Panda Butterfly Koi (Cyprinus carpio) – Tank-Raised
- In stock, ready to ship
- Backordered, shipping soon
For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout.
The Panda Butterfly Koi is a breathtaking long-finned variety of koi carp, featuring bold black and white coloration reminiscent of its namesake. With graceful, trailing fins and high-contrast patterns, this koi is a standout in ponds and large aquariums. These tank-raised specimens are currently 3+ inches in size and will grow more impressive with age.
What We Love About This Fish:
• Striking Black and White Patterning: Elegant, high-contrast body makes it easy to spot
• Flowing Butterfly Fins: Long, delicate fins add beauty and motion to your setup
• Hardy and Peaceful: Ideal for community ponds and large aquariums
• Highly Interactive: Can become friendly and recognize their keepers over time
Natural Habitat:
Derived from the Common Carp, koi have been bred in Japan for centuries. Panda Butterfly Koi prefer calm, well-oxygenated waters with stable temperatures and plenty of swimming room. Though originally from rivers and lakes, today’s koi are entirely domesticated.
Aquascaping:
• Plants: Hardy pond plants like Water Lettuce, Water Hyacinth, and Anacharis
• Hardscape: Smooth river rocks, submerged driftwood, shallow ledges or caves
• Botanicals: Not typically used in koi ponds, but leaves and alder cones can be added in indoor tanks for enrichment
Diet and Feeding:
Omnivorous and easy to feed, Panda Butterfly Koi thrive on high-quality pellet food, supplemented with leafy greens, frozen treats (like bloodworms or brine shrimp), and occasional fruits or vegetables. Feed 2–3 times daily when temperatures are above 50°F (10°C).
Tank Mates and Compatibility:
Peaceful and social, Butterfly Koi are best kept with other koi or large, non-aggressive fish. Avoid small or delicate species that may be outcompeted for food or mistaken for food.
Not Shrimp Safe:
Not recommended for tanks with shrimp. Koi may eat or disturb invertebrates, especially in smaller settings.
Outdoor Pond & Water Feature Compatibility:
Perfect for outdoor ponds and water gardens, Panda Butterfly Koi are cold-tolerant and can overwinter in ponds with proper aeration and depth. Their elegant fins are best showcased in calm water with minimal flow. Provide shade and protection from predators. In warmer months, they become especially active and interactive with their environment.
Breeding:
Breeding typically occurs in spring in outdoor ponds when temperatures rise. Females scatter eggs among plants, which are then fertilized by males. If breeding is desired, provide ample plant coverage or spawning mops.
Recommended Tank Parameters:
• Temperature: 50° - 77°F (10° - 25°C)
• pH: 7.0 - 8.0
• KH: 4 - 12 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons indoors (ideal for juveniles); 1000+ gallons for adult pond groups
Care Guidelines:
• Diet: Omnivorous, loves pellets, veggies, and occasional live/frozen food
• Social Behavior: Schooling and peaceful, best in groups
• Origin: Tank-Raised
• Average Adult Size: 18 – 24 inches (with proper space and care)
• Average Purchase Size: 3+ inches
Add Elegance and Motion to Your Pond with Panda Butterfly Koi!
These long-finned beauties are more than just decorative—they’re living works of art that grow more impressive with time.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
