10 Koi Continue to Thrive Over 2 years in 50 Gallon Tank

I have been caring for 10 koi in a 50 gallon tank for over two years. Except for their growth stopping , they remain, healthy, active , attentive and almost always eager to eat the amount of food they can consume in 30 seconds. I use undergravel filtration, with a 2 inch gravel bed and monthly 80 to 90% water changes. Experts have said that they will out grow the tank, but so far I see no sign of it.

[@midorishinobi5]

Hi James! Koi and goldfish can live their whole lives comfortably in tanks like this since they secrete a hormone called somatostatin which depending on the amount of water they have regulates the concentration of it, and inhibits their growth to live comfortably in the environment they have available.

[@Prometheus-fc4rm]

Yeah they stop growing but there organs don’t so they just sorta......die......but this tank is good, for now

[@midorishinobi5]

@@Prometheus-fc4rm Oh that's actually a common urban myth but it's been disproved by scientists.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Wow! Thank you so much Midori Ch. I did not know that! It certainly seems to be absolutely true in my rather amateurish experiment.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I think you information is wrong Mandalorian.

[@alfadriver87]

@@Prometheus-fc4rm as others have said that seems like it would be a myth - it wouldn’t make any sense for them to have a growth inhibitor hormone that only worked on their outer body and not the whole body.

[@jonathangarrido3523]

Those are lovely koi fish people who dislike need to see that these fish have a better life than being in a regular pet store. Sure the home it’s small, but you clearly see the progress that the koi fish are well

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

thank you. They seem very happy to beg for food from me every time I approach the tank.

[@portugal5698]

Nice setup, as I, myself started my koi and goldfish off in an indoor tank last year, but upon keeping up w/ their growth, upgraded them to a 108 gallon pond from Amazon (Pennington Aquagarden kit; octagon shaped). It’s crazy how within their first 2 months in the pond, they have all gained almost 2-4 inches each, even the regular goldfish. Not knocking you or you setup, but look into indoor or outdoor ponds for your fish’s sake! Definitely beats them being in a neglected, dirty fish/aquarium shop tank, but still doesn’t justify stocking 24”-36”+ fish like they are 7” african cichlids or something.

[@mervinrobes905]

Atleast 50 galoon for 9 -10 koi is perfect in tank looks healthy as well love your Koi sir.❤️❤️❤️

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you. It is not like a big pond, but they love the easy life I think.

[@alfadriver87]

People are gonna say “oh those poor fish” but they don’t realize the power of the filtration system that you have going on. Most people aren’t going to have anything close to that in their home 50 gallon freshwater aquarium, but you do so your fish are healthy and happy because of it!

[@DJTXD123]

@M J Faulkner thats decent ive got 5 small orandas in a 40 gallon, 2 internal filters, 1,100 litres per hour, works pretty well

[@DJTXD123]

@M J Faulkner 1,000 lotres* lol, gallons would be awesome tho

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I think my koi are smaller than would be normal outside , but are very healthy.

[@cassieardollastory218]

I am saying this because of what works for me my Fluval G6 works great

[@portugal5698]

Nice setup, as I, myself started my koi and goldfish off in an indoor tank last year, but upon keeping up w/ their growth, upgraded them to a 108 gallon pond from Amazon (Pennington Aquagarden kit; octagon shaped). It’s crazy how within their first 2 months in the pond, they have all gained almost 2-4 inches each, even the regular goldfish. Not knocking you or you setup, but look into indoor or outdoor ponds for your fish’s sake! Definitely beats them being in a neglected, dirty fish/aquarium shop tank, but still doesn’t justify stocking 24”-36”+ fish like they are 7” african cichlids or something.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Keeping fish is a good hobby.

[@chinbatbattumur2622]

Yes. Water change frequency and small tank size is the main cause of the stunt in growth.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I am afraid they are still growing slowly.

[@alanjohnson2662]

The good clarity of the water indicates a healthy water condition. I'm surprised he needs only monthly water changes. I have two large goldfish in a 45 gal. tank that need a 50% water change every 10 days.

