New koi

[flywheel]

I picked these 2 fish up from someone who was getting out of the pond hobby, he paid $600 a piece from one of the importers 3 years ago. The budo is male and 20 inches and the kigoi is a 22 inch female with akame (red eyes). There not as flashy as many of the other varieties but they just got out QT last Sunday and they have really grown on me, sitting on the edge of the pond they came over and tried to eat my big old ugly toes.

I paid about 10 cents on the dollar for them. To me they were worth every penny I paid, but how about what the guy ahead of me paid? Are they worth what I paid?

[Peg]

If your happy with them then they are worth every penny you paid. If I'm not mistaken Kigoi with red eyes are sought after and now rarely bred. I think they would make a good addition to any pond. Keep an eye on the one in the first pic it's dorsal fin looks alittle pink. Could just be the pic though.

[Terri]

I agree with newbie, as long as they make you happy they were worth the $ spent.

[Jackie Ramo]

Ron, what some one pays for a fish on a given day reflects more market than value. Many have paid big dollars eg more than 600.00 and ended up with fish less attractive than the ones you scored.

I have a friend who spent 1,500.00 on a fish that she now claims is worth about 200.00!!! Lost its colour therefore its value. She still loves the fish so has no regrets.

I also see a little red in the first one, could just be stress from being bowled.

[flywheel]

Newbie, I think the dorsal was just a little pink from being netted and bowled, I use a sock net to keep it as stress free as possible but I don't think you can handle them at all without creating some stress.

I certainly haven't regetted the money I spent on them, I really enjoy the way the kigoi swims up and will look me right in the eye until I feed them. She could use a little extra weight anyway.

[flywheel]

Jackie, I was typing when you posted but you were right about the red from being bowled, she kept trying to jump, so the photo session was cut short, darn prima donnas!

[Jackie Ramo]

Hey, us Prima Donna's know what we want. She wants more water than that bowl is holding !rofl

[NaturesCall]

you did real nice with those 2. We have little kigoi's and budo's. They are nice looking koi. have you tried hand feeding them yet?

[NaturesCall]

`
I have a friend who spent 1,500.00 on a fish that she now claims is worth about 200.00!!! Lost its colour therefore its value. She still loves the fish so has no regrets.
led. Would that Bonita?

[flywheel]

Those are my 2 newest koi and the only ones that hand feed. The guy I got them from handfed them and they didn't miss a beat when I got them home. What is the secret to training them, I'm guessing patience is probably the key.

Since these are my only ones of each variety what would be good matches with them if any?

[Jackie Ramo]

Yes Walt, our mutual friend Bonita. Did you know I named the fish for her "Mega Bucks" Meg for short :lol:

Ron Patience is indeed the way to train them. That and the best motivator Hunger. Mind not all fish will hand feed. My old guy Tweet who is 16 has never hand fed, but then he is another kettle of fish altogether !rofl

[Merlin]

Those are two Koi I would be happy to have in my pond :) , I think you did well.

[NaturesCall]

Ron Patience is indeed the way to train them. That and the best motivator Hunger. Mind not all fish will hand feed. My old guy Tweet who is 16 has never hand fed, but then he is another kettle of fish altogether !roflWe found slowly bring your hand closer and closer to the water as you feed gets them used to your hand being there and as they see you drop the food closer...well you get the picture. Jackie is right, patience and the trust you build up with your fish. DOn't be afraid to spoil them from time to time. Ours like watermellon and oranges. :)

[Jackie Ramo]

When trianing a fish to come up I always make sure there isn't enough food for everyone. Soon the bravest are up and waiting for it to hit the water, the rest follow. Once they come to the surface you can sit next to the pond and feed, then put your hand in the water. A shrimp or bit of fake crab does the rest.

[flywheel]

I've been working at it, the others are getting closer but not quite willing to take that food yet.

[Jackie Ramo]

Don't feed them for a day or so. Hunger is the great motivator.

[flywheel]

Well I'm a big step closer, a few of my other koi nibbled on my fingertips but wouldn't take food yet. I fed them as a reward so they associate it with getting food.

[Jackie Ramo]

:lol: It won't be long now and they'll start climbing out of the pond and banging on the back door demanding breakfast

[flywheel]

:lol: It won't be long now and they'll start climbing out of the pond and banging on the back door demanding breakfast

I can't wait!

[marla]

Those are some beautiful koi, I'd place them in my pond, if I could find it. We got dumped on again the last couple days, average depth of snow on the pond is 18"

[flywheel]

Those are some beautiful koi, I'd place them in my pond, if I could find it. We got dumped on again the last couple days, average depth of snow on the pond is 18"

Marla, did you get the ice Friday and Saturday also? We were without power for quite awhile Friday nite and it kept flickering all day Saturday.

Are you northern WI? We're located about an hour west of Dubuque.

Thanks to everyone on the comments on the koi, it's not my goal to have show koi I just want better than the stuff you find in petstores, actually I have several little ones I picked up there also that show some promise. It's mostly an experiment to see how my culling skills are developing, they may turn into decent looking fish, or not. Over the winter I picked up 4 of them after looking at hundreds of them, my wife thinks I'm nuts.
!bonk

[marla]

Marla, did you get the ice Friday and Saturday also? We were without power for quite awhile Friday nite and it kept flickering all day Saturday.
Are you northern WI? We're located about an hour west of Dubuque.

No ice here, just snow, snow, and more blowing snow, it's still snowing. I live between Madison and Milwaukee, so more like southeast I guess. My husband went to college in Plattville, use to party in Dubuque all the time. We do not have expensive fish, the most expensive was $20 (a white with yellow spots the DH picked) this one was about 10" when we got it, all the rest were little 4''ers, we do take our time picking them, and have always gotten them from one of two pond dealers in the area.

[ygrowup]

HiI havent been here in a while but have time now to return. I reallyl ike the 2 new friends you aquired. If they hand feed the rest will follow soon. I have a Chigoi in my basement 2500 gal pond that tought the rest. Now I have to use both hands to keep up.I live in Wterloo Ia. My outdoor pond is still iced over with no fish this winter. is your water temp warm enough to feed now? or are these inside? great purchase. JIM

[Jackie Ramo]

Hey Jim, glad to see you again.

I'm hoping my fish will appear out of the ice in the next day or two. This is the hard part - waiting to see if they are alright.

Chagoi are great fish, got a pic of yours?

[flywheel]

HiI havent been here in a while but have time now to return. I reallyl ike the 2 new friends you aquired. If they hand feed the rest will follow soon. I have a Chigoi in my basement 2500 gal pond that tought the rest. Now I have to use both hands to keep up.I live in Wterloo Ia. My outdoor pond is still iced over with no fish this winter. is your water temp warm enough to feed now? or are these inside? great purchase. JIM


Hey Jim, good to see another Iowan in here. At the moment these guys are indoors as are all my fish. Soon to be outdoors I hope. Most of the ice is gone and as soon as it is clear I'll do a little spring cleaning and watch the water temp.