The first steps in buying the koi that are right for you is to know how they are Rated and what it all means. Koi are rated by the body shape, color and patterns/markings. The more perfect they are, the more costly they are.
On your adventures to buying the right koi you will also often see the terms Domestic and Imported. Both Domestic and Imported have ratings as shown below. Domestic Koi means that the koi were raised in the USA while Imported Koi were brought here from over seas. Generally speaking Imported koi are more expensive and much nicer to look at. Koi that are bred in Japan are considered the best bred koi in the world. Nice Koi are also bred in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Israel.
Domestic Koi in America have three Rating Classes:
A - The lowest quality. The color and patterns do not conform
to the standards of what a good koi should look like, they lack trueness
of type, have dull color, less growth potential and may be described
as non descript, not really fitting any true Catagory of Koi. They are
basically culls and raised in fish farms for sale to Pet Shops.
AA - Medium Quality is the next step up from A. These koi show
more color and can be true to type but lack the marking and patterning.
AAA - The Best Quality - triple A koi are nice in pattern and
have good color and are the best of the domestic bred stock
Although you may fine some nice domestic koi, generally they are not considered to be anywhere near the quality of Japanese imports. The Japanese have years of experience and excellent conditions conducive to producing superior koi. The water and mud ponds that they are raised in maximize there potential. We in America can not reproduce these exclusive conditions.
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Koi that are bred Over seas are raised, bred and rated differently. They are richer in color then domestic bred Koi and cost more to purchase. Overseas - Poor quality koi that aren't true to type are culled.
A - Quality are koi that are true to type but may lack the perfect
pattern or size that the breeder seeks.
AA - Are top quality koi that are true to type and show good
to excellent pattern and size.
There is also what is known as Tategoi.
These
are young high quality koi that the breeder feels has the potential to
become a top show quality koi.
Koi bred by breeders are selectively bred.
Each type of koi is bred to the right type so that they get the results
they are seeking. Imports have a history
much like in a dog breed, most Domestics do not although there are some
breeders in America who do this.
Where to Buy Koi
There are many places to buy koi. Pet Stores, Water
Gardens, Some Department Stores in the pet section and Importers. Each
place carries different quality's of Koi. A word of advice if the
seller can't tell you the type of koi that they have in their tanks your
in the wrong place.
Typically speaking you will get the lowest quality from Pet Stores and Department Stores. Depending on the store they can offer Domestic or Imported but are generally of the lowest quality. They are less expensive and much smaller in size. They do not offer many large koi for sale and their imports tend to be pricey for what you are getting.
Water gardens generally carry a wider variety varying from Domestic to Imported. You can get the run of the mill, non descript koi here or more expensive lower grade imports. Some of these fish are very nice but do not match up to a great import.
If you buy from an Good Importer that has a lot of experience in buying koi you can get some high quality koi. They have invested a lot in there fish and basically hand picked what they want to carry for Koi. They have the potential to be raised to there fullest capacity. Importers usually have ponds and a more natural setting and space that they raise there koi in as opposed to the aquarium setting. This environment sets the stage for happier healthy koi to develop to there maximum.
Remember that the life expectancy of Koi can near the life time of a human. They grow and develop over a period of time so the investment in high quality koi is the building blocks for long life, growth potential, stable immune systems and brilliant color.
In a nutshell, where you buy and what quality you get is a personal matter. If you just want some fish to decorate your garden pond and do not want to take the necessary steps for the longevity of them, then it is better to buy inexpensive koi. If you are a "Koi Keeper", enjoy this as a serious hobby and have done your homework, then it is well worth your investment to start out with high quality koi. You will save a lot of heartache and loss.
In our own experience as "Keepers" it is much easier and better to start with koi no less than 6-8" in length. The smaller immature koi tend to have higher mortality rates while making the adjustment to there new environment. It is also highly recommended that in cold climates you purchase any new koi at least a month or two before the weather changes. The koi need this time to acclimate there systems to over winter with success.