is definetely not inexpensive. I find it also pretty close $ wise with bonsai. I think one of the attractions to a koi and goldfish show is that a top goldfish
is a bit less expensive but then they don't live anywhere as long. I don't blame those folks being anxious about the cost of great koi. But they don't come off an assembly line then either. I hope for the hobby that folks can find the expense level they're comfortable with and as they gain confidence in their water knowledge they can progress to the next level.
To be honest, from where I've come to where I'm at now. Yes, I buy fewer fish but better but everything I've learned in 30 years points to the truth that to have less koi in a pond ( even if it means it's caused by economics)
is to allow your koi to do better in the formally crowded facility. Nothing makes me feel better than to have someone who knows koi come to my outside pond that had 2 asagi's in it (granted that is extreme) and have their breath taken away by the way they look and carry themselves.
