Do Koi need tanning
 

Hi, Bros.

Do you tan your koi? Cos they do not received sunlight. Any advise?
Thanks

Among the koi, especially Yamabuki do need tanning otherwise its yellow color will fade very significantly.
Initially, i had tried artificial tanning but not much success. Sunlight is still the best, but not too much.

Bro. Koijunior.

So if koi keep inside the house do need some form of tanning. I do agree that sunlight is the best. But to certain extent, tanning helps to bring out the colour of your fish. Am I right to say that.
Thanks.

I think tanning might not be the right word to use. Kois need to be exposed to sunlight in order to enhance their colour, but too much would also harm them. :D vitamin D?

So for indoor pond, is artificial light good enough? 6 hours a day? :)

Why not you feed them with quality color-enhancing pellets and at the same time complement them with a bit sunlight ( maybe locate your fgt near the window ) , i think this is the best strategy.

What kind of light tubes u intend to use for your koi for tanning, by the way ?

sunlight is the best tanning method :)

Bro

Probably sunlight lighting for reptile.

Sunlight is important but again not to forgot other factors such as genes,food, water condition, temperature. Used to keep China kois in outdoor pond but color remains faded even after one year feeding color enhancing food. ;)

Some kois like shiro, platinum ogon, shushui, asagi etc does not need much sunlight as compared to kohakus, sanke, showa, yamabuki etc. Colour food will be a good substitute for sunlight but may have side effects like yellowish skin.

Not sure if the submersible Arcadia uv light for arrowana will work for kois too. Suppose to simulate as sunlight.