"How and Why of Koi Nutrition"

Course Syllabus

Outline:

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Basic Fish Nutrition

1.1 Fish are Different

1.2 Constraints of the Aquatic Environment

1.3 Effects of Poikilothermy on Nutrition

1.4 The Ammonia Angle

1.5 Where Koi Fit In

2.0 Proteins and Amino Acids

2.1 Why Are Proteins Required?

2.2 What Are Proteins?

2.3 Essential Amino Acids

2.4 Animal versus Plant Proteins

2.5 Total Protein Requirement of Koi

2.6 Proteins and Water Quality

3.0 Fats (Lipids) and Carbohydrates

3.1 Saturated versus Unsaturated Fats

3.2 Essential Fatty Acids

3.3 Carbohydrates

3.4 Koi and Carbs

3.5 Fiber

4.0 Vitamins and Minerals

4.1 The Micronutrients

4.2 Vitamins

4.3 Minerals

5.0 Color Enhancers, Immune Stimulants and Egg Binding

5.1 Color Enhancers

5.2 Immune Stimulants

5.3 Egg Binding

6.0 Ration Selection and Feeding

6.1 Koi Digestion

6.2 Scientific Ration Formulation

6.3 Selecting a Diet for Your Koi

6.4 Feeding and Fasting

6.5 Pushing Growth of Koi

Appendix

Glossary:

Assignments and Tests:

The course text is a CD developed by Richard Strange, Ph.D which will be mailed to you. This CD contains 6 "chapters (web pages) which will be covered in three weeks. So every week, the student will need to master the material in two chapters and email the written assignment at the end of each chapter. After the material has been covered and discussed, a final exam will be either posted on the forum or sent by email.

How and When to Contact the Instructor:

In general the course will be conducted on a K.O.I. forum where students can post questions. Most correspondence between the student and instructor will be shared on the Forum. This is a virtual classroom environment and this is how information is exchanged.

There should be a lot of questions and discussion from the group. Professor Strange will check the forum board several times a week. Everyone will be encouraged to participate when they have something to add.

Questions can be emailed to the instructor. If a student requests that certain information be kept confidential, then it will be re-phrased and presented to the class, if pertinent, but will respect the anonymity of the student.

Completion requirements:

To complete the course, both the weekly assignments and the final exam must be emailed to the instructor by the specified dates. If additional time is desired, you must arrange this with the instructor.

Date for Completion:

Date specified by the instructor.

Grading Policy:

This course will be graded on a "pass/try again" basis. Students will be given every reasonable opportunity to understand the answers to the exam questions. Students will be prompted for a more complete answer if their first attempt is insufficient. It is expected that everyone will master the material and get a certificate of completion for continuing education.

Ethics and Rules that Apply to this Course:

The K.O.I. policy in regards to the student code of conduct is clear. Cheating will not be tolerated. Students will be failed if they cheat. For those seeking certification, cheating or serious legal violations (relative to the activities with K.O.I.) will be grounds for non-certification or desertification.