| First and foremost, if you are purchasing koi, ALWAYS buy your koi from a reputable dealer. I cannot stress this enough. Ask how long the dealer has had them, if they've been quarantined and if so, for how long. Have they been treated with salt? Observe the fish in the tank. Do any of the koi have ulcers, white spots, frayed fins, or "fuzz"? Are the koi active and alert, with fins spread, gliding gracefully through the water, or are the fish cowering in the corner, listless, with fins clamped? More importantly, do ANY of the fish in the tank show these classic signs of stress? Never, never, NEVER buy a fish out of a tank that has sick fish in it. The is a true "Buyer Beware" scenerio, and if you don't practise quarantine proceedures before putting fish in your pond, you're setting yourself up for disaster. |
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When selecting koi, you should keep in mind that these fish will be viewed from the top in your pond. If the display tank is a glass aquarium, and you are viewing the fish from the side, lift up the lid and look down at the fish. This is how you will see the fish in your pond. *Please note that if you see your fish from the SIDE in your pond, there is probably something terribly wrong with the fish!* A reputable dealer will pull the fish you are interested in out of the display tank and place it in a bowl for closer inspection. Check and make sure it has all of it's fins: dorsal (top), caudial (tail), two pectoral (one on each side), two ventral (below) and two anal (under tail). The two things to look for that will make any koi a stand out in your pond are: 1. A clean head, and 2. Even, symmetrical scales. Of course, color and color patterns are also VERY important, but more on that later.
1. A "clean head" means that the fish's head is opaque. You should not be able to see any of the skull through the skin on top of the head. Often, as certain varieties of koi mature, their heads will fill in, so to speak, as their skin thickens. For example, Kohaku, Showa and Sanke varieties are known to do this. However, until you know more about all the different varieties of koi, it is better to stick with a good fish from the start. Note the two koi pictured below. They are both considered 'Yamabuki' or yellow koi. The one on the left is a regular koi (Yamabuki Ogon), the one on the right is of the Doitsu (Doitsu Yamabuki), or scaleless variety. Both are beautiful fish in their own right, but take a closer look at their heads. See how the fish on the right has a solid, opaque head coloration, while the fish on the left has a splotchy, transparent head? Regardless of the color or variety of koi you are looking for, look for the fish with the head on the right, and buy that one. When it gets to be about two feet long, you will thank me. |
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