Koi under ice






Koi in Winter

Koi evolved in places where there are winters.

When water drops to 50° the fish, being cold-blooded, start to go dormant. Their metabolism slows; they don't use much energy. They don't eat, they live on their body fat.

Koi are fine treading water underneath ice, moving around a bit now and then. As long as the surface doesn't totally freeze over, the level of oxygen in the water stays high enough.

* * *

I wonder what koi think in winter. What is their experience? Are they content? Is being dormant like being asleep? Do they dream? Do they think in slow motion?

Do they look up at the ice and snow and wonder when life will get back to normal? Are they like humans in 2020?

 
 



 



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