Gin Rin
Selecting the Right Koi
The success of your pond fish has a lot to do with where they come from. As always, we recommend buying your koi from your local reputable breeder rather than buying from a pet store or a national chain. Koi that come from a national chain usually endure hundreds, if not thousands of miles of travel before they reach their destination. Also, koi from national chains are exposed to many diseases and bacteria that attack their potentially weak immune systems. Furthermore, national chain koi usually aren’t fed or tracked for growth.
If you’re wondering what kind of koi you should purchase, you should have an open mind. There are many classifications of koi, with most of them classified by their colorations. To add further complexity, most classifications have a scaled (Gin Rin) and unscaled (Doitsu) version. Keep in mind, butterfly koi are beautiful, but many true koi breeders do not carry this breed. Butterly koi originated from inter-breeding with Indonesian carp and lack standard characteristics suitable for judging.
No matter what variation of koi you purchase, there are some characteristic signs you should look for in healthy robust fish. Also, you will have to consider your budget, since koi cost can run into thousands of dollars.
First, the koi you consider should be outgoing and swimming with the other fish. Naturally, koi are shy, but the healthiest koi actively swim with other fish and do not linger by themselves. You should also select koi that linger near the top of the water as you pass, so that you don’t get the shyest fish in the group! Also, the koi should swim smoothly and gently. If the koi twitches or jolts when it swims, or if the koi swims unevenly, it may have swim bladder problems (via bacterial infection).
Second, once you think you have a good fish, look carefully at its gills. Koi infected with gill flukes breathe through only one gill or have redness around their gills. If you see any of these signs, don’t buy this fish, and definitely don’t buy from that batch of fish! If one koi inside the group has gill flukes, then all of them have gill flukes.
Next, you should look at your koi’s body. The koi’s body should be thick, gently tapered and well defined. The scales on the koi should be flat with no visible lesions. The fins of your koi may have some minor damage if it’s recently been transported, or is kept in a crowded environment. This is acceptable as long as it’s minor and there’s no redness.
When buying koi, remember koi coloration changes as the koi matures. You may buy a koi with strong orange and black coloration, and in a few months, you may have a koi with red and orange. To avoid this, you can buy mature koi, but you’ll pay much more money. Another way to avoid this is to buy koi from a breeder who breeds the type of koi you want to buy. Keep in mind that this is the most expensive way to buy new stock, but well worth the money if you want a certain standard of koi.
Finally, you should look carefully at the proportion and balance of your koi. The fins should not look too big or too small. The belly of the koi should gently taper into the dorsal and pectoral part of the fish, and the back should be nice and smooth. The face of the fish should be imposing and well defined- not too short and not too long.
Many koi keepers choose to keep koi that are considered “imperfect” by koi standards. In the end, all that matters is your relationship and commitment to your fish. Many times, you find that the ugliest fish you own is the most personable and fun to keep! Unless you’re planning on professionally showing the fish at a convention, you should buy fish that appeal to you.
About the Author
Casey Coke is a Marketing Manager for Natural Environmental Systems, LLC, a global supplier of microbial solutions for pond and lake management. The company markets their own brand of koi pond supplies under the registered brand name of Pond Keeper.
