The word “koi” comes from the Japanese word for “carp.” In fact, koi are closely related to the common carp. In 19^th century Japan, rice farmers initially bred wild carp as a food source throughout the winter. This practice led to many colors of koi we see today, as people began to breed koi specifically for their beauty. Today, koi come in multiple different patterns including orange, white, black, and red. There are some that appear yellow or blue, too!

These fish are omnivores. Koi in human care are typically fed a variety of pellets, but in the wild, they will eat whatever is available such as algae, insects, worms, and other aquatic organisms. Their eating patterns depend on the water’s temperature; they move faster in warm water and need to eat more, but as water cools in the winter, they move slower and eat less. During the winter, koi enter a dormant state called torpor.

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Our Current Resident

The Koi School 

Our koi pond is home to up to 70 different individuals and is cared for by the Billings Water Skipper Pond Club. The pond is located in between the Barn and Bison habitats. Since the koi pond is outside, viewing may be limited due to the weather conditions.