Koi fish can and will jump out of the water. These fish are popular because they are gorgeous, robust, and clever. They can jump because they are powerful. Because they are clever, they like exploring their surroundings, including leaping.
So, if you acquire Koi for your home pond, you should expect them to jump. You can even have fun watching them jump.
You don’t want them to jump out of the pond, where they may become stranded on land and eventually kill themselves.
Jumping also provides additional risks to your Koi. They can injure themselves if they contact pebbles or the pond’s edge, and occasionally simply hitting the water too forcefully might be harmful. Jumping isn’t always a cause for concern, but it’s best to keep it to a minimum.
The Reasons Koi Fish Jump Out of Water
While koi fish can jump out of the pond, while it seems obvious here, they prefer to stay in the water unless anything is wrong. Of course, another fish may perform a little leap if pushed up.
However, questions should start piling up if they jump far enough to land outside the pond.
This might happen for a variety of reasons.
It’s amusing and typical.
This is the primary reason why Koi will jump out of the water. Many creatures, including fish, just like leaping. If your fish are extremely jumpy for joy, there isn’t much you can do about it other than an attempt to limit the damage they can do to themselves (though Koi jumping for pleasure are far less likely to injure themselves). This can be helped by strategically placed netting.
Otherwise, have fun. It’s endearing.
Feeding Period
Hand-feeding these magnificent fish is one of the greatest tasks one can perform when caring for them. Koi fish are quite big that are clever and engaging. As a result, they may quickly learn to accept good food from you. And they’ll grow used to it quickly.
If you are one of the fortunate koi keepers who has been hand-feeding your fish for some time, this might be one of the reasons you notice them leaping while you are walking nearby.
Indeed, they will get overjoyed when they see you.
Because that implies it’s time to eat! But, on the other hand, your fish might be leaping out of genuine excitement.
Make sure to feed them with high-quality fish food like this one.
The water of poor quality
If your water quality is bad, the fish may try to escape. Often, this is because the water is excruciatingly uncomfortable, and they want to escape it. However, if the fish can leap into a new water region, this may work to their advantage in the wild. For example, if the Koi become trapped in a puddle, which is frequently the cause of poor water quality, they may be able to leap back into the main portion of the river.
However, that is not how things work if you have a pond, only one pond, and no puddle nearby.
If the water contains toxins or is out of balance, the koi fish may revert to their natural impulses and flee. This is likely one of the most prevalent causes of Koi jumping out of their water.
Oxygen scarcity
To live, koi fish require oxygen in the water. They will most likely be unable to breathe if your water is not sufficiently oxygenated. Therefore, they may leap in an attempt to locate oxygen elsewhere. This might be useful in the wild.
During a drought, fish might become trapped in tiny ponds with little oxygen. Instead, they can return to the main body of the river by leaping, where currents will boost the river’s circulation.
Fish tend to cluster towards the surface when oxygen is scarce in the pool.
You may notice them gasping for air towards the top, indicating that they need oxygen.
Because all the fish are crammed into one area, they may force one other out, giving the impression that they leaped out of the pond on purpose.
The general rule is to have 1 inch of fish per 10 gallons of water. However, you might have recently added new fish to your pond and not enough space and oxygen for everyone.
The pond does not have to have a low overall oxygen level. Instead, there might be a lack of circulation, leading to low oxygen levels in particular pond regions.
As a result, when fish spend time in particular locations, they may get depleted of oxygen and gather toward the surface. However, the fish won’t notice if they move to a different part of the pond.
Predators
If a koi becomes terrified or agitated, it may jump out of the water. If they feel afraid, it is most often due to the presence of actual or projected predators. Large birds and other wild creatures will eat koi if given the opportunity.
They may also perceive a fast-moving, loud pet or youngster as a potential predator and respond by leaping.
In any event, you may take a few precautions to preserve your koi. First, cover the pond if you’ve had predators take fish or are truly concerned about it. Depending on the predator, this can be done with a net or another method.