HIROI NISAI GIN RIN SHOWA & SANKE
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6.5″ GIN RIN SHIRO UTSURI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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6″ GIN RIN BUTTERFLY KUJAKU HARIWAKE LIVE KOI GARDEN POND $12.99 |
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6” GIN RIN HI UTSURI STANDARD KOI LIVE KOI GARDEN POND $12.99 |
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5″ GIN RIN ASAGI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $1.25 |
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7″JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN SANKE LIVE KOI FISH $125.00 |
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6″JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN KI UTSURI LIVE KOI FISH $100.00 |
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14″-15″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN KUJAKU LIVE KOI FISH $400.00 |
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7″ GIN RIN KI UTSURI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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6″ Beautiful! Gin Rin “Diamond!” Soragoi Live Koi Fish Pond BKD $11.99 |
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6″ Beautiful! Gin Rin Platinum Ogon Live Koi Fish Pond BKD $11.99 |
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Megabass Slow Swimmer Switcher Bait X Plose 7 NC Gin Rin Ayu $19.00 |
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5.5″ GIN RIN PLATINUM OGON Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $5.50 |
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5″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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4.5″ GIN RIN AKA BEKKO Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $1.50 |
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4.5″ GIN RIN KOHAKU Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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5″ GIN RIN AKA BEKKO Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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4.5″ GIN RIN MARUTEN TAISHO SANKE Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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4.5″ GIN RIN KI MATSUBA Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot Big 9-10″ Gin Rin Kikusui Butterfly Koibay Sparkling Orange $165.00 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot 5-6″ Gin Rin Kohaku Koibay $15.00 |
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9-10″ Gin Rin Goromo Koibay Live Koi Fish Free shipping $135.00 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot of 6 Standard 5-7″ Red AKA Bekko Yellow Ogon Gin Rin Koibay $135.00 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot of one 9″ Gin Rin Sanke Koibay Sparkling scales Brigt Red $159.00 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot 10-11″ Gin Rin Ochiba Shigure Koibay Very Friendly Free shipp $135.00 |
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11″ GIN RIN CHAGOI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $56.55 |
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6.5″ GIN RIN ASAGI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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7.5″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $1.80 |
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14″-15″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN AKA HAJIRO LIVE KOI FISH $450.00 |
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14″-15″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN ORENJI LIVE KOI FISH $450.00 |
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5″ – LOT OF 5 STANDARD LIVE KOI OGON DOITSU SANKE KOHAKU SHUSUI GIN RIN BEKKO $29.99 |
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5″ – LOT OF 5 STANDARD LIVE KOI OGON DOITSU SANKE KOHAKU SHUSUI GIN RIN BEKKO $29.99 |
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5″ – LOT OF 5 STANDARD LIVE KOI OGON TANCHO SANKE KOHAKU SHUSUI GIN RIN BEKKO $29.99 |
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4″ LOT OF 4 – BEAUTIFUL ALL GIN RIN STANDARD LIVE KOI GARDEN POND $19.99 |
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6.5″ GIN RIN SHOWA SANSHOKU Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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6.5″ GIN RIN PLATINUM OGON Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $10.00 |
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7.5″ GIN RIN OCHIBA SHIGURE Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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6″ Beautiful! Gin Rin Platinum Ogon Butterfly Live Koi Fish Pond BKD $14.99 |
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9″ Dainichi Gin Rin Shiro Bekko Live Koi Imported From Japan $135.00 |
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4.5″ Gin Rin Showa Live Koi Imported From Japan $54.00 |
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6.5″ GIN RIN CHAGOI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $11.05 |
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12″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN TANCHO GOSHIKI LIVE KOI FISH $350.00 |
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5″ GIN RIN PLATINUM OGONButterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $5.09 |
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6″ GIN RIN ASAGI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $3.25 |
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5.5″ GIN RIN YAMABUKI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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5″ GIN RIN KI BEKKO Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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5.5 GIN RIN KI MATSUBA Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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14″ GIN RIN KI MATSUBA Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $10.50 |
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6″ Butterfly Gin Rin Lemon Hariwake Live Koi Imported From Japan $81.00 |
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5.5″ Butterfly Gin Rin Platinum Live Koi Imported From Japan $72.00 |
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5.5″ Gin Rin Shiro Utsuri Live Koi Imported From Japan $58.50 |
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6″ H.Q. GIN RIN SHOWA LIVE KOI FISH FROM JAPAN $49.99 |
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6-7″ H.Q.GIN RIN HI SHOWA LIVE KOI FISH FROM JAPAN $49.99 |
