What $18 and education can buy you

[mynamy1]

Sorry for your mishaps N. Many hobbyists kill their cell phones upon dropping it to the pond, myself included. Now I always leave the cell phone in a safe place when working around the pond. M. Le

[l113892]

I remember taking a picture of a koi in a koi bowl. The koi leaped out of the bowl. I forgot everything I was doing and quickly grabbed the koi and got her back into the bowl. There in the bowl was my digital camera.

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by l113892 I remember taking a picture of a koi in a koi bowl. The koi leaped out of the bowl. I forgot everything I was doing and quickly grabbed the koi and got her back into the bowl. There in the bowl was my digital camera.

LOL, Ken at Eastern was borrowing Franks camera, and dropped it in the pond. It cost Ken $1000 to replace..

[keokoi]

There was a guy in Japan who rested his camera on Marusho's filter in the greenouse. The camera got submerged . The camera luckily got dry after a good night and worked again...

Joe

[Dan Blatt]

Great story......kind of goes to my personal koi beliefs. If you are always looking for the obvious, you miss numerous opportunities to own potentially excellent koi at a bargain price.
I remember once at a friends local shop not getting around to seeing the new fall koi. First saw the group and leftovers in early spring. Many of the already puchased koi were being held for the winter. Immediately saw one showa (Marudo) and a larger sanke with perfect confirmation at 17-18 inches, both females that I really liked after watching them for awhile.
Almost didn't ask how much as I knew they both had to be sold. Did ask however and was surprised they were two of the leftovers that were not purchased. Proceeded to bowl both and I thought to myself...what the hell are people looking at. These were by far in my opinion the two best koi in the shipment (same price range) and bought both of them. Although they were not as flashy and perhaps showed the same level of evident sumi etc., they were heads and tails above the rest in quality and potential. Bargin day for me to say the least.
Lost the showa and two other koi a couple years ago due to a Supraverm problem, but the sanke is absolutely beautiful and far from finished. She would always be in the running at a show in her size (if I still showed that is).
I think too many new people to the hobby (and some not so new) are immediately struck by a more flashy fish and either good or bad, can't see the forest for the trees. Usually for me, it's the koi with the confirmation, skin quality and my assessment of potential that I keep studying that wins out in the end over a more obvious koi.
Try this...the next time your at a dealer or show look at the koi for sale (can be different price ranges). You will initially be attracted to certain fish..the old wow factor. You will hopefully also notice some others less with less wow. Keep studing both groups. I would be willing to bet 8-10 times if you put some time into it, you will eventially find the wow fish looking less wow over time, and some of the lesser fish looking better in your assesment. Believe me a good exercise.
Koi bargins are indeed out there, you just got to know what to look for. Conversly, I've seen what I consider hugh ripoffs. People get hooked into high prices on potentially spent koi....usually male. Just because some dealer says it's a great doesn't mean spit in my opinion. Know what you're dealing at. Sorry for the rant...I'm retired with little to do...lol.

[saratogatan]

$90, last april at 7" or so. Now about 17". Put my $4000 sanke to shame. This is yet another evidence that $$$$ can buy you expensive crap in this hobby. Dealers are not in the business to sell you good koi, they are intrested in sellng you expensive koi. I truely want to BBQ or shashime the 4K sanke, but given all the poison it has likely gone thru, I don't think it is edible.

stan

[RayJordan]

I have seen plenty of inexpensive koi win best in size one and even baby champion. Last years Oklahoma Show baby champion was bought by Steve Childers at the show from Eastern Nishikigoi who was a vendor. I do not remember the price but it was less than $50.

However, I would not expect those nicely finished baby koi to be able to hold their peak finish for very long. Much of the value placed on koi is or shuold be based on their preceived future potential. Finished koi should be priced less than koi perceived to be growing and increasing in quality/value.

Of course the reality is that professional breeders and dealers know this as well. While you can buy an inexpensive koi to win a award at this years show when it is small it is very very unlikely you are going to win another major award with that same koi when it matures in another 4-8 years. But then we all need a dream don't we?

[keokoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by RayJordan Of course the reality is that professional breeders and dealers know this as well. While you can buy a inexpensive koi to win a award at this years show it is very very unlikely you are going to win a major award with that same koi when it matures in another 4-8 years.

Hi Ray, what is considered a major award?

[RayJordan]

Hi Keokoi,
I didn't mean that best in size 1 or best baby are not major awards - because they are major and the best of their size.

I meant to say it is very rare for a award winning baby koi to win another major award as a large koi.

[aquitori]

Hella happy Chai will be at the April Show, goin to get more pointers on tosai...maybe hit up Dealers 4 for $100 tank...hahahahaha