[@rtc2112]

I guess the dislikes come from the size of the tank... those fish look perfectly healthy man.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

You are correct.

[@dylanhughes5944]

no more dislikes now ;) lol

[@elijah.9139]

@@dylanhughes5944 how come they took that away? It’s so dumn

[@AcceleratingUniverse]

​@Elijah. if you're actually curious, it's because KZbin Rewind as well as Joe Biden's official videos got too many dislikes

[@richallenxbox1976]

Koi Carp do have a rep for being scary, even though they actually don't have teeth and therefore can't bite you.

[@codenamerabbit7338]

You have beautiful and healthy looking koi. Most people would be mad about the tank size without understanding not everyone has money to shed for a near 3ft fish.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I moved all of these koi out to my large outside pond this morning. They gradually got too crowded and the warm water temperatures and low oxygen levels stressed them too much.

[@achevsyed6858]

Amazing Great way to keep great fish Best wishes From California Thank you

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you. Koi in aquariums show off a different beauty than they do in ponds.

[@Falseid01]

Omg they are beautiful!

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Yes, they are beautiful and content.

[@kevinshea3028]

Do them a favor and when they reach peak size in that tank, put them out into your pond so they can thrive and grow to their normal potential. Just because they are still alive and still crave food doesn't mean they aren't stressed and miserable.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I disagree with your assessment of stress and miserable fish. They are content and seem almost eager to see me everytime.

[@kevinshea3028]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife I can't imagine that putting any living thing into an environment that forces it into stunting it's natural growth is healthy for it. Not giving it the same space it has in nature is obviously nearly impossible but I can't imagine that forcing it into a situation that forces it to change it's natural growth cycle would make it happy...if a fish knows happy to start with.

[@davidhoran6447]

@@kevinshea3028 If an organism has the ability to slow it's growth to match it's environment, that's a natural evolutionary advantage. It may be as a result of available space and food. Its certainly more natural than being selected by a human purely for a pretty colour pattern and fed 80% protein five times a day in a pond kept at summer temperature all year long to maximise the growth rate at whatever cost to the fishes life expectancy. Stressed fishes hide, sit at the bottom, don't feed and die within weeks. These fish are energetic and eager for food which is exactly what Koi keepers want in their fish.

[@Ashley.falcon]

Frequent water changes of once a month? Should be once or twice to be considered frequent. But they still are beautiful! I love them, how inspiring

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I am lazy. Burn out on keeping fish is almost always an eventual thing. I have been keeping them over 65 years. Keep it as easy as possible and do not get the "Too many tanks " syndrome . It gets nearly everyone eventually and I am sure that day is coming for me. The koi are very rewarding for me in aquariums.

[@Snapster1911]

Mines are almost 9 -13 inches it's only been a year 1/2 I got mines when they were 2inches they have been in a 90 gallon.

[@aselamahatmaarachchi3931]

How many do you have in your 90 G tank? I am going to get a 130 G tank for Koi. But not sure how many I can keep.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They will grow much larger than mine did in a 50 gallon aquarium with more fish load and less space.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Your koi will most likely grow much larger than mine. It is unknown how many you can put in since it seems to depend on water quality and space . I think the amount of food has much less influence on growth over the years that go by.

[@TranscendingTheory]

What make and model of underwater filter is being used @OP?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I beleive any under gravel filter plate covering most of the aquarium bottom will work. The last one was "Penn Plax " I think.

[@Politicoshashwat]

I have 4 babay kois 3inches long in 150 gallon tank and I feel that's small for them.. what are you doing with them sir

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

they have stopped growing. I will keep them in the 50 gallon tank.

[@audio131]

are they better off as lower quantity? maybe 2 to 3 of them in a 55g or they perfer multiple and crowded?.. i just bought 2 baby butterfly koi for my 55g and debating if i should go get a 3rd one or not

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I have found that the 2 koi I kept in a 50 gallon aquarium grew faster and larger than the more crowded tank with 10.

