| Forget about the tategoi hype for a lot of the reasons already stated. The odds that a breeder made a mistake and sold a koi that will develop into a grand champion are pretty small. However you can buy baby koi that will improve in quality and compete in small to medium sizes at competitive shows.
Forget about finding a breeders mistake in the kohaku or the sanke tanks. Almost no chance a breeder will goof on one of these.
Instead go for a variety that changes a lot and are harder to predict. Buy Showas or Shiro Utsuri's. I am not saying the odds are good just that they are the best you can find when looking for that needle in a haystack.
Or go the other way and buy a chagoi or ogon. These types of koi are easier to produce in quanity and change somewhat less.
A breeder keeps the best 10% (i.e. 400 best) to grow another year. You are looking for the one that almost made it like # 401! |