Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 33
  1. #1

    What's the most you would pay for a koi?

    Hi fello koi nerds
    I used to always have a price of £300 and that would be my cut of point regarding koi prices, however over the years I seem to be heading up more towards the £1000 mark, I'm not sure if its because my confidence to keep such expensive koi alive has made me do this! or I maybe losing the plot a little

    I guess everyone has a budget, and as the old saying says, whatever you pay, you have to except you may lose too! I try not to think about that part!!!!



  2. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21136
    I would pay what I could afford if I liked a fish enough no limit
    Wife mite have a different view like haha

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  4. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Forest of Dean
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks / Likes
    1859
    I’m probably around the £400 mark, maybe £500. I actually like buying small and watching them grow which helps the bank balance, and the marriage!

  6. Thanks Ajm, smartin, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,937
    Thanks / Likes
    13163
    At the moment, probably £300 ish.

    In the future, who knows?

    Last year was my first proper year keeping Koi seriously. Bought a few sub £100 Koi. Admittedly one or 2 have turned out nice, other's have deteriorated. After the cost (loss) of moving them on and replacing them with more cheap Tosai.... maybe I'll eventually decide the answer is to spend money and buy real quality from the outset.

  8. Thanks freddyboy, crazyreefer Thanked / Liked this Post
  9. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    7,644
    Thanks / Likes
    1630
    Quote Originally Posted by koicrazysteve View Post
    Hi fello koi nerds
    I used to always have a price of £300 and that would be my cut of point regarding koi prices, however over the years I seem to be heading up more towards the £1000 mark, I'm not sure if its because my confidence to keep such expensive koi alive has made me do this! or I maybe losing the plot a little

    I guess everyone has a budget, and as the old saying says, whatever you pay, you have to except you may lose too! I try not to think about that part!!!!
    Sadly the £1000 Koi of today is the £250 Koi of 7-8 years ago. Prices are crazy.

  10. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  11. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Forest of Dean
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks / Likes
    1859
    It also depends on variety I think, I’d pay more for Go Sanke as it’s so hard to buy good fish small?

  12. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Berkshire
    Posts
    912
    Thanks / Likes
    1437
    I guess I normally pay £500 up but not really over a £1000 these days.
    I think you can get some nice koi for £300 up these days
    I do however buy the odd small koi to grow over a year or so to see how they develop before moving them on.
    I have four koi which will post on here to move on, now 2year olds and all grown well over the year.

  14. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  15. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    The most I have paid for a koi was a small 7ins for £70.

    I like to buy small watch them develop if I dont like them when they have developed they go.

    Agree with Dave prices have gone crazy,I could afford to buy a £1000 koi but I cant justify spending that amount,so my limit is probably £100 and that is pushing it.
    John

  16. Thanks freddyboy, Scotts koi Thanked / Liked this Post
  17. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion andikoi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    wakefield,west yorkshire
    Posts
    3,491
    Thanks / Likes
    3764
    cos im a tight arse yorkshireman £10 although ive gone to £35,and ive just bought 2x 60cm koi for £100,felt sick handing that much money over lol,,,,andi

  18. Thanks Ajm, freddyboy, john1, The freeb, crazyreefer Thanked / Liked this Post
  19. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,937
    Thanks / Likes
    13163
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post

    I like to buy small watch them develop if I dont like them when they have developed they go.
    That is the key to it all I think.

    At this stage in the hobby buying big highly expensive fish that have "finished" removes the excitement and anticipation. They cannot improve further, only stay as they are or deteriorate in the future.

    Buying very high quality Tosai that are assured to finish perfectly and become valuable koi is virtually impossible and still expensive.

    But choosing a good quality Tosai / Nisai and "hoping you've got the ugly duckling that turns into a swan" is much more exciting, albeit usually fraught with disappointment.

    But it is possible. There was a post on here which I can't find at the moment, possibly of a tancho sanke but can't remember for sure, bought for something like £30 at Tosai, chosen by the posters wife, and looked pretty bland. 3 or 4 years later he re-posted pics and it was truly stunning.

  20. Thanks freddyboy, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  21. #11
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Process of elimination Rs.
    Agree dont see why folk with loads of cash buy big and then show them, annoys me as they have done nothing to get that fish to that standard.

    I used to breed and show budgies and rabbits,and it used to happen there,suppose it does with all livestock.
    Going off the subject sorry.
    You made me laugh there Andi,and I thought I was the only tight one.