[@Raptor-cr1se]

any update?

[@kotoll]

Do you check your water levels? I also have 10 butterfly kois in 75 gallon and feed them as much as you and twice a day. I even have plants in my aquarium but my water nitrate level gets quite high in less than 10 days. I do 25% water changes weekly. I wonder what you are doing differently that monthly water changes are sufficient for you

[@zonn499]

Koi are in the carp family and are hardy fish simple as that. They can tolerate higher nitrate levels compared to many fish species. Feeding twice a day is too much IMO. I do once a day and sometimes i skip 1 or 2 days. When fish get bigger u can feed every other day to every 3 days for water quality purposes. I have 3 tanks and keeping a variety of different fish. longest ive gone without a water change is one month. I usually do one every 2-3 weeks lately. I dont test my water either.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I use under gravel filtration exclusively for over 50 years and I believe it is crucial to maintain the lowest amonia and nitrate levels. Your water changes are better than my usually monthly 80% water changes. I never have checked nitrate levels.

[@JJLewis-so1iq]

I've been reading these comments WOW quite an emotional response 😂 I rescued 8 comets and kept them in a 20 gallon long for about 5 months then moved them to a 55 gallon tank. After moving them, they almost tripled their size, I didn't even know comets could get thst big. Everything I read said a 55 gallon tank was not nearly enough room for 8 comets. I kept them for 8 years in there and they did great. I ended up having to get rid of the tank, the fish were 10 years old and I surrendered them to my LFS. I am researching whether or not you can keep koi in an aquarium and surprisingky there isn't much information on the subject. I think your tank looks great and your fish do appear happy. The goldfish were great fun , very interactive, and the koi seem to be as well. Are they as dirty as goldfish? Also, do you have any advice on the smallest varieties? I understand that you can't put a shark in a tank and expect it to stay 6" long. These are butterfly koi? Do they typically stay small?

[@nandasarva1133]

Some people don't know a thing about what they are talking. These carps induce GIH. If talking about cruelty then once we take birth we kill a lot of things knowingly and unknowingly. It's the way it is. Also maybe in the nature these fish would not survive even months. They are bred for 100s of years for ornamental fish keeping

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Most are butterfly koi. Their parents are normal sized in my outside ponds. The conditions in the tank prevent them from growing huge of the years. They get fed a small amount of food every time I walk by their tanks and they are MESSY!

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

GIH. Growth Inhibiting Hormone? They would be huge if they were in my outside ponds.

[@JJLewis-so1iq]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife i figured as much

[@nandasarva1133]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife yes. These are the most hardy and easy to keep fish. I love my comets and koi and my next project is discus fish tank. I don't know when I will be able to do that as now I am too much busy with life that's why I kept comet and koi only. I have a planted tank also in which again I have kept danios only as I don't find much time for maintenance. One day I will keep a discus tank cause it's a lot of care and time needed for discus

[@jihadist4672]

Those kois are beautiful

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you

[@michaelmorgan3950]

So what's the under gravel filter system and how much do they run

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They cost about $20.00 plus an air pump Check out my undergravel video.

[@chrispaul9124]

I’ve had koi for 6 yrs In a 50 gallon tank then put them in my moms pond and they got bigger

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Wow . thank you for the information.

[@daredevil2241]

What do you feed them?? Suggest me good food for koi growth and color.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

In aquariums you do not strive for growth. I think that other experts would be much better than me to suggest good koi diets. I would suggest after years of experience with tropical fish and goldfish that I THINK they all do better with a variety of food. I think live worms would be absolutely very good but I have never tried them except as an occasional treat.

[@vincentgilmore4551]

Very informative Thank you

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nathanwhouston]

Howdy, I’d like to do a set up just like this (my kids are in love with koi) I’ve done salt water tanks before but this will be new to me What kind of under gravel filter did you use? Is that the only one? (Is there also a wheel or canister one going on?) Beautiful fish and thanks for uploading the video.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I think it is called a Penn Plax under gravel filter, with 2 inches of small gravel and not sand. I use no out of tank filtration. The air tubes circulate a surprising amount of water thru the gravel. The gravel does need to have nitrification bacteria in it. I take dirty water when vacuming out an established tank and put the sediment into the new gravel to get the bacteria needed a head start. They will love the attentive nature of the koi. Mine react to me from10 feet away..

