What are your deciding factors for buying fish....

[aquitori]

I just wanted to see how people select their purchases. I know we all go by the standard of shiroji quality, conformation and pattern...I most of all like to watch a fish swim after it meets the 3 requirements. How about you guys?

[Surfhead]

Hate to sound cheap, but value is important to me. I don't have buckets of money to throw at this hobby so I search around for a higher quality fish that seems a good deal. Many dealers love to overprice their fish so these deals are hard to find.

I'm also a sucker for really bright white. Even if the pattern is lacking, the brightest white in the pond always grabs my attention first.

[dinh]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori I just wanted to see how people select their purchases. I know we all go by the standard of shiroji quality, conformation and pattern...I most of all like to watch a fish swim after it meets the 3 requirements. How about you guys?

well, is that Q for tategoi or non-tategoi?

--Dinh

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by dinh well, is that Q for tategoi or non-tategoi? --Dinh

Well both...When buying a fish you should be able to judge how much finish the fish will need to be complete. Weather it is buying for future or for now...

[scvkoi]

IMHO there is only one factor that everyone uses in deciding whether or not to purchase a specific koi. It's not quality, confirmation, pattern, size, price, color, variety, or what ever...

The only factor WE ALL use is whether or not we like the specific koi. Nothing else matters..if you don't like the koi you wont consider it.

[Brutuscz]

Hate to admit it...but I'm a pattern junkie. Its like a work of art, and if the pattern isn't pleasing and balanced...I don't want it. I rarely think of conformation, because it really can change as a koi grows...and its very rare that I could see the parents, so I feel it is more of a guess than other factors. I do care a great deal about skin quality...I like to see a glow that makes a koi stand out from the crowd. Color does count for me...because I have a rule in my pond...if it can turn black, then it will turn BLACK!!! Always happens in my pond..so if there is a lot of sumi, it will be a black fish eventually.

[erwinsan]

Standards aside; I look for how a koi will compliment my collection. Also, I look at what I'm trying to achieve. Is the koi for learning, showing, is it a koi for today or future (and how far into the future). Overall, I look for a koi that I will enjoy. Just a small insight on one way I decide what I buy.

But for 'Tategois'; it all about the body

[Steve Nguyen]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori I just wanted to see how people select their purchases. I know we all go by the standard of shiroji quality, conformation and pattern...I most of all like to watch a fish swim after it meets the 3 requirements. How about you guys?

I don't use any selection criteria. maybe I should but picking a fish is such a personal thing. I just know that when I look at the fish in the holding tank, if I see a fish that eye catching, then most likely I will go home with that fish.

Steve

[aquitori]

I think everything in the end is about what you like...which is true...but you cant buy on pure emotion alone...many a times I have done that and found myself with a koi with a deformed mouth and fins....it's nice to have something unique in your collection then found out it is truly unique because it has a deformed anal fin....

[koifishgirl]

I for one am attracted to deep color and shine and also pattern, which is why when I pic a koi most of the time its a male. Not because I am looking for a male it just the deep colors on a koi seam to be always the males. If the koi stands out and is pleasing to my eye then I will bring the koi home with me if I have the money to buy. If its to high well I can alway wait for it to go on sale, and if someone else buys that koi before I get the chance oh well on to the next koi. Most of the time they are to high so I just window shop through the glass water and dream.

Judy