We all know that koi can’t talk. So, what do we mean by the language of koi? Before you bought your first koi (and became koi kichi), I’m sure you saw the big red and white fish at the koi shows and went home to tell your friends about the beautiful, “big red and white …
October is the most exciting time of the year for all koi dealers and hobbyists. It is also the time of the koi harvests in Japan. Every day in October, breeders harvest so many living jewels. Before COVID-19, buyers from all over the world came to the small towns of Ojiya and Nagaoka in Niigata, …
Language of Koi | Rare Varieties at the Japan Koi Harvest Read More »
When I was young and barely hip-high to my father, he began taking my older brother and me trout fishing at the local creek. I had no fishing pole — I was only there to observe, since my casting skills were still lacking. As the story goes, while I was exploring the shoreline, I spotted …
For koi enthusiasts, traveling to Japan, the birthplace of koi fish, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As koi dealers, we are spoiled and usually get to travel to Japan at least once a year. After five years of going on koi-buying trips, we have been lucky to learn from the top breeders about what to look …
Are your fish clean? Do they have parasites, or have they been mixed with a contaminated batch of fish that have shown problems? There is a saying among fish dealers: “All fish dealers are liars except you and I, and I’m not so sure about you!” You purchased your koi, so now what? Do you …
Nothing stands out in a pond quite like koi. Their bright colors and unique patterns are part of the reason why they are such a popular fish. Today, there are numerous breeds of koi, with each categorized by color, pattern and scales. Knowing the traits of koi varieties, along with the terms commonly used to …
Language of Koi | Essential Lingo for Describing Pond Koi Read More »
It might as well be a four-letter word, but considering the times we’re in, I’d go out on a limband say that most everyone has become familiar with what it means for us humans to quarantine. In the end, the idea is to keep people safe from potential harm. This is exactly the idea when …
Gary Cryer of Grand Champion Koi in Chandler, Oklahoma, once said, “From the time koi are hatched to the time they pass away, there is always something trying to kill them.” When I first started selling koi and goldfish, it seemed that nothing could kill these swimming jewels — except yours truly! Ambitious Beginnings The …
Language of Koi | Minimize Stressors for a Happier Pond Read More »
Most koi experts and enthusiasts are well versed on how to protect koi from the many furry and feathered bandits that make unwanted visits to ponds. Unfortunately, these predators aren’t the only thieves to worry about. The fact of the matter is, koi get stolen a lot. Koi can be worth hundreds and even thousands …
We each have our own idea of perfection, whether it’s embodied in a car, a vacation, a job, or in our case — koi. Pursuit of such supremacy comes with costs, trade-offs and rules that govern all our decisions. For starters, it is regularly said that koi-keeping starts and finishes with Kohaku, a simple, two-colored …
Language of Koi | Sourcing & Selling High – Quality Fish Read More »