[@rothenbj]

I can't believe the comments on here. Your fish look very content and happy. I have a 40 gallon tank that I bought to bring in a dozen small goldfish from my pond in the late fall. All were maybe an inch long at the start with and now are a couple inches or so long. Only one, the smallest one is actually gold with the rest silver. They are doing very well and react to me all the time, looking for food. The water condition has remained stable the entire time. My intention is to return them to the pond in the Spring. I've had no luck with the Koi I introduced into my pond where the water conditions have remained good fed by rainwater and a well. I've been thinking of raising a few Koi in the aquarium for a year or so from a small size and then transferring them to the pond since the water characteristics would be similar from both locations. Your video gives me hope and ideas on proper filtration for my idea.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Short term inside will work for you I think. Good luck on the fish to pond transfer.

[@kahunahowardhoward6707]

Can you tell us what kind of Filter system you are using. Because my koi are killing my water. Changing like every other day.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Undergravel. See my other video on how I set up my filter and gravel.

[@imtiyazkhan7348]

Hey I've 33 gallon tank with no decoration and having 7 koi of 4 inches is it ok for few months? Or should i reduce the quantity.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Yes short term. Pleny of areation and frequent water changes . Make sure your tank is "cycled" before putting so many fish in it.

[@hopethegreat7482]

I have 3 new baby koi in a 20 gallon tank and it was just given to me and Im not prepared. Do you think they can thrive their?

[@alexandertapia8656]

Why would you even ask that? Give them atleast a 75 gallon but they should do fine with a 100gal

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

If you have the 20 gallon aquarium cycled properly with an undergravel filter with 2 inches of gravel on top of the filter system and adequate air bubblers and monthly water changes with unclorinated water I think you CAN SUCCEED in keeping them alive, but perhaps not thrive and certainly not reproduce. Your koi will stop growing in a year or so like mine have in a 50 gallon tank. To really thrive koi need to be outside in ponds lakes or rivers to grow huge and reproduce.

[@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube]

@@alexandertapia8656 No. Koi fish are extremely adaptable to their environment and grow according to the size of their tank. That doesn't causes any stress in them.

[@chaseburge3380]

How are they now? Its been 3 years since you posted, how are they doing?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Hello. This morning I halted my 10 koi in a 50 gallon aquarium because the water was too warm, not enough oxygen and they were just getting way too big...so I moved them all out to my outside large Koi pond.

[@johnmase4800]

Can you show us the pond?

[@zhaolena]

Absolutely beautiful😃

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you! 😊

[@pool_pond_uk]

I have 3 3 inch koi and 3 4 inch big gold fish and 2 small gold fish atm there in the 10 ft pond 5000 liter but I'm bringing them into a 200l tank with a uv filter just Intill it heats back up and I repair the leaks in pond I feel bad just housing them in there for a couple months and there still tiny compared to this this is proper tight on the fish 2 years in there you need a pond now and let them flourish into big beautiful koi

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I have koi in big ponds outside my home. The koi I have in my 50 gallon tanks enjoy the small space and are alway glad to beg for food from me. Good luck fixing your pond leak.

[@pool_pond_uk]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife my 8 tiny fish beg for food had them hand feeding in first week how old are they in tank surely you will move them to a pond where there's a lot more room for these beautiful fish I think it's not fair on the fish being in small inviroment when koi can grow to a meter

[@luiscisneros202]

I got 4 small koi in a 55 gallon tank. What is the correct amount of food each day?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

3 pellets per fish every time you walk up to the aquarium if they are hungry, they will let you know it.

[@DJTXD123]

I've got 5 small orandas in a 40 gallon, 2 internal filters, 1,100 litres per hour, i do water changes twice a week just because theres so much poo to get rid of, do you not see poo in yours?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Yes I see it. You work so hard giving your fish excellent water quality! Congratulations.

