Short Body Mayan Butterfly Koi A GRADE

$50.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

CHOOSE A SIZE

3-4 INCH

SHOP WITH CONFIDENCE
✓ Live Arrival Guarantee
✓ Professionally Packed for Live Arrival
✓ Carefully Selected & Health Checked
✓ Ships from San Diego, California
✓ Tracking Provided When Your Order Ships

Mayan Butterfly Koi Description & Appearance

The most defining characteristic of the Mayan Butterfly Koi is its striking, continuous fin growth and its distinct facial markings. High-quality imports often feature a unique "Mayan pattern" on their forehead, differentiating them from standard longfin varieties.

Fins & Body: Their slender bodies complement continuously growing dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins. Unlike standard koi, their barbels (whisker-like sensory organs) also become highly elongated.
Color Schemes: They typically exhibit dynamic, high-contrast coloration. Popular color morphs display metallic shades of golden-yellow, silver, platinum-white, and deep velvet black patterns along the dorsal ridge.
Lifespan: With elite care, these hardy hybrids boast an average lifespan of 25 to 35 years, with some documented living upwards of 50 years.
Maximum Size: They are fast-growing giants. While sold as small juveniles, adults routinely achieve 24 to 36 inches (2 to 3 feet) in length.

Quick Reference: Water Parameters

To safeguard their fragile fin membranes from rot and maintain overall health, consistency in your water chemistry is critical.

Parameter	Ideal Range
Water Temperature	65°F–75°F (18°C–24°C) Can tolerate 39°F–81°F seasonally
pH Level	7.0 – 8.5 (Strictly stable)
Ammonia & Nitrite	0 ppm
Nitrate	< 20–40 ppm
Dissolved Oxygen	≥ 6 ppm (Requires heavy aeration)

Habitat & Pond Setup Requirements

Pond vs. Tank Size

Mayan Butterfly Koi are pond fish, not permanent aquarium fish. While juveniles can be started in a spacious 150+ gallon growth tank, adults demand massive volumes to avoid stunted growth and spinal issues.

Minimum Pond Size: 300 to 1,000 gallons for a single adult specimen, though a multi-thousand-gallon pond is strongly advised for a school.
Depth: Maintain a pond depth of 3 to 6 feet. Deep water shields them from winter freezes, surface predators (like herons), and excessive summer heat.

Decor & Fin Protection

Because their trailing fins are prone to tearing, your environment must be completely free of jagged elements. Permanent fin scarring can ruin their aesthetic value.

Use smooth river pebbles or fine gravel instead of sharp basalt or crushed rock.
Screen off all filtration intake pipes to prevent flowing fins from getting sucked in.
The Digging Habit: Koi love to uproot plants. If adding vegetation, anchor them securely beneath large, heavy rocks that the fish cannot shift.

Filtration & Maintenance

Koi are notoriously messy, high-bio load eaters. Your setup requires robust mechanical, biological, and UV filtration capable of turning over the entire pond volume every 1 to 2 hours. Perform 10% to 25% partial water changes every 2 to 4 weeks depending on stocking density.

Diet & Nutritional Needs

Mayan Butterfly Koi are active, omnivorous swimmers that require varied fuel.

The Core Diet: Feed a staple of high-quality commercial floating koi pellets. Ensure the food contains a balanced blend of marine proteins and vegetable matter. Plant-based foods are necessary to prevent deadly swim bladder infections.
Treats: Supplement their diet with fresh peas, chopped lettuce, watermelon, bloodworms, and earthworms.
Frequency: Feed small amounts 1 to 2 times daily. Only feed what they can clean up within 5 minutes, and skim away uneaten remnants immediately to prevent ammonia spikes.
Note: As water temperatures drop below 50°F in autumn, slow down and eventually cease feeding as their digestive tracts enter a near-dormant state.

Social Behavior & Tank Mates

These fish are peaceful, highly social schooling animals that thrive best when kept in groups of their own kind.

Compatible Mates: Traditional Koi, Standard Butterfly Koi, Shubunkins, Orfes, and large Pond Goldfish.
Incompatible Mates: Avoid pairing them with hyper-aggressive species (like certain cichlids) or tiny fish (like guppies or danios) that can easily be swallowed as the koi mature.

Short Body Mayan Butterfly Koi A GRADE

Your cart