    When I sell on a few the monies I make goes ( no not on stocking the fridge up ) back into the koi,dont make anything but I have to add to it.
    John

  22. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  23. #12
    When i started buying koi last year I said I’m only buying tosai for around £30-35 but since then i have spent up to £400 on my most expensive koi

  24. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  25. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion bowsaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Bristol
    Posts
    1,663
    Thanks / Likes
    1105
    for freshwater very little there's so much on the market there's no need, for marine well they tend to be more expensive
    the slow pond build thread

  26. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,937
    Thanks / Likes
    13163
    The most interesting discovery about this thread so far is that nobody has admitted to buying the dozens of £1000 - £4000 Koi that are added to Dealer websites and many of them showing as SOLD within 5 or 6 days.

    Who's buying 'em?

    In one case I saw a £5995 Koi appear on a Dealer's website and a couple of days later it was marked as sold..... But I recognised the Koi from a video I'd previously seen of someone buying it directly from Japan. This Koi was never actually for sale from the Dealer in the first place. Possibly it was delivered there for the buyer as part of a bigger shipment, but it was never really for sale.

  27. Thanks crazyreefer, john1, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  28. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21136
    Quote Originally Posted by RS2OOO View Post
    The most interesting discovery about this thread so far is that nobody has admitted to buying the dozens of £1000 - £4000 Koi that are added to Dealer websites and many of them showing as SOLD within 5 or 6 days.

    Who's buying 'em?

    In one case I saw a £5995 Koi appear on a Dealer's website and a couple of days later it was marked as sold..... But I recognised the Koi from a video I'd previously seen of someone buying it directly from Japan. This Koi was never actually for sale from the Dealer in the first place. Possibly it was delivered there for the buyer as part of a bigger shipment, but it was never really for sale.
    That's sly salesmanship right there .

    Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  29. Thanks john1, RS2OOO, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  30. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Berkshire
    Posts
    912
    Thanks / Likes
    1437
    The most I have paid for a koi is £3600
    For a showa and that was after a discount as I new the dealer quite well.
    Can't see me spending that sort of money on a koi now, but then I think they have improved and got better over the years.

  31. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  32. #17
    Buying small and watching them grow is part of the fun for me. The pond has some mutts which the kids like and make fun of lol. It also contains some fish which I like and think are fairly decent, most likely not show winners but I like them and that's all that matters.


    I understand that some want that perfect collection but spending all that money on huge perfect fish seems like it would take away part of the hobby for me.


    For the record I've not spent more than £200 on a fish. A really nice metallic Ochiba that I had to have and a tosia karashigoi that wasn't far behind.

  33. Thanks smartin, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  34. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai Steve1984's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    south ockendon
    Posts
    834
    Thanks / Likes
    1016
    I've just purchased my first koi at the koi show in Kent this weekend, they were £45 each or 2 for £50. Didn't get the logic in the pricing but saved my wallet from being hit too hard. My plan is to buy them small and watch them grow over the years. At a guess in the future I'd go up to £100-£150 per fish once I have a bit more experience and know the ponds doing well and filters have matured.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  35. Thanks Ajm, smartin, john1, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  36. #19
    Some interesting posts here,

    It seems most of you are keeping under the £500 mark, and I totally get that, as most koi generally are a high risk investment, with no guarantee, and if sold on usually sell for less!!
    As for prices, they have gone crazy, I never thought I'd ever be handing over £800 for a tosai, but these kind of prices for tosai seems the norm in this day and age! and if you stay below the £300 mark most generally deteriorate,

    I also think as your koi eye improves over the years, your pocket stays the same which can be very frustrating

  37. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  38. #20
    Member Rank = Nisai AJB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    59
    Thanks / Likes
    44
    This subject is very interesting. I was looking at Koi Water Barn website at the weekend and they have some fish on there listed at, for example, £8,995. I wondered who pays this and why.

    I've seen members here advertise fish they paid several hundred pounds for, and after a year or two, sell off for less than a third of that.

    Dealers must have a very significant mark up - probably retail is at least double their cost. And I suspect that the people capable of identifying the very highest quality fish (not me) have already snaffled the best fish before they see the light of day for the rest of us.

    Value versus price is highly subjective. We are very happy with our fish by and large and the most we have paid is £100. Perhaps this will change as we become more experienced. But I have my doubts. A fish is just a fish.

  39. Thanks kikokuryu John, john1, crazyreefer, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:25 PM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.