[@DJTXD123]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife thanks, i give them a life of luxury

[@rafhaelgeraldo9621]

So i went to a hippie pet store and there was this koi that was like 3 feet long in this small pond thats around 25 gal of water. Apparently the koi has been alive for over 2 f-ing decade. Bro that fish is older than me

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Wow! That is amazing. Perhaps with constant fresh water the growth is not inhibited.

[@supremepeace.]

How do yout think you are having success maintaing pond fish in an aquarium? These fish are explorers and need space. They are obviously not happy simply seeing their behavior compared to my koi in my pond. The idea of fish keeping is to be able to give them tbe best life conditions as much similar as what they would have in nature. I mean, would you like to live for the rest of your life inside a bathroom with ten more people? Any animal wouldn't.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Koi and many other fish do not have thoughts like humans. They do respond to their environment and they always loved to interact with me when I approached the aquarium. You have very commendable wonderful feeling about caring for fish.

[@supremepeace.]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife Don't come with excuses. The tank looks horribly small... People who understand about fish keeping know this.

[@johnathansmith7221]

How much and how often to you feed them I'm thinking about doing the same and was wondering

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I feed them floating pellets every time I look at them. All they can eat in 5 to 10 seconds. A very small amount.

[@nikolapostin2427]

Thrive? At 2 years old they should be triple that size

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Yes ! If they are not in a 50 gallon aquarium.

[@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube]

No. Koi fish are extremely adaptable to their environment and grow according to the size of their tank. That doesn't causes any stress in them.

[@nikolapostin2427]

No different to keeping a dog on a short chain..

[@trent9890]

I don't think the expert know what they're talking about. When they say you can't or shouldn't keep coy fish in an aquarium cause you can and they do just fine. They are very Hardy and resilient fish.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

You are correct that they can live and seem to enjoy daily contact with me every day.

[@pokeyh1979]

The only reason I read the comments is to laugh my ass off…. Damn humans are a trip.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Comments can be very funny.

[@nickobrown654]

James they look amazing how many can I put in a 40 gallon tank??

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I am crowding them very excessively according to all experts.I do not reccomend anyone put koi long term into aquariums. If you have an undergravel filtration system that is cycled properly you may enjoy 2 or 3 small koi if they show no signs of stress.

[@Lego-lc7ew]

I swear when I move I’m gonna be loaded on fish man Also nice job on the koi they look extremely healthy 👍

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you. Just wait a little longer and I will have a surprising new update.

[@beccagabaldon6429]

I also have a high fin shark witch they can grow up to 4 feet long but they do wonderful woth koi fish I won't be able to build a pond but i am thankful i have a 250 gallon tank so it definitely helps

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Some fish need a lot of room to not feel stressed. Koi do not to be content. They are messy and dig up the gravel every feeding. I use under gravel filtration and augment that with a power sponge filter to catch debris. My outside Koi in big ponds grow to over 20 inches in just a few years. In the aquarium they stay small and have long beautiful fins to boot. They are very friendly and attentive and fun to feed every time I look at them they get a little food. Thanks for sharing your experience with comets.

[@kaylamccomb9329]

I just recently bought a 75 gallon tank and I have koi fish on their way do you have any suggestions on how to keep them happy I've never done a koi tank before four of them will be here tomorrow and the other four will be here in the next week

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

It is extremely important to cycle your tank with nitrification bacteria. Change your water very often to start with to avoid deadly Ammonia build up. Keep your tank completely covered so they cannot jump out. I recommend under gravel filter plates and 2 in gravel bed. what I am doing has not been documented before as far as I know with koi. I have acheived a level of success finding that their size is limited and they do not just get sick and die in such a small space.

[@Koi-addict33]

Have they ever laid eggs ?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I think they have but they ate all the eggs immediately.

