or just buy the fish and not the breeder?
or just buy the fish and not the breeder?
Depends.
Some people are collectors of big names. I actually met a woman who had 2,000 designer purses.
To my eye, they were really ugly. But they had the name attached, which had value to her.
If you are a beginner, no need for the name.
Big name breeders have fish for sale that are not "big name quality". Its a inescapable part of the breeding process - you are going to have culls. So you can get a "Big Name" fish relatively cheaply if that has value for you.
"To bosom friend, to gracious host
To those who fall, and those who lift
To those who give, yet mark not gift
To healing, hope, and circumstance
To faith, to fate, to meetings chance"
-Bob Kublin (who I have not met)
Call Brady or Vance and get some VERY nice domestic bred fish... They are big name breeders in my book!
MoiKoi,
You have answered your own question really.
The big name breeders are worth the money if you look at the Koi and you like it enough to pay the asking price.
You can sometimes do very well by choosing the right koi at the right price. I have some real quality Koi from so called big name breeders. Yet i have not paid over $700 for any of them.
But,
I wouldn't pay that kinda money for a Chagoi or Yamabuki Ogon because i don't have a big enough appreciation of the finer points of reticulation, etc and i don't show my koi, so a good standard of home bred koi is OK with me.
Just my 2 cents, i hope it helps,
Big name breeders still sell big price tateshita.
All breeders have good koi and bad koi.
The difference is which breeders have excellent Koi, the list is short, and expensive.
So the question is a loaded one, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
An open example of this is Chagoi--- A truly beautiful fish, but not when you first get into the hobby. All of us were drawn in by our first glances at Kohaku,Showa, and Sanke. Chagoi would'nt be given a second look by a novice because it is'nt eye candy.
It is only with time and study do you come to appriciate this Koi and the simple but pure beauty it holds.
So should you buy a big name breeder? I think the question should be phrased, Should I go to a reputable dealer, who can help pick the best of what that breeder has to offer, given what I can afford.
Also to get an informed oppinion of what that koi will end up looking like, when it reaches maturity.
The more you think know, the less you learn.
MIKE S.
DISCLOSE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The other thing to keep in mind is that possibly the next big name breeder is currently selling the fish that will make it a big name, but because it isn't a big name yet the fish are being sold for less than big name prices. So I say buy the koi, but get an understanding of what to expect from the breeder.
Koiphen member since 05-13-2004