Fish For Your Water Garden
*New stock has arrived for 2011. Email Fins & Flowers for our internet specials on koi.*
Fishing for Facts
* Goldfish, koi, tench, orfes and mosquito fish are all capable of living in a water garden environment.
* Koi require more room, deeper areas and better filtration than other pond fish.
* Goldfish and koi can both breed in a water garden and can even cross breed, resulting in a greenish brown hybrid goldfish that is sterile.
* The number and size of fish a water garden can support is dependent on many factors such as pond volume, surface area, water turnover rate, filtration effectiveness and the quality of maintenance performed.
* Pond fish can survive Indiana winters in a well designed water garden. Of course, proper care is also necessary to ensure the health of your fish in the winter.
* Koi can reach lengths of 30" or more. Goldfish usually attain lengths of 8" to 12".
* Purchase fish from a reputable dealer who can document where the fish were raised and under what bio security standards. Avoid fish from any source that can't verify the breeder or location of the fish farm.
Purchase Peace of Mind
When it comes to selecting show koi, the sky is the limit on how much you might end up paying for that "perfect" koi. But for most water gardeners, the emphasis will be on finding a trusted source of healthy and well cared for koi. If you have reservations about a koi dealer, don't make a purchase until you are satisfied you can trust the vendor, especially if you are new to the hobby. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make multiple visits to the koi dealer before spending your hard earned money.
Another thing to keep in mind when making a koi purchase is beauty exists in the eye of the beholder. Just because a koi dealer tells you a particular fish is "show quality" doesn't make it so. Value is often determined by how closely a particular koi adheres to a set of parameters set by judging panels at prestigious koi shows. However, if you are a koi hobbyist and not a collector, those judging parameters may not mean much to you.
In that case, select a fish because you like it, not because a dealer is telling you how valuable it is. As long as the fish is healthy, properly shaped (torpedo shaped when viewed from above) and shows no signs of past injuries (missing scales, wounds or sores, damaged fins) then you can pick based on your own criteria.
Finally, before completing the sale, make sure you are clear about the terms of the sale, including a vendor's warranty policy. Most vendors simply cannot offer a warranty because once you leave their store, they have no idea how you will care for your fish. Furthermore, when a fish is lost, the dealer is often at a disadvantage because they do not know your specific pond and the circumstances leading up to the loss. That is why it helps to establish a relationship with a koi dealer and build a level of trust with them before you buy your koi.