[@Zinctwentyone]

A new Koi tank set up has brought me here. Any specific reason to not have any shelter for them with plants or rocks? Are those imported Koi?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They are koi from the spawns in my outside koi ponds. I keep fish only for caring for and observing them. Koi do not hide unless predators attack them or they fear danger. Obstacles in the tank would reduce swimming and maneuvering room...so no rocks or decorations. None of my koi are imported in the last 30 years as far as I know. They breed successfully for me every spring. Only the most wary and lucky baby koi survive. Butterfly koi were developed in the USA! I love their long fins.

[@ericl0741]

Hey James, can I keep 1 koi in a 10 gallon tank?

[@jazzlynx7127]

That’s what I’m saying because I was looking at a butterfly koi fish but the worker is saying I need a 40 gallon like I got money 😭

[@ericl0741]

@Jazzlynx haha me too

[@elvinnare]

try to get a pool pond by intex (mini will do just fine).. decent filteration (diy with ceramic rings sponge and activated carbon preferably with a pump or powerhead) u can house 2-4 local kois (not japanese)

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I say go for it. do use an undergravel filter and at least a 1 inch gravel over it and keep it covered so it cannot jump out. Keep good constant areation going always. It might work for a year or 2 or who knows maybe it will stop growing and survive for decades. It will be tricky to do it even for an experienced aquarium person.

[@rishabhtiwari6054]

Hi i want to know which substrate is this gravel or sand ?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I use mostly gravel that is common here like granite. Over 50 years I have had some store bought gravels and I never throw any gravel away. I like the slightly larger gravel sizes and of course gravel that does not break down and affect water PH

[@shedlife9599]

Beautiful fish

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

thank you.

[@christophertuchez7730]

That has to be at least 120 gallons. I have 2 koi in a 75 gallon and they’re just over a year old and tank is looking small

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I think you will find your koi will grow much larger than mine with so much room.

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

Lovely looking koi my friend

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I will do another video tomorrow I hope.

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife 👍👍

[@gisellemiranda4600]

Hiiii i need your help my koi are almost 4 years old I think they're sick they're fins are down I'm not too sure so what I did is that I did a complete water change but I haven't put them in yet and I haven't put anything in the water is there any recommendations that you have that I can put in the water what to do

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Sorry I did not help you.

[@gisellemiranda4600]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife it's ok Hun ... I watched a couple of more videos.. and my fish are doing great they're thriving 🤍🙏🏼

[@twistedpersonality]

People are saying this is cruel, but I don’t know, they seem pretty healthy to me. 🤔

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I think they are obviously healthy and happy as much as a fish can be.

[@Crazyforkoiandgoldfish]

I do have koi and goldfish on my 260 litres tank Some of them I have for 2 years there doing fine Is lovely to see the koi on the fish tank 👍👍

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Keep their water quality good and I have found they stop growing and just do fine.

[@Barrskie101]

I feed my 11 koi a LOT more thank that. Probably about 3x that amount 2-3times a day. 55 gallon tank. I've had the koi for 2 months, maybe I should feed them less? Lol

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Feed them as much as they will gobble down in a couple minutes and feed them when they act hungry.. they love to eat a little bit more often.

[@marklee1730]

Love koi butterfly fish I have about 11 in my fish tank there nice

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I am glad that you are enjoying this well known outside fish inside.

[@ghilrosales4393]

Still good now? How Many koi inside with ur 50galloms tank? I wanna know pls ehhehe

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They are doing great this morning. I should do another update...but I have been lazy with my you tube video channel this fall. Maybe I will do a video now.

[@ghilrosales4393]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife ohh yeah ? But still on that aquarium with 10 kois ?

[@richardsandlervalle4904]

Phew thank god i’m not alone.. i have 8 orandas in my 55 gallon

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Just keep good water quality.

[@elijahdontrelljones]

Keeping them in a 50 gallon stunted theyre growth and thats not good please get atleast atleast a 220g

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Go fund me LOL! They are doing fine being smaller sized koi.

[@frozentesla7771]

Nice experiment are they still alive?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Yes. See my latest video.

