Japanese Koi Fish

The different Koi varieties takes the Koi hobbyist deep into the issues of what makes one Koi more special and more valuable than another. We are always of the opinion that every Koi is special, even a scrubby pond browser fish that might be mistaken for a badly coloured gold fish is a living creature worthy of the same attention and the same appreciation as the All Japan Show Winner.

That said, our 'pond Koi fish' may not have quite the same value as those that are so prized by judges and show entrants. This is part and parcel of the Koi hobby and it is a good thing for the hobby that there is this distinction being made between Koi that achieve the ideal, and those that do not.

Yes, the ideal norm for a Koi is often set arbitrarily, at least by our standards perhaps, but the standards are very much in existence to stretch the hobby to the point where conformity to these standards raises the overall level of 'average Koi'. It is by stretching to reach these continually changing and improving standards that the overall standard of Koi is continually improved.