Buying Koi can be a daunting prospect for a first time Koi hobbyist. These days, the number of advertisements that you see on the net or in the real world, make you think that almost half the world is selling Koi and the other half is buying Koi! Hence, you may be overwhelmed with the amount of choice offered! Here are some tips to help you.
Buying Koi needs some good research. You can start by looking at local dealers initially. Don’t be in a hurry to buy. First, check the kind of fish the dealer keeps and their health. Are the fish actively swimming or sluggish? Is the water dirty or clean? Sometimes, the water may be clean but you may smell a lot of ammonia in the place. This is an indication of unkempt cleaning or overfeeding practices. If you feel things are not right, then look elsewhere.
The next point to consider is the purpose you are buying Koi. Is it for fish showing competition or just your garden pond? In any case, you need to take not of certain things like pH level of the water. Koi fish are quite sensitive to the pH fluctuations in the water particularly when you bring them home. Ideally, the pH level of the water should be in a range of 7.5 to 8.3. Hence, make sure that your quarantine tank has the right pH level. Moreover, when you shift them to your garden pond, it’s better to have a difference of at least 0.5 between the two pH levels.
Once you decide on the dealer, you need to check the fish out using the following checklist:
- Check out the health of Koi. Is it looking symmetrical? Do you find both the sides matching when you look at the fish from above? Scrutinize the fish; are there any bumps or lumps that may signal the presence of a disease or injury?
- Does the fish have small body and a large head? IF yes, then this may be a sign of poor breeding that will cause problems later on!
- Check out the behaviour of the fish. Does it swim with the school or remain separate? If it remains separate then it may have some disease.
- How do the fins look? Are they damaged or torn? Many a time’s damaged fins are an indication of re homed fish. Many dealers try hiding the fins by trimming them; hence check if they are the right size.
- Next, look at the eyes. Generally, a healthy Koi would have eyes that are clear and a bit proud of their heads. The eyes should not be sunken or protruding. Look out for damage in the eyes.
- The movement of Koi is also something to look at. Does it use all its fins to move in the pool? Or does it use one fin more than the other? If that’s the case, then it may have some kind of a disease. Does it eat well?
These are just some of the points that you need to consider before buying Koi. Remember, if you are in doubt, then look elsewhere!
