[Sangreaal]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Buying fish through Pics.....Seems like more of the norm nowadays, with online auctions and dealers...I know some people have no access to a local dealers. Is it a a good way to shop for koi?

Buying fish through pics is a crapshoot, unless, as one person said, you know and can trust the seller and his/her ethics, experience, etc. If you're buying in the blind in regards to the seller, your only help is getting really good high resolution pics that you can put into PhotoShop and really blow up the details. Even then....there are diseases to consider that you can't see.

I've bought my best fish from pics, but that's because there's only one place to buy koi up here (that I'm aware), and the place is notorious for parasites and disease. Found this out the hard way and lost ALL of them, including the ones I already had. I'll never buy from that woman again.

Like Dinh said, I too would not buy a really expensive koi without seeing it in person first. Be willing to lose the gamble if you buy from pics. If you can't afford to lose what you're paying in price and shipping, don't do it.

Just my humble opinion,

Marie