The backyard koi pond offers relaxation and enjoyment to the backyard oasis. But your Koi fish may occasionally have a medical issue or it may be that the pond will need major repair or moved and you may have to transport your fish. Moving your koi is easier on you and the Koi if you bag them when moving them.
photo credit: Naomi Ibuki
First, it is always a good idea to have all the equipment needed to transport your Koi on hand. You never know when it may be necessary to move you fish so be prepared. The equipment needed to bag and transport Koi is small, and will store easily when not in use.
If you kept the bags you brought your Koi home in originally, use those. If not you will have to make a trip to your local pet store to get proper bags for Koi transportation. Make sure to get the right size bags to hold your Koi. Note: Garbage bags do not work and may hurt your fish.
You will need quite a few good quality rubber bands for each bag you buy. There will be pressure on the rubber bands from the water so make sure you have high quality rubber bands and use several on the bag.
A paint bucket works well for catching your Koi. Nets can hurt Koi where buckets will not. Just make sure that your bucket is large enough to hold your Koi. Nets work better for smaller Koi but they still may cause damage to the fish and they definitely cause the fish stress. If using a net lead and direct them into the place you want them to go.
Bagging your Koi for Transportation
First check the equipment to make sure its in good shape. Fill the bags with water to see if they are watertight and check the rubber bands to make sure they are strong. Have the net and bucket nearly. Tip: If you pond is large, you may want the help of your friends when bagging your Koi.
Use the net to guide the Koi into the bucket. Make sure that you checked the bags for leaks. Once you are sure that the bags will hold water, place the bag over the Koi from head to tail. Make sure there is enough water in the bag to completely cover the gills. Leave air room in the bag, this makes the bag lighter and easier to carry. Slip the rubber bands around the end of the bag and continue to double it until the bag is secure. Add one or two more rubber bands to ensure that the bag is securely sealed. 
photo credit: OMFGmatt
Next place the bags horizontally in your transport container. Handle the bag carefully and make sure that you do not bend the fish when lifting it. Secure the bag in the transport container so that it will not move with bumps and turns. Also place a cover the fish so that as little heat and sun light can enter the bag as possible.
Treat the transport bag with care at all times. And when its time to return the fish to their pond, place the bag in the water and carefully undo the rubber bands. Let the top open slowly and the fish will wander back out into the pond.
Koi fish have been known to live for up to 30 years so take good care of them and they will be a part of your backyard oasis for years.
.png)
Bagging a koi can certainly be difficult. Its nice to see that there is information out there on the how to’s. Have the equipment in place and the right equipment is necessary as said. Koi can live a long time when take care of. Good info.
Great ideas. However, I’m considering a move in the next couple of years and my koi are HUGE. I don’t think they’ll get much larger due to the size of my current pond, (only about 1200 gallons), but the fish have grown to about 24″-36″ and I have several of them. Over the past 8 years, I’ve only lost 3 fish to disease/illness and it was devastating to pull them from the pond in distress to attempt resuscitate them.
Do you have suggestions on how to transport such large fish? The bucket idea is great for smaller fish, but the size of the bucket and weight of the water required would be much too difficult to lift. I’ve attempted using a koi net in the past and on several occassions it worked fine, but once it did cause a scale to bleed, so I’m hesitant to try it again.
My next water garden will be much larger, with a stream for them to swim from pond to pond. I certainly don’t want to lose them when moving them to their new home.
Thanks!
I don’t know how to move koi that are that big. I woudl ask at a koi or pool business.
I do know that koi can be bruised when they get bigger so your concern is a good one.
And the new pond sounds wonderful