Choosing koi fish is like picking living artwork for your garden pond. Every person has their own reasons for selecting koi.
Some koi owners enjoy entering their fish in competitions, while others simply want a peaceful pond their family can enjoy. Some choose koi fish to carry on a family tradition passed down from older generations.
Whatever the reason you’re choosing koi, make sure you improve your knowledge on how to select koi that are healthy, happy, and as described by your koi dealer.
How Can I Pick the Right Koi for My Pond?
Choose koi that match your interests. Whether you are just starting your pond or have been raising koi for a while, selecting the right koi is something to take seriously. It is not a one-time task.
Each time you choose koi, your needs may change based on your pond’s size and the koi you already have. This guide will help you know what to look for. If you still need help, you can contact our team to help you find a koi fish.
Ten Things to Think About When Choosing Koi for Your Pond
1. Finding a Good Koi Seller
Before you begin, find a seller you can trust.
If you’re new to koi keeping, you’ll rely on your seller’s honesty and experience. A good seller helps you build a healthy pond you’ll enjoy for many years.
At Kodama Koi Farm, we offer healthy, high-quality koi from Japan. If you’re searching for sellers, ask these 6 questions to help you make a good decision.
2. Understanding the Differences: Japanese, Domestic, and Imported Koi
You’ll need to decide whether to buy Japanese, domestic, or imported koi. Here’s how they are different:
- Japanese Koi: Bred and raised in Japan. Japanese breeders have been doing this for many generations. These koi are known for being high quality, living longer, and growing larger.
- Domestic Koi: Bred in countries like the United States. Some use koi from Japanese bloodlines, but that doesn’t guarantee the same quality. The environment, breeding skill, and fish pairings also matter.
- Imported Koi: Come from countries like Taiwan, Malaysia, and China. Some stores call them “imported koi” without saying where they are from. Always ask the country of origin to be sure.
Here’s a simple comparison:
| Type | Origin | Cost | Growth | Color | Notes |
| Domestic | Your home country | Low | Smaller | Bright when young | May not stay vivid |
| Imported | Not from Japan | Low | Smaller | Bright when young | Ask for origin |
| Japanese | From Japan | Higher | Can grow big (up to 40”) | Stay bright as they age | High quality |
3. Choosing the Right Breeder
As you learn more, you’ll understand that the breeder’s reputation matters.
Even if a koi looks nice now, it might not stay that way unless it comes from a good bloodline. Ask the seller about the breeder, read reviews, and see pictures of older koi from that breeder. This helps you know what your koi may look like as it grows.
4. Picking the Right Size of Koi for Your Pond
Choose koi that are the right size for your pond and how many you plan to keep.
Koi will not outgrow the pond, but you should know how large they can become and how many your filter can handle. This helps keep the water clean and the koi healthy.
5. Choosing Healthy Koi and Quarantining Them Properly
One unhealthy koi can make your whole pond sick. That’s why it’s important to buy from a seller who checks their fish closely and uses safe quarantine methods.
At Kodama Koi Farm, we work with the top 50 breeders in Japan. We check every fish for diseases like Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), which is very dangerous. We quarantine each group for a month and test them before they are shipped.
When you bring koi home, quarantine them in a separate tank before adding them to your pond. This keeps your pond safe and healthy.
6. Choosing Male or Female Koi – Which is Right for You?
The sex of the koi only matters if you plan to join koi competitions.
Female koi usually grow larger and rounder, and are more likely to win shows. That’s why they cost more. However, if you don’t plan on showing them, male koi are often a better choice. They have stronger colors, fewer health problems, and are less expensive.
Here’s a quick look at the differences:
| Gender | Pros | Cons |
| Female | Grows large, round, whiter skin | Can have egg problems, less vivid red |
| Male | Stronger color, no egg issues | Thinner body, less white skin |
7. Selecting Koi by Variety
There are over 100 types of koi! This can make choosing one a bit tricky.
Some people collect based on color, while others choose koi to balance the colors in their pond. Many people prefer traditional types like Kohaku, Showa, and Sanke.
Here are a few examples:
- Kohaku: White koi with red patterns. It’s said koi keeping starts and ends with Kohaku.
- Showa: Black, white, and red koi. One of the “Big Three” koi types.
- Taisho Sanke: A white koi with red and black markings, first bred in 1918.
8. Choosing Koi with the Right Personality
Koi fish have personalities! Some are friendly and curious, especially single-colored types like Chagoi, Ogon, and Karashi.
Having one or two of these friendlier koi helps the group feel safe and calm. Feeding treats like Manda Fu can also help koi become more social. Many owners even train their koi to eat from their hands.
9. Understanding the Price and Value of Koi
Price is another important part of choosing koi. As you learn more, you’ll see why some koi cost thousands of dollars.
Here are five things that affect the price:
- Size
- Beauty
- Sex
- Bloodline
- Rarity
If you are just starting out, you don’t need to buy expensive koi. There is a learning curve, and sometimes koi may not survive. Once you are more confident, you can add higher-value koi to your pond.
Kodama Koi Farm has many koi under $500 — a great price for a high-quality fish.
Remember, trusting your seller is just as important as the price. Some sellers may underprice their koi, which could mean something is wrong. Choose sellers who care about the health and true value of their fish.
10. Buying Koi for Competitions
Entering koi in shows is a popular hobby.
If you want to compete, pick koi with the potential to win — not just those that look good now. Judges look at color, size, and variety, not just the biggest fish.
There are many shows, and it’s exciting to win. We also offer the Kodama Koi Show, which is an online competition where you can show off your koi and win prizes without having to move your fish.
Find the Perfect Koi for Your Pond
Choosing koi takes time, learning, and care. We hope this guide helps you understand what to look for. Keep exploring the many types of koi and even look into other pond fish that could live happily with your koi.