You may also build a koi castle or another type of fish home in the water. Then, when they are scared, they will have a secure place to hide.
Being pursued
Koi go through phases where they are active, darting around and chasing each other around. This is especially true when Koi are about to mate since the male fish chase the females fairly aggressively!
Due to this chase, your fish may breach the pond’s surface and jump out of the water.
Exploring
Koi are curious fish that will jump out of the water to have a better look at something. Some fish are predisposed to this more than others. If the fish has leaped out of the water and been rewarded, they may continue to do it or do it more frequently in the future.
This, however, does not always work out well for the fish. Because they aren’t always exact with their jumps, it’s fairly uncommon for them to fall back into the water.
Conditioning
It is not unusual for a fish to be “rewarded” with food when it jumps out of the water. After all, many owners are highly impressed when a Koi fish exits the pond. However, this seemingly regular activity might be misinterpreted as affection. This is especially important if you hand feed the fish since the fish may come close and leap for food.
As a result, if the fish perceive someone around, they may begin to leap in an attempt to get food. You may have trained your fish to jump out of the water in this situation.
Fortunately, they rarely do this when no one is nearby, so the chance of their being damaged by the jump is low. If they land outside the water, you may be able to reintroduce them.
Significant Changes in the Environment
If Koi frequently leap when introduced to a new pond or tank, it is difficult to determine whether they do this out of enthusiasm or curiosity. Whatever the cause, this behavior normally passes in 2-3 days.
A net is a good technique to prevent major disasters and may be removed after the jumping stops.
Parasites
Koi fish may also leap if they are infected with a lot of parasites. If this is the case, their main behavior will be flashing rather than leaping. When Koi flash, they flip on their side and swim wildly, frequently bumping against things.
If your Koi exhibits this behavior, ensure it is detected and treated as soon as possible.
Lack of Shade or Shallow Depths
During the summer, your Koioiay seek shady spots to avoid the sun’s heat. At the same time, they may be looking for deeper waters to hide in. If you don’t have them, your Koioiay leap as they try to get some shade from the sun.
If your fish are exposed to too much direct sunlight, they may get skin burns and begin flashing in a desperate attempt to cool off and relieve discomfort.
Sunburns may be quite deadly for koi fish and occur more frequently than we believe, particularly when they reside in outdoor ponds.
They are, however, easy to detect since they resemble burns and may thus be treated quickly.
A lot of rain
Because of the nature of the water cycle, heavy rainfall affects pH and is also fairly abundant in nutrients.
A huge volume of water dropping into your pond might also change the water temperature rapidly enough to stress your fish and lower their resistance to sickness. Koi may begin flashing due to stress and pain due to the pH shift, nutritional excess, and possibly temperature variation.
How High Can a Koi Fish Jump?
Knowing that koi fish can leap raises the issue of how high they can jump. Koi will likely jump higher than you anticipate, maybe up to 6 feet.
It’s not uncommon for them to clear at least a few feet. Prepare yourselves!
How Long Can A Koi Fish Live After Jumping Into A Pond?
Consider the worst-case situation. One of your Koi manages to get out of the pond and become stranded. How long will it be able to survive without water?
First and foremost, it should go without saying that any fish should not be out of water. Being out of the water for an extended period might have long-term implications. But, happily, just because a koi strands itself on land does not imply it must die if caught in time.
The length of time a koi (or any fish) can survive out of water is determined by several factors. The longer a fish can survive, the larger it is. And, of course, the heat and humidity outside will play a significant impact. A fish that becomes trapped at midday in the summer in a hot, dry region will not survive for long.
Koi are carp-related fish that are well-known for their toughness. They have been known to live for several hours without water. However, I would not do this myself! But it’s wonderful to know that even if your Koi jumps out of your backyard pond, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
This is another reason to keep an extra careful check on any new fish that may be investigated. If it does strand itself, you might be able to save them.
