[maryland_ponder]

I have some questions I've been pondering here & I have not seen them answered or asked really. Ok here goes..

In Japan (or elsewhere) do the breeders echange koi for breeding without the fish being purchased? A stud fee as it were. Then is it a pick of the brood for the lending party or just a financial arraingment?

I have also seen many here say this.....you have to go to Japan to get the quailty koi you want. Example is this statement...

"I agree that it seems that most of the Dainichi fish brought in by dealers in the U.S. are of this caliber (tosai). If you want something special from Dainichi, you almost need to go to Japan yourself and pick it."

I thought that the reason dealers go to Japan was to get these quality koi so I dont have to go there. Qualified & expereinced dealers should be able to choose fish of a quality that i would die to own.

I also am curious about the prices one would pay buying direct from a Japanese breeder as opposed to buying the marked up Koi from a dealer who spent his time & money to actaully go there to choose the fish.

I understand people are in business to make money. That said is there a general percentage markup for Japanese imports to help guide a person when they want to buy quailty fish? Is it a crapshoot based on demand for that particualr breeder? Are there new breeders (less known) with as high a quality as famous breeders in Japan that have importers here? How can one find these dealers here & what is a good source?


ok enough of my dumb questions....thanks for responding in advance....rg