[@ricebowl3232]

The yellow head with white body is a beauty

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you. I moved them outside permanently this summer and they are doing really well and I think they smile at me every time I feed them.

[@loganchanley]

Awesome!

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Thank you. I really enjoy them.

[@Thort-Sat]

Hi dear I'm new Koi keeper in tank, me Koi always try to hide when they see me even feeding time! Any tip can help me?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Just put a little food in when you walk up to the tank...not enough for all of them to get a piece every time you walk up to the tank. they will learn who you are pretty soon.

[@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube]

I have a butterfly koi in my 1.5 feet tank, its now the size of 3.5 inches and is very happy and healthy.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I am very happy to hear of your success.

[@beccagabaldon6429]

I understand looking at beautiful koi fish but 10 kois to a 50 gallon that's stunt's there growth I have 6 koi fish to a 250 gallon tank so a upgrade should be done 👍

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

My koi have beautiful fins and their body shapes are normal. They are just small.

[@jj680l]

Yes it stunts their growth. So what?

[@retrochristmas7329]

People need to stop saying over stocking your tank is bad. As long as they aren't all dumped in at once they won't get stressed out. When moving them to a new tank make sure to put 2 fish at a time that way they don't get grumpy and territorial. Also if you have alot of filtration, watter changes, and keep alge on the back of the tank they will thrive in a smaller tank. Also gold fish and koi are alot more friendly in small tank they become disconnected in big tanks. Won't react to you anymore

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Retro you are in agreement with all of my 60 plus years of experience. I just fed them this morning and they are very content to eat and interact with me when I peer into their aquarium.

[@shivangichauhan5946]

Sir tank size

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

50 gallon

[@Michael_Spilner]

The fish are healthy but you need to give them a bigger spce to live

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Time will tell me how long I can keep them in a 50 gallon tank.

[@alexandertapia8656]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife dude koi fish wont grow if their kept in a small crowded tank if you kept 1 koi in their then that koi would've been waay bigger than they are now after 2 years

[@germanyball6827]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife you will need a 100 gallon tank

[@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube]

No. Koi fish are extremely adaptable to their environment and grow according to the size of their tank. That doesn't causes any stress in them.

[@Michael_Spilner]

@@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube I'm saying like a bigger space ,the fish will enjoy right ,so

[@J31-l9s]

Need bigger tank for them lovely koi

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They should be in a outdoor pool actually. This is just an experiment proving experts sometimes get things a little bit wrong.

[@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube]

Wow 😍❤️

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

thank you. I did another video of them. they are my favorite fish now.

[@ProducedbyPDot]

most fish grow to there habitat brother , so they will most likely stay around that size

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

You are correct.

[@ProducedbyPDot]

they might release a hormone like goldies do , to stop growth

[@LiveHobbi]

Hi from India....nice Tank...would request you to please share the dimension of your tank...as I am also looking for 1... I have 2 milky koi 1 fancy koi carp 2 shubunkin carp and 2 fancy gold fish... all of them are of different sizes but they are strongly bonded and live peacefully....I keep them in tub 2 ft dia ... they are there for last 1 year... now I m looking for setting up a tank...please suggest :)

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

My 50 gallon aquarium is 48 inches long aout 13 inches wide and I think about 15 inches deep. I have never had success with fancy gold fish. I suggest keeping them seperately from Koi for continued success.

[@Baddeal]

I thought I had come across something that said water quality dictates growth. Something with Dr Novak. Would be interesting to see what a sump with a Bcb basket would do as far as size goes and water changes. Maybe some pothos in the sump as well.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

You probably have something here. If my koi had constant supply of new fresh water they might not have stopped growing. My experiment will never test that very real probability.

[@knightshadow2994]

I am trying to set up my own koi fish tank what type of koi fish are those? they are beautiful

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They are mostly butterfly koi that I raised the spawns of my adult koi in my outside ponds.