How to Resurrect a Koi Fish That Has Jumped Out of a Pond
We want to avoid stranded Koi at all costs. And we want to get a stranded fish to safety as quickly as feasible.
If you come across a stranded koi, it may be able to resurrect it. Your natural inclination will be to put them back into the sea as soon as possible. Resist this urge. Yes, get them back into the water as soon as possible. However, do so as gently as possible. Your fish will be shocked, and you don’t want to add to its discomfort.
If your fish has been out of water for an extended period, you must hold it when reintroducing it to the water to prevent it from turning belly up. Maintain a gentle movement through the water. Do this for as long as you need to. It may take some time, but rescuing your beached fish will be well worth the effort.
How to Stop Koi Fish Jumping
There is no way to remove koi fish leaping. It is a typical occurrence that will occur from time to time, regardless of what you do. You may, however, significantly minimize it by resolving whatever issue your fish is experiencing.
Perform a Water Treatment
You should do water treatment regularly since you can never be certain that the water is chemical-free. The Japanese do not have this issue since they use mountain spring water in their koi fish ponds.
This water is as pure and clean as it gets.
It is ideal if you have a continuous supply of fresh water trickling down to your pond since this ensures that new and clean water is flowing.
- Contains one (1) API POND MASTER TEST KIT Pond Water Test Kit 500-Test, including 6 bottles of testing solution, 3 color cards and 4 glass test tubes with cap
- Helps monitor water quality and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish
- Measures ornamental pond pH balance, Ammonia content, Nitrite levels and Phosphate content
Ammonia and nitrate levels should be checked.
Several testing kits are available at pet stores and online to determine if nitrate and ammonia levels are low. Of course, if they are high, it indicates that the oxygen level in your pond is low. As a result, you must do a thorough cleaning.
Remove Unnecessary Bacteria
While certain bacteria are necessary for maintaining regular water quality, others can make your fish ill. This might result in leaping habits or worsening of existing jumping tendencies. Bacteria are typically caused by poor water quality. Excessive dangerous bacteria are unlikely to be present in well-maintained water.
Furthermore, stress from poor water quality might make the fish more susceptible to infections, which can lead to various diseases.
You might consider investing in a stronger filtering system if you’re still experiencing poor water quality and significant germs. A UV sterilizer can also be beneficial, especially if your pond has illness recurrences.
Parasite treatment
Of course, treating your pond for parasites will clear the water and your fish of most parasites. Aqua Prazi, in particular, is quite safe to use if parasites are suspected, and it is extremely successful in killing parasitic flukes and worms. Stronger therapies, such as Chloramine-T, are quite successful, but they are powerful and reactive, necessitating a precise dose.
As a result, stronger chemicals like Chloramine should be used only as a last option and only if parasites are present. In addition, the improper dosage or even specific water conditions might render the treatment harmful to your fish.
- Aqua Prazi
- No temperature restrictions
- Contains no fillers or additional medications
Overcrowding should be reduced.
Overcrowding is the root of many issues. When too many fish are in a pond, waste accumulates, and oxygen levels fall. The fish may become more aggressive, resulting in leaping behaviors. Stress can create sickness, which can lead to even greater leaping.
Overcrowding, in general, is a severe cause of leaping since it can indirectly contribute to almost every reason why fish would jump.
You should not buy 30 fish when you can only keep 10 of them. Keep in mind that these fish do reproduce. The more fish you start with, the sooner you’ll run into overpopulation. You should ideally begin with much fewer fish than you can care for. The fewer fish there are, the less they have to struggle for resources, and hence the happier they will be. You cannot keep the maximum amount of fish in your pond if you want your fish to thrive.
Increase the height of the sides.
If your fish appear to be jumping out of the pond by mistake, you may wish to elevate the pond’s sides.
When the fish make little leaps, they will no longer be able to jump high enough to get out of the pond, which may cause them to fall outside of the pond. Additionally, it can keep predators away from the fish. Your fish will be protected if a cat’s arm isn’t long enough to reach the pond.
