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  1. #1

    Question What to look for when buying a fish

    Hi all

    I went to a koi shop today that had maybe 4-5 dead (smaller) fish in a couple of tanks and got to thinking: is this a terrible sign or just something that can’t be avoided in a place that sells so many fish? Are a few fish hanging out on the bottom having a bad time or do they just do that sometimes (never seen it personally)? Are they behaving differently because there’s just so many more fish here than in my pond? Are MY fish totally miserable as sin and I am a terrible person because they’re nowhere near as lively as most of these ones?

    Fighting the urge to buy some really nice fish, I realised I had no idea of what was normal in a shop and came home to ask you guys. What do you look for when koi shopping, in terms of getting the healthiest possible fish? What tells you to avoid buying from somewhere?

    Sorry if this has been posted; a quick search revealed nothing.

    Thanks!



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Hi,

    where are you based?

    i have some quality, well priced health koi here if you wanted to visit on a no obligation basis.

    you wont regret the trip regardless of distance and I will spend time answering any questions you have.

    cheers

    Gaz

    Quote Originally Posted by laulau View Post
    Hi all

    I went to a koi shop today that had maybe 4-5 dead (smaller) fish in a couple of tanks and got to thinking: is this a terrible sign or just something that can’t be avoided in a place that sells so many fish? Are a few fish hanging out on the bottom having a bad time or do they just do that sometimes (never seen it personally)? Are they behaving differently because there’s just so many more fish here than in my pond? Are MY fish totally miserable as sin and I am a terrible person because they’re nowhere near as lively as most of these ones?

    Fighting the urge to buy some really nice fish, I realised I had no idea of what was normal in a shop and came home to ask you guys. What do you look for when koi shopping, in terms of getting the healthiest possible fish? What tells you to avoid buying from somewhere?

    Sorry if this has been posted; a quick search revealed nothing.

    Thanks!
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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  4. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai hippo's Avatar
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    Fish in shops tend to be very lively because , as the stocking levels are generally high , they wont get fed as much , so have to compete for food . Also , being indoors , they don't suffer from temperature fluctuations , as an unheated outdoor pond would .

    You`ll find if you shop around that not all dealers are the same . It definitely puts me off , seeing dead fish and dirty water ect . They`re bound to lose the odd one , but should be removing them ASAP , to be honest , even if they`re low priced fish .

    Have a look around at a few dealers , and see how they compare .
    Colin

    2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
    Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber

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  6. #4
    I would start by finding out if the fish in those tanks were for sale. Obviously things can happen, but if fish were dead and others had issues it would raise a red flag for me.

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  8. #5
    As others have mentioned fish are more competitive with food in shops making them seem friendly but really they want first dibs on the food. If you see any fish sulking at the bottom and see dead fish I would defiantly not purchase. Remember anything you purchase if you don’t quarantine before putting in your pond could pass parasites etc on. Look out how the fish are filtered ie are they filtered per tank or is it one filter filtering a row of tanks. Lastly and most importantly ask if the fish have been quarantined. All the best mate and defo worth mentioning! A lot of people only stick to a few dealers What to look for when buying a fish


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  10. #6
    In some respects it's quite an individual thing, visit a few dealers and you will get a feel for what is "good". As others have mentioned, quarantine practices and fish health in the shop are all important.
    But personally for me one of the key things is the dealers themselves: Are they interested in you even if you're a beginner and only come for a look round? Do they answer all your questions and take the time to chat to you? I've been to a reputable Koi dealer that appeared to tick all the boxes and stock really nice fish, it was quiet and I was the only customer - he wasn't interested in me. For me that was a red flag, I walked away, have never been back and would never buy anything from them.

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  12. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    I could not agree more.

    Cheers

    Gaz

    Quote Originally Posted by deejaysmi View Post
    In some respects it's quite an individual thing, visit a few dealers and you will get a feel for what is "good". As others have mentioned, quarantine practices and fish health in the shop are all important.
    But personally for me one of the key things is the dealers themselves: Are they interested in you even if you're a beginner and only come for a look round? Do they answer all your questions and take the time to chat to you? I've been to a reputable Koi dealer that appeared to tick all the boxes and stock really nice fish, it was quiet and I was the only customer - he wasn't interested in me. For me that was a red flag, I walked away, have never been back and would never buy anything from them.
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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  14. #8
    Thanks all for the replies, all good points to consider!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gazkoi View Post
    Hi,

    where are you based?

    i have some quality, well priced health koi here if you wanted to visit on a no obligation basis.

    you wont regret the trip regardless of distance and I will spend time answering any questions you have.

    cheers

    Gaz
    Hi Gaz, I am near Preston. I look on your site often! A bit far from me though to visit in person. As an aside, I really like the design with the categories pictured, as it helps those of us who can't always remember the names

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  16. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    Thanks LauLau.

    If you PM me your number I can WhatsApp you pics and videos of the many that don’t get put on the site.

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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