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5.5″ GIN RIN SORAGOI Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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5″ GIN RIN PLATINUM OGON Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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5″ GIN RIN GIN SHIRO BEKKO Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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4.5″ GIN RIN KOHAKU Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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13″-14″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN KI UTSURI LIVE KOI FISH $450.00 |
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14″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN OCHIBA LIVE KOI FISH $500.00 |
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Live Koi Fish 9-10″ Gin Rin Kikusui Doitsu Hariwake Butterfly Long Fin Koibay $135.00 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot of 6 Premium Select Sanke Kohaku Gin Rin Yamabuki 5-7″ Koibay $99.99 |
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7″ GIN RIN SHOWA SANSHOKU Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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6.5″ DOITSU GIN RIN PLATINUM Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot of 6 5-6″ Sanke Kohaku Gin Rin Ogon Koibay Free Shipping $99.00 |
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9.5″ GIN RIN KOHAKU Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden NDK $0.01 |
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61/2 PLATINUM GIN RIN OGON KOI STANDARD FIN POND FISH $4.00 |
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Big 10″ Gin Rin Ochiba Shigure Koibay Grey Brown Live Koi Fish $55.00 |
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9″ Doitsu Gin Rin Lemon Hariwake Butterfly Koibay Live Koi Fish Free shipping $165.00 |
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Live Koi Fish Lot of 4 Sanke Gin Rin Yamabuki “Ghost” Butterfly 7-8″ Koibay $195.00 |
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14″-15″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN PLATINUM LIVE KOI FISH $400.00 |
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13″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN GOSHIKI LIVE KOI FISH $450.00 |
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Wholesale Lot of 10 Live Koi Fish 5-6″ Yamabuki Yellow Ogon GIN RIN Doitsu $115.00 |
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Yamabuki Yellow Ogon Live Koi Fish 5-6″ Yellow Clear head , GIN RIN , Doitsu $19.00 |
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Yamabuki Yellow Ogon Live Koi Fish 5-6″ Yellow Clear head , GIN RIN , Doitsu $20.00 |
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Live Koi Fish 8″ Gin Rin Kuchibeni Kohaku Koibay Sparkling scales Free shipping $99.00 |
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18″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN CHAGOI LIVE KOI FISH $800.00 |
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18″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN KI UTSURI LIVE KOI FISH $900.00 |
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5-6″ Gin Rin Asagi Butterfly Long Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (G) $20.00 |
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7″-8″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN SHOWA LIVE KOI FISH $175.00 |
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6″ Gin Rin Kohaku Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (G) $10.00 |
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6″ Gin Rin Tancho Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (G) $15.00 |
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5″ Gin Rin Ochiba Shigure Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (G) $10.00 |
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5.5″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden single NDK $29.74 |
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5.5″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden single NDK $29.74 |
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5″ Gin Rin Sanke Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (A) $10.00 |
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7″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN SORAGOI LIVE KOI FISH $130.00 |
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PAIR 5-6″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Standard Fin Live Koi fish pond garden single NDK $26.99 |
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6″ Doitsu Gin Rin Blue Bekko Butterfly Long Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (B) $15.00 |
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5″ Gin Rin Kohaku Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (D) $5.00 |
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6″ GIN RIN KIGOI Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden single NDK $33.99 |
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5.5″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden single NDK $29.74 |
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5″ GIN RIN TAISHO SANKE Butterfly Fin Live Koi fish pond garden single NDK $29.74 |
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7″-8″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN SHOWA LIVE KOI FISH $145.00 |
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7″-8″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN SANKE LIVE KOI FISH $175.00 |
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17″ JAPANESE IMPORTED GIN RIN MATSUKAWABAKE LIVE KOI FISH $900.00 |
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6″ Gin Rin Orenji Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (G) $10.00 |
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4-5″ Gin Rin Chagoi Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (F) $15.00 |
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4″ Gin Rin Goromo Standard Short Fin Live Koi Fish Pond Koiz-r-us (D) $10.00 |
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The Mysterious Misadventures of Foy Rin Jin: A Decidedly Dysfunctional Dragon $10.49 Foy Rin Jin is a huge, fierce, bright-red dragon who breathes water instead of fire, a disaster for any self-respecting dragon. So he leaves the dragon lair in disgrace to work on his problem in the human world. When he accidentally puts out a house fire by breathing water on it, however, he becomes a hero despite himself, and if you say his name out loud very fast a few times, some readers may th… |
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