Value

[Jenny]

How much would a fish like this be worth?
8.5” BLUE GHOST SHUSUI BUTTERFLY KOI

 

[Lisak1]

I don't know but I thought this said "sushi" and I thought "that fish is too pretty to eat!"

 

[sissy]

oh dear some one needs glasses

 

[Lisak1]

You're right! I was in the car on my phone! Too small for these old eyes. But that really IS a gorgeous fish!

 

[Dave 54]

As Butterfly koi go this is a very nice example of one , if you dont mind me asking how much did you pay for him

Dave

 

[Jenny]

He costs 95, but I didn't buy him yet. I want to breed koi, but haven't decided what breed, and whether I want standard or butterfly. I am very fond of the shusui butterfly, but would like to know their potential value, and whether they're worth it.

 

[Jenny]

Would you guys buy a three foot version of him for $500?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Would you guys buy a three foot version of him for $500?

Do you plan on having grow-out ponds? You will need them to raise fish of that size.

 

[Jenny]

Yeah I guess I would. How big would you recommend them being?

 

[CountryEscape]

I thought shusui had red bellies .... ??? That is a beautiful koi. The question, though, would I pay $95 for him? Nope. I didn't pay more than I think $26 for any of my koi. Meyer above makes a good point. If you plan to raise them to 3', you must have a grow out pond, the type that is about 1/2 acre and mud bottom. I think that's what the prize koi dealers use to grow out their fish fast and healthy and pretty vibrant colors. Our backyard ponds will grow them out, but not to that size, or at least not in a few years. To make money in koi, you probably have to have a really large set up. I have my koi for enjoyment, not to make money. Too many people in this country raising them, thinking they will make money on selling them, to find out that there is not nearly the market for them that they thought. Good luck, though, I hope you are one of the few that makes it!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Yeah I guess I would. How big would you recommend them being?

Typical nursery pond is .5 acres: grow-out ponds are typically .75 - - 1.25 acre in size.
Here is a pond for two year-olds at Blackwater Creek Hatchery.

 

[CountryEscape]

My farm pond is about 1 acre, and I contemplated and was approached about raising koi fry in it. There was wayyyy more work in it than I figured (keeping predators away, feeding them, etc.). Even though the supplier was going to pay for the food and the auto feeder, there was still more headache than what I wanted to deal with. I sure would love to go out and net a bunch of beauties like in your pic, though, Meyer!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

This photo puts everything in perspective.

 

[Dave 54]

I thought shusui had red bellies .... ??? That is a beautiful koi. The question, though, would I pay $95 for him? Nope. I didn't pay more than I think $26 for any of my koi. Meyer above makes a good point. If you plan to raise them to 3', you must have a grow out pond, the type that is about 1/2 acre and mud bottom. I think that's what the prize koi dealers use to grow out their fish fast and healthy and pretty vibrant colors. Our backyard ponds will grow them out, but not to that size, or at least not in a few years. To make money in koi, you probably have to have a really large set up. I have my koi for enjoyment, not to make money. Too many people in this country raising them, thinking they will make money on selling them, to find out that there is not nearly the market for them that they thought. Good luck, though, I hope you are one of the few that makes it!

Acctually Country Escape until the last recession our koi funded the buying of all our books food equipment and medicines but the recession seems to now have put an end to the selling on of our koi when they get larger, will it go back to the old ways again who knows as weve never known a recession last like this one but I do hope it does as it turned our hobby into one that was in part self-perpetuating .
You dont need a large setup all you need do is to bring on those koi of yours to the best your abilities work on body shape and coloration and have a market willing to buy your fish.
Last year was the first ever we have had to gift our koi to a fish dealership friend who owns a large lake to take them on I'm hoping it will be the last but even doing it this way Country Escape I'm happy in the knowlege they have a great home (open to the public next year) to live out their remaining days in...

Dave

 

[RobAmy]

A beautiful koi, but raising them is going to be a lot of work and you must be set up correctly or your investment could all be lost. The above pictures paint a pretty good picture of what is involved.