Most people like having water features in their business  premises and their homes as water symbolizes wealth. For a serious enthusiast,  he thinks nothing of paying a fortune for pedigree Koi, which comes with a  certificate. Money is not an issue, they have made it and they want to spend  it. As one says, “Your money saved is not really yours until you spend  it”.

To the untrained eye, all Koi look alike, but an experienced  Koi hobbyist will tell you that every Koi is unique. You will never find two  identical specimens as each has its own unique color and its intensity and  form. That makes them all special. Koi were judged mainly on body shape and luster,  color intensity, and the pattern on their dots, spots, or stripes form against  the background of the body color. Koi with red and white colors are the most sought after one.  The single-colored white ones represent purity and the gold ones represent fortune according to the Feng Shui belief.

The mark of a good Koi:

* It must be torpedo-shaped. It must be fat and round  throughout, not just at the head. It must have a small tummy and a small tail.

* Markings or patterns must be symmetrical and evenly  distributed on head, body and tail. Japan has drawn up 60 varieties,  determined by its marking and color.

* Pedigree Koi comes with a certificate stating date of  birth, year it entered the country, mother’s breed and other details. All  pedigree Koi is from Japan.

* Colors must be strong with luster. Females are preferred  as the whites on males tend to become yellowish as they age.

* Its movements must be elegant.

Before you buy Koi, consider these:

* Get a good Koi pond ready before buying the fish. Not  every one can constructs a good habitat. A depth of 5 to 6 feet is the best.

* Filter should be 30% of pond size.

* Check the quality of the water in your area. Test kits are  available for this.

* Preferably, 1 tonne of water for one full-grown carp of  2.5 ft long

* If the fish is not eating or swimming in its usual fashion,  it is sick. Koi are prone to louse and fungi. These can be treated. Do not  physically pick up fish to scrape off lice and fungus. It is the fish that  suffers and your pocket that hurts.