white within hours and soon are covered in furry white fungus.
That is bad luck about the loss of both of your big Koi.

Question : Why are the Koi jumping out of the tank?? I have had koi before and never experienced that issue ? It sounds strange and worth investigating.

Suspect those neighbourhood felines are provoking the tank. Far too often the fish seem too spooked when I come to feed them etc...so I started ensuring that the water was deep enough so that any cats would have a hard time..as well as cover the tank down.


I had a mesh..but it was cut badly..so it often falls into the tank...so I have to cut a new one.

*sigh*

Well done on freezing the eggs. That's what I would have done... but have no idea if the eggs will be any good.

As we know, low temps can keep things quite well when it comes to eggs. I think though, that they may have to be frozen within a very short time period, to be useful. Your normal home freezer may not be appropriate.

However, now that you have frozen them, the only way to find out if they are any good, is to defrost them and try to fertilize them. You Will need to strip the milt from a male and 'swim' the defrosted eggs in the milt.
Male fish being milked

The only reason I would bother doing this, would be if the koi were good breeding stock.


I have seen European carp jump clear out, in still waters. Best thing, with any aquaculture system, is to keep it sealed. Stops excess evaporation, keeps the fish in and predators out.

All the best

Ah.

Nice.

Thanks. So again the problem would be getting a mature male.. even if they were kept by freezing.


Thats the challenge there. If that were readily available, I'd have already put them in a tank by themselves and had them listening to :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYZInhIBmg

Hmm....wonder what now..

But thanks again for the replies.

Also.... You don't have to use koi milt to fertilize the eggs. I read somewhere that different species of carp can be used.

Got a mature goldfish??

Who knows what you will develop??