[markgardner]

Assuming you are referring to my reference of being 'crushed', I never said 'ice', I said 'snow', whilst quoting someone else who happens to be one of the most respected 'authors' on Nishikigoi in Japan.

This seems to be becoming a pointless discussion but I'll add some photos to explain my point, just for the sake of clarity.

Now, the first pic was taken 7th January, note that the pond is frozen, this is one week into the 2 month period of snowfall.

The last pic was taken the other day with the snow melting and water flowing at a rate down it's overflow pipe.

Between the first and the last pic these ponds went from having a layer of ice to being full of snow, FACT!

Would/could a Koi survive underneath?

With tons of snow bearing down on it would a Koi survive underneath?

With the water freezing and wanting to expand what would give first? The ton's of snow or a fragile Koi?

Fish live in frozen lakes, absolutely, no disagreement, that's a fact. These aren't natural lakes where nature deemed it appropriate for Koi to live and survive season after season. These are shallow man made ponds cut into a mountainside with the sole purpose of growing them during the summer!