When buying your koi from a private owner there are a few rules of thumb that you must stick to, otherwise it may end up with you loosing more fish than the one you purchased.
Take a good look at not only the koi you are there to buy from them, but also at the other koi in the pond. A lot can be learned from observing the koi, while in situ, then ask yourself the following questions:
1) Is the koi swimming well and not sitting on the bottom.
2) Are there any other koi just sitting around on the bottom.
3) Does the koi or any other koi in the pond look ill in anyway.
4) Are the koi in anyway sporting sores damaged fins.eyes etc.
Next ask the owner to catch and bowl the koi for you (how he/she does this can give you invaluable information). Koi should never leave the water to be bowled up for inspection
When bowled ask yourself the following questions.
1) Did the current owner bowl the koi without a struggle (this in itself can tell you a lot).
2) Is the koi sporting any split, deformed or fungus tipped fins.
3) Are there any scales missing fro the koi.
4) Are there any parasites visible i;e Anchor Worm, Argulus, Leaches.
5) Does the koi look as though there is a whitish tinge to the skin.
6) Are the gills working at to rapid rate or normal.
7) Are there any open sores on the koi or freshly healed ones.
8) Handle the koi checking for a normal mucus covering, if excessive (walk away now), excessive mucus can indicate a problem pointing to water quality issues.
9) Turn the koi on its side check the vent area, a reddened vent can indicate an internal viral or bacterial problem (walk away now).
Any of the above can indicate parasite problems (walk away now).
Next talk at length with the owner and ask him/her the following Questions.
1) How long has he owned the koi.
2) Where did he/she buy it from (if the answer is e-bay walk away now).
3) If not e-bay then which dealership did he/she buy it from.
4) What is the reason for the sale.
5) Has the koi had any health issues whilst in his/her care.(If so did they treat it themselves or bring in a member of the BKKS HSC committee in the for of an HLO if AKCA their equivalent if so what did they treat it for and when?).
Next ask to look around the owners facilities ie filters etc then ask yourself the following questions.
1) Is the pond water clear.
2) What state the filters are in
3) Is there a UV-C.
4) Is there adequate aeration of the pond and filters.
5) Does he/she have a QT facility (warning if no QT walk away).
6) Is there a strong Ammonia smell around the area.
The owner shouldn't mind if you ask him to test the water in front of you to check all is in order.
They shouldn't mind doing this.
1) Ammonia is negative, or within tolerance.
2) Nitrite is Negative, or within tolerance.
3) Nitrate is Negative, or within tolerance.
4) PH is within normal Range.
If your koi has passed all the above parameters and a purchase is agreed upon, congratulations you have a new koi. Remember just because it's passed all of the above doesn't mean it is home free, QT the koi when you get it back home is a must. It guarantees there will be nothing passed on to your own pond, once the QT period is over gently bag your koi for the short journey to the pond. Float for 30 minutes and release ensuring that non of the QT water enters your pond.
Congratulations you have a new koi enjoy it with the rest of your koi.
One last thing, now that the Koi Herpes Virus is in Europe, the UK and the US.
quarantining koi is vitally important. If this slips through the system then you can say goodbye to 80% of the koi in your pond. The survivors would have to be destroyed.
Sadly Goldfish owners, you are not safe either, as there is another virus called the Goldfish Herpes Virus , though not as destructive, still has the same outcome.
Take a good look at not only the koi you are there to buy from them, but also at the other koi in the pond. A lot can be learned from observing the koi, while in situ, then ask yourself the following questions:
1) Is the koi swimming well and not sitting on the bottom.
2) Are there any other koi just sitting around on the bottom.
3) Does the koi or any other koi in the pond look ill in anyway.
4) Are the koi in anyway sporting sores damaged fins.eyes etc.
Next ask the owner to catch and bowl the koi for you (how he/she does this can give you invaluable information). Koi should never leave the water to be bowled up for inspection
When bowled ask yourself the following questions.
1) Did the current owner bowl the koi without a struggle (this in itself can tell you a lot).
2) Is the koi sporting any split, deformed or fungus tipped fins.
3) Are there any scales missing fro the koi.
4) Are there any parasites visible i;e Anchor Worm, Argulus, Leaches.
5) Does the koi look as though there is a whitish tinge to the skin.
6) Are the gills working at to rapid rate or normal.
7) Are there any open sores on the koi or freshly healed ones.
8) Handle the koi checking for a normal mucus covering, if excessive (walk away now), excessive mucus can indicate a problem pointing to water quality issues.
9) Turn the koi on its side check the vent area, a reddened vent can indicate an internal viral or bacterial problem (walk away now).
Any of the above can indicate parasite problems (walk away now).
Next talk at length with the owner and ask him/her the following Questions.
1) How long has he owned the koi.
2) Where did he/she buy it from (if the answer is e-bay walk away now).
3) If not e-bay then which dealership did he/she buy it from.
4) What is the reason for the sale.
5) Has the koi had any health issues whilst in his/her care.(If so did they treat it themselves or bring in a member of the BKKS HSC committee in the for of an HLO if AKCA their equivalent if so what did they treat it for and when?).
Next ask to look around the owners facilities ie filters etc then ask yourself the following questions.
1) Is the pond water clear.
2) What state the filters are in
3) Is there a UV-C.
4) Is there adequate aeration of the pond and filters.
5) Does he/she have a QT facility (warning if no QT walk away).
6) Is there a strong Ammonia smell around the area.
The owner shouldn't mind if you ask him to test the water in front of you to check all is in order.
They shouldn't mind doing this.
1) Ammonia is negative, or within tolerance.
2) Nitrite is Negative, or within tolerance.
3) Nitrate is Negative, or within tolerance.
4) PH is within normal Range.
If your koi has passed all the above parameters and a purchase is agreed upon, congratulations you have a new koi. Remember just because it's passed all of the above doesn't mean it is home free, QT the koi when you get it back home is a must. It guarantees there will be nothing passed on to your own pond, once the QT period is over gently bag your koi for the short journey to the pond. Float for 30 minutes and release ensuring that non of the QT water enters your pond.
Congratulations you have a new koi enjoy it with the rest of your koi.
One last thing, now that the Koi Herpes Virus is in Europe, the UK and the US.
quarantining koi is vitally important. If this slips through the system then you can say goodbye to 80% of the koi in your pond. The survivors would have to be destroyed.
Sadly Goldfish owners, you are not safe either, as there is another virus called the Goldfish Herpes Virus , though not as destructive, still has the same outcome.