[@brianbrown2158]

I dont understand people worry about the tank size and health of the fish when millions of people eat fish everyday what about those fish .. they get killed and eaten and nobody says nothing about that.. that's just my opinion

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Your opinion is absolutely true and factual. All life it seems eats other stuff that was either alive or had been alive in the past.

[@JhvaElohimMeth75]

Mine are less than 1 year and are 5x that size in a 55gal

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I bet you have way fewer than 10 koi in your aquarium. 2 or 3 in a 50 will grow much faster and larger.

[@JhvaElohimMeth75]

@@JamesKing2understandinglife correct I have two

[@dhiyaesmail1297]

I would love to keep koi in a 75 I have 2 canister filters. What’s your secret? You feed daily?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I use undergravel filters exclusively and a 2 inch gravel bed. I feed my koi every time they beg for food. They beg every time I walk by their tank. I give then an amount they can eat in 5 to 10 seconds. Floating pellets.

[@dhiyaesmail1297]

Water changes?

[@ianeckhoff1992]

​@@dhiyaesmail1297He does and he vacuums the gravel bad while doing it so the undergravel filter won't get clogged.

[@muaoribia4140]

I read that you should have 250 gal per butterfly koi to adequately care for them... this tiny tank seems overcrowded, honestly.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Experts agree that what I am doing cannot be done in a healthy way. My experiment shows me that koi can be kept for at least 3 years in a 50 gallon tank.

[@rhondadavis5387]

Very pretty fish, but koi really need a minimum of 29 gallon per fish that size and 50 gal per fish for larger ones. I have only 2 that size in a 50 gal tank right now but will moving them to a larger one.

[@inspiregaia]

The entire point of this video is to show that you can grow these fish in small spaces and you missed it

[@AnimalsandInfotainmentTube]

Not really. Koi are very adaptable and don't out grow their tank.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

My experiment is on going. I know the experts have their opinions. I have actual experience!

[@Benj-ee3se]

This is extremely cruel. That amount of fish with a water change once a month? I have four fancies in a 75 gallon and do 50% a week. They are not thriving. They are in hell.

[@goldfishthedestroyer3233]

Look up growth inhibiting hormones in Goldfish and Koi, and no there organs do not continue to grow in there body.

[@Benj-ee3se]

@@goldfishthedestroyer3233 I can keep 5 dogs in a single room and keep them all alive and healthy. It’s still cruel.

[@goldfishthedestroyer3233]

@@Benj-ee3se keeping them in any tank is cruel then if you put it that way. Plus some of the longest lived and goldfish were in under sized aquariums. A Goldfish living longer and not showing signs of stress does equal them being happy and thriving.

[@Benj-ee3se]

@@goldfishthedestroyer3233 Yes, tanks are cruel. Some more cruel than others. If you want to defend overstocking, by all means. You win.

[@pmstany]

Lol a 50% change every week means your fish aren’t doing well, that destroys most of the good bacteria necessary in the tank

[@stevenschnepp576]

So you brag about overstocking a tank and stunting your fish's growth... why? All you're doing is presenting yourself as an "expert" because your fish survived a couple of years, leading others to try replicating your experiment in animal abuse with predictably grim results. Or did you think it was normal that they're only living 3-5 years in your care?

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Time will tell how many years my koi will live happily with adequate food and monthly water changes with undergravel filtration. Your concept of animal abuse when animals obviously are enjoying life is hard for me to agree with but I do say you have a right to say it and believe it. Life is always good.

[@JainzhiLiao]

I have a koi but yours is beautiful then mine teach me plss

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I get to pick out the ones I think are most beautiful out of 100s of young fish.

[@BraedenAmick]

This tank is way too small for the koi

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Experts all agree with your statement.

[@JackWarr3n]

I have a 1 year old Koi that could swallow those whole.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

It really slowed their growth to be in an aquarium.

[@notzameer]

Me and uncle keep koi in tanks

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

I am glad you can do it also.

[@jasonjasona1786]

Torturing fish....... they are way to crowded never grow in that little tank

[@inspiregaia]

They look healthy to me

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

They are healthy and are still doing fine and greet me every time I approach their tank.