Ian Wellby says...

There are some good general rules. I believe the most important point is to buy fish you like. After that, look for the fittest, healthiest looking individual. Do not buy fish from tanks where there are sick-looking fish. Only buy from reputable dealers and get advice and recommendations from the BKKS and friends who buy Koi. I also tend to stick to one or two dealers that I know and trust. There are some extra rules for buying really good quality Koi. Start by looking for the qualities that indicate this is going to be a very good Koi; the fish should be full-bodied with large, perfect fins. A chubby-cheeked face is also a feature that is becoming sought after. The colour on the fish should be deep with sharp boundaries between colour blocks, and these should be large, regular and well defined. Interesting features such as coloured lips (kuchibeni) are a bonus.