Depending on your configuration, this may or may not be feasible.
Increase the amount of shelter and shade available.
Include fish shelters and plenty of submerged, floating, and emergent plants for your fish to seek refuge in to shield them from too much sunshine. However, keep 25 to 50% of the pond surface exposed to avoid stagnant conditions from forming.
Plants in your pond will also assist in filtering the water and maintaining a more consistent temperature. Similarly, you may give shade by planting trees near your pond or installing shade sails.
Include netting.
Although it is not the most aesthetically beautiful choice, placing netting on the top of your pond is a simple method to protect your fish from jumping out. In addition, netting is the way to go if you have an underlying problem and want to keep your fish in the pond until it is corrected.
This can help keep predators away from your fish. You may need to install the net at night in this situation. Most predators are not active during the day, which is when you’ll be inspecting your pond.
- RELIABLE FISH PROTECTION – Brilliantly designed to keep your fish safe against Blue Heron birds, cats and other predators. The protective net is knitted using premium resistant material and provides safeguarding from the Sun. The lightweight net floats above the waterline so your fish don’t get caught.
- 3/8 INCH HEAVY DUTY WOVEN MESH – The net’s extra strength comes from a tightly woven mesh and works extremely well. The 15’ x 20’ size is suitable for the majority of ponds & pools and may be effortlessly cut down to size.
- KEEP OUT SMALLEST LEAVES & DEBRIS – The dense mesh will keep your pond & pool staying beautiful and clean; capturing the smallest leaves. It is adapted for enduring through the Fall and Winter. Perfect for gardeners, aquascaping, watergardens, waterfall features, DIY and people who appreciate a tidy look.
Increase your oxygen intake.
A shortage of oxygen is one of the most prevalent reasons for Koioiish to leap out of their pond. Increasing the oxygen level is normally a straightforward operation. However, you may need to try many solutions to get it high enough.
The amount of dissolved oxygen decreases as the temperature of the water rises. As a result, ponds frequently lose significant amounts of oxygen throughout the summer. Algae may also lower the amount of oxygen in the environment. It is also more prevalent in the summer, which might result in even lower oxygen levels throughout the year’s warmer months.
The oxygen content in any pond should be kept between 3 and 10 parts per million (ppm). With the proper test equipment, you can measure the oxygen in your pond, which should tell you if this is the issue.
If the oxygen level in your pond is low, increase the water flow. This allows more water to circulate at the pond’s surface, increasing the quantity of oxygen absorbed by the atmosphere. It will also keep fish from gathering near the top of the pond, as the bottom should have enough oxygen. Typically, a water fountain or cascade may be used to accomplish this.
An air pump is another easy approach to boost the amount of oxygen. This increases the quantity of oxygen in the pond by increasing the velocity of the water. You may also use oxygen stones, which act similarly to pumps but on a greater scale. They introduce air bubbles into the water, mixing it and creating circulation.
- Aeration for 2,000 - 8,000-gallon ponds and water gardens
- Max operating depth is 4 feet deep
- Provides 0.80 CFM airflow with 1 Dual Stick Plate
Avoid Applying Fertilizers and Chemicals to Your Lawn/Garden
Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides on your lawn or garden if feasible, as they might wash into your pond. If you must use fertilizer, please test your soil first to see which nutrients are truly required. This way, you won’t be adding phosphorus to soil that already has plenty of it, which would then drain right into your pond because the soil and plants will be unable to utilize the excess.
Conclusion
Seeing your Koi fish jump out of the water might be upsetting. After all, staying out of the water is a death sentence! However, jumping tendencies are typically caused by poor water conditions or a shortage of oxygen, which are easily addressed. Other potential issues include predators harming the fish and violence among the fish themselves.
We recommend you first test your water to see if there is a problem. Most likely, the water is either too rich in toxins, such as ammonia, or too low in oxygen. Then you may work on resolving the issue.
Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
