Koi Identification - Just 'inherited' a pond

carping_on · 26-08-2011, 01:23 PM

Hi All,

I'm hoping you can help identify my Koi. We've recently bought a house - and rather unexpectedly the previous owner didn't take his Koi with him. He also didn't leave a great deal of information about them. So we've been trawling the internet for the past few weeks and learning the hard way how our pond and filter system works (half of it didn't and we've since repaired it)

We have 15 medium to large Koi, which I've attempted to identify using various picture guides I've found - but I would appreciate any corrections/advice.
I also have no idea of their value, which I've learnt varies greatly and depends on size, health, environment etc, so if anyone can help there as well I'd be eternally grateful. Even a ballpark figure would be good.

I have some pics here

This is my guess-timate as to what we have, but it could be completely wrong:

2 x Aka bekko 20-30cm (orange non metallic)
4 x Purachina Ogon 15-30cm (white metallic)
1 x Kin Matsuba (yellow metallic) 10-15cm
7 x aka matsuba (orange metallic) 15-50cm
1 x kin Showa (orange, white, black, metallic) 20cm

Thanks in advance

Claire

pondy · 27-08-2011, 07:56 AM

if you can photo them individually it would make identification so much easier

However i see no Purachina's there maybe a few Ghost carp, and a couple of asagi's possibly

Doghouse Riley · 27-08-2011, 10:55 AM

Photos can be deceptive, but there appears to be quite a few fish there in a small pool.
What size is it?
Have you tested the quality of the water?

As to value, not wishing to cause any offence, is it that you are asking as there's a possibility that you may be considering not keeping them?
I'd suggest that none of what I can see, would be worth very much money.

Though if you decided not to continue with keeping them, someone might offer to buy them as "pond fillers."
Or if you've the time, you could get a blue plastic bowl, net them and put them individually in it and take photographs and put them on eBay.
The problem with trying to sell fish, is that enthusiasts are as much concerned with "what might come along with the fish" as the fish themselves. Most prefer to deal with suppliers they know.

For most of us, koi keeping is a hobby and rarely does the value of our individual fish gets discussed. Their "value" is more to us as fish we've had for a while and enjoy.

carping_on · 29-08-2011, 02:26 PM

Hi, Thanks for the feedback (no offence taken at all)

You're not the first person to say it was a small pond for that many fish, I thought that myself. I also was concerned that considering it looked like he had spent quite a lot of money on the filter and pump system, that there weren't any plants in the pond - and it was a bit bare.
I measured the pond 190cm x 280cm and approx 72cm deep. I worked that out to around 850 gallons (correct me if I'm wrong)

We haven't tested the quality of the water yet, I need to get a Ph test kit, we have just been making sure the filter (4 chamber) is working ok and cleaning it every now and again - and making sure the blanket weed is removed regularly.

You're right, we're not looking to keep them, but I'm sure you understand that from a layman's point of view whilst we want them to go to a good home, we also don't want to get ripped off.

I totally understand the stance of enthusiasts, I would imagine I'd feel exactly the same, if I were looking to buy fish for my pond.

A couple of others have suggested the Ebay route, any tips on catching them?
We've tried a few times but they are tricky buggers!

I'm guessing that we're better off selling them before the weather gets cold, or does that make a difference? I'm keen not to stress them out.

Thanks again for the advice.

sul1987 · 06-09-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carping_on

Hi, Thanks for the feedback (no offence taken at all)

You're not the first person to say it was a small pond for that many fish, I thought that myself. I also was concerned that considering it looked like he had spent quite a lot of money on the filter and pump system, that there weren't any plants in the pond - and it was a bit bare.
I measured the pond 190cm x 280cm and approx 72cm deep. I worked that out to around 850 gallons (correct me if I'm wrong)

We haven't tested the quality of the water yet, I need to get a Ph test kit, we have just been making sure the filter (4 chamber) is working ok and cleaning it every now and again - and making sure the blanket weed is removed regularly.

You're right, we're not looking to keep them, but I'm sure you understand that from a layman's point of view whilst we want them to go to a good home, we also don't want to get ripped off.

I totally understand the stance of enthusiasts, I would imagine I'd feel exactly the same, if I were looking to buy fish for my pond.

A couple of others have suggested the Ebay route, any tips on catching them?
We've tried a few times but they are tricky buggers!

I'm guessing that we're better off selling them before the weather gets cold, or does that make a difference? I'm keen not to stress them out.

Thanks again for the advice.

Where abouts are you located? If you're interested in selling them and are local i'd be interested

paul1968uk · 06-09-2011, 09:58 PM

Hi

Theres a cpl of asagi, shusui, ghost carp, ogans etc but id say not off good quality so i wouldnt be asking much for them and id be moving them on now well before the cold weather starts to take hold.

rgds
paul

carping_on · 06-09-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sul1987

Where abouts are you located? If you're interested in selling them and are local i'd be interested

West London I'm afraid, thanks for the offer tho

@Paul thanks, we're thinking the same about the cold weather

carping_on · 11-09-2011, 09:36 PM

So we spent this afternoon catching and measuring them, once we go the hang of it it was ok, we drained the pond a bit, sectioned it in half, then i basically got in with the koi sock, caught and transfered them, measured them - then put them back in the other section of the pond. It was a little stressful at times, and we did have one Pete Waterman incident with the large orange one, but they all seem ok.
Pics are here Koi - a set on Flickr
They will be going on ebay this week.

Thanks for all your advice.