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ppp: The koi hobby has many aspects, and koikeepers are drawn to it for different reasons. If a person's goal is to show and win major prizes, that leads in one direction. If the goal is to have a pond of beautiful koi, the course is a bit different. If the goal is simply having pet fish that are enjoyed, the path is different again. Everything involved from pond design, fish selection, stocking level, feeding and all the rest should reflect the goal in mind. I think the frustrations come from wanting to accomplish many goals, but not being focused on any one goal. For most of us, raising a GC level koi is beyond the capability of our ponds. Or, we acquire more koi than is appropriate to raise any of them to a GC level. If your goal is to raise one potential GC to peak perfection, then the other koi in the pond are merely companion fish for the potential contender. Their longevity should not be the concern. If all the koi are important to their keeper in their own right, then lowering the chance of success of one winning a trophy is not so important. Of course, it all has to do with the level of competition involved. In Japan a koi lacking girth is going to be at a much greater disadvantage than one intended to be shown in the U.S.
My only recommendation is that people should do what lets them enjoy their hobby.
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