Fish Farms Specialize In Japanese Koi

Fish Farms Specialize In Japanese Koi 34-1-8 The Kloubec family of Amana, Iowa, has been in the business of raising game fish for decades, but they had a lot to learn when they started raising koi 15 years ago. Because koi fish are sold individually in pet stores and garden centers, there's more profit in koi than game fish. But there's also a lot more labor. "There are only half a dozen serious koi farmers. It's not an easy industry to get into," Ellen Kloubec says. "You're up against fish from all over the world, and it's not easy to gain recognition. It's very labor intensive. You have to evaluate each individual fish." The Kloubecs had a couple of things going for them when they started raising koi - the right environment and a passion for fish. Their farm is at about the same latitude as Niigata, Japan, where koi were developed. Raising koi in a cold climate is best because koi raised there adapt to warm climates, but koi raised in warm climates don't adapt to colder ones. The passion for koi started with son Nick. "We were on a game fish delivery, and someone gave Nick a couple of koi. Eventually they spawned naturally. It was fun for a farm kid," Ellen says. "His passion was contagious. As he started to sell some fish, we were convinced that we should start raising more koi. I went to Japan to buy breeder fish." The Kloubecs purchased quality fish with bloodlines that trace back 100 years. They hired a Japanese consultant to set up an optimum breeding program - just as livestock owners do. That has paid off as the Kloubecs have had many prize-winning koi at competitions. There are 13 varieties, but with sub varieties there are more than 100 kinds of koi. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Ellen says. "Everybody likes something different. In the U.S. diamond-scaled, sparkly fish are popular. But Kohaku are the most recognized. It's a white fish with red markings." Besides beauty, the Kloubecs emphasize health. They're the largest koi farm in the U.S. with more than 55 ponds on 80 acres. Temperature is a key factor. With aeration and filtration, koi easily survive under ice in Iowa's cold winters. But water temperature is carefully monitored every spring and fall. "You can't feed them when water gets below 55 degrees," Ellen says. "Their digestive system goes dormant." The Kloubecs have a specially formulated feed that sometimes includes an immune stimulant to keep the koi healthy. The real work revolves around spawning. "We have to spawn each individual fish and they are all hatched indoors," Ellen says. Fish are quarantined for three weeks when they are brought in from the ponds before they are shipped off to some 600 wholesalers. Because they don't import anymore and are isolated from other koi farms, the Kloubec Farm is able to keep parasites and viruses in check. The public is invited to see the operation or buy koi from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, from May through September. Koi prices range from $20 to $20,000 depending on quality and markings, Ellen says. They live up to 30 years and some varieties grow 36 in. long or more. "The thing with koi is that they're very friendly. They become pets and have personalities," Ellen says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kloubec Koi Farm, 1375 Baxter Ave., Amana, Iowa 53302 (ph 319 846-2077; www.kloubeckoi.com).

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