Learn more about how to win a koi competition by reading this article. We have created hundreds of koi champions across the country and even many All-Japan Grand Champion Koi from Kodama Koi Farm. We’re happy to provide these helpful tips for your koi.
Winning a koi show is a top honor in the hobby and can even increase the resale value of your koi. It is a challenge to get your koi to the show and a challenge to raise a koi great enough to be champion. Read this article and gain helpful tips, tricks, to prepare for your next koi show. Also visit kodamakoishow.com to participate online.
To acquire high-quality Koi for a competition, make sure to research popular breeds and find a reputable dealer to start your journey or help along the way.
Inspect the Koi before purchasing and quarantine it before introducing it to your other fish. You will want to provide proper care to ensure your Koi is in top condition for events and competitions.
Winning a koi competition takes a lot of preparation and attention to detail, but the rewards are well worth it! Not only do you get bragging rights and a shiny trophy, but winning a competition can also increase the value of your koi and attract potential buyers.
Things to Consider Before Joining a Koi Competition
The first step to winning a koi competition is to select high-quality Japanese bred koi fish.
You want your koi to have stunning colors, unique patterns, and excellent body conformation. Think of it like a beauty pageant for fish! Once you have your koi selected, it’s time to grow them to showcase their natural beauty.
Before the competition, it’s important to prepare your koi by keeping their water healthy and feeding them a balanced diet. You want them to be in top condition when they hit the show tank.
Understanding the judging criteria is also critical to winning a koi competition. Judges look for factors such as color, pattern, body shape, and overall health. By knowing what the judges are looking for, you can try to grow your koi to meet their expectations or find koi fish for sale that fit their qualifications.
Online Koi Shows – Great for Beginners!
Beginners may consider starting with an online koi show and can get more information on kodamakoishow.com.
The purpose of hosting these online koi shows are to spread awareness and appreciation for the delights of koi keeping as a hobby. Our ultimate aim was to motivate you to learn more about the art of Japanese koi husbandry and equip you with the necessary knowledge to become skilled koi masters. Additionally, we hoped to provide you with the support and resources needed to breed top-notch, champion koi and lead you towards a path of winning in koi competitions.
Raising Healthy Fish to Prepare Your Koi For a Competition
You’ve got some beautiful Koi and you’re thinking of entering them in a competition? That’s awesome! But to really make a splash, you’ll want to make sure your Koi are healthy and ready to steal the show.
- A healthy diet – The diet needed to keep koi happy, healthy, and beautiful is a science. Many sources validate the belief that koi need a balanced diet of protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates to maintain healthy growth. Just be sure not to overfeed them, as this can lead to health problems and poor water quality. We recommend a few koi food options on our supply website or you can read through our koi food guide.
- Healthy water – Speaking of water quality, keeping your Koi healthy means keeping their environment clean and well-aerated. Test the water regularly for pH, ammonia, and nitrate levels, and don’t skimp on the filtration system. And if you notice any signs of illness in your Koi, like abnormal behavior or skin discoloration, don’t hesitate to isolate the affected fish and seek expert advice.
- Water Temperature – To prepare for a competition, you’ll want to gradually increase or decrease the water temperature to mimic the conditions of the competition. Start by raising the temperature by a degree or two Fahrenheit each day until you reach the desired temperature.
Raising show-worthy Koi requires careful attention to several important factors. Focusing on these 5 factors below will ensure you are ready for your next koi competition with high quality koi.
What to Consider When Raising Show Worthy Koi
1. Koi Lineage
Koi lineage is like tracing a fish’s family tree!
It helps breeders determine a Koi’s genetic traits and potential for breeding by looking at its ancestors. Knowing a Koi’s lineage is important to maintain the purity of different Koi varieties and produce offspring with desirable colors, patterns, and body shapes.
When buying a Koi, asking about its lineage can ensure it’s of high quality and has healthy parents. Plus, keeping track of a Koi’s lineage helps maintain accurate records for future breeding purposes. So, don’t forget to ask about your Koi’s family history!
Pictured here is the Grand champion Kohaku from the 51st AJKS (All Japan Koi Show).
2. Koi Size
When showcasing Koi, size is an important factor to consider if you want to win the Grand Championship.
At koi shows, they are categorized by size and compete within the same size range. So large size is not a must to join and win a competition.
Remember, size is only one of many factors that determines a Koi’s beauty and value. Quality color, pattern, and body conformation are also crucial to win in the category of your koi’s size.
General Koi Show Size Categories:
15 Bu – Under 15cm or 6”
25 Bu – 15-25cm or 6-10”
35 Bu – 25-35cm or 10-12”
45 Bu – 35-45cm or 12-18”
55 Bu – 45-55cm or 18-22”
65 Bu – 55-65cm or 22-26”
75 Bu – 65-75cm or 26-30”
75 Bu + – 30” +
3. Koi Variety
When it comes to showcasing Koi, there are several popular varieties that are well-suited for show competitions.
Gosanke such as Kohaku, Sanke and Showa are regular winners of grand champion.
But at Koi shows, Koi will also be categorized and judged by variety.
Each variety has specific characteristics that are judged, such as the quality and balance of colors, patterns, and markings.
To win champion awards, Kohaku, Sanke and Showa have advantages, but to win other prizes, koi does not have to be one these varieties. Learn more about all koi varieties on our website.
Variety Categories for Kodama Koi Shows:
- Asagi & Shusui
- Hikarimono (Hikarimoyo / HikariUtsuri / Hikari Muji)
- Hirenaga
- Kawarimono (including Bekko)
- KinGinrin
- Kohaku
- Koromo & Goshiki
- Showa
- Taisho Sanke
- Tancho
- Utsurimono
4. Koi Pattern
A well-defined and balanced pattern is a key factor when showcasing Koi in competitions.
Some popular patterns that often do well in shows include Maruten, Tancho, Doitsu, Gin Rin, and Kawarimono.
Maruten have a round marking on their head, Tancho have a single red marking on their head, Doitsu have scales only on their lateral line and along the dorsal and ventral fins, Gin Rin have a glittering metallic sheen on their scales, and Kawarimono are unique or unusual patterns that stand out.
5. Koi Shape
To showcase Koi in competitions, their shape and body conformation are the most important factor.
A well-proportioned and symmetrical Koi with a wide, deep body and a tapered head is ideal for show. Other important factors to consider include muscularity, well-formed fins, smooth skin, and good posture while swimming. Body is always your number 1 priority!
Before entering your Koi in a competition, research the rules and guidelines to ensure their shape meets the criteria.
Join our website and newsletter to can gain exclusive access to our champion-bred koi for sale, pond products, updates, events, and more, while also learning about breeding, caring for, and feeding koi to improve your chances of success in koi competitions.
PRO TIP: Transporting Koi For Events and Competition
Ready for the big competition?
You’ve spent months preparing your Koi and now it’s time to transport them to the event. But how do you ensure that your Koi arrives safely and in top condition? Here are some tips to make transporting your Koi a breeze.
Here are some quick tips for transporting your Koi to a competition:
- Plan ahead and gather necessary supplies.
- Acclimate your Koi to the travel tank and keep the water clean and well-oxygenated.
- Secure the travel tank and avoid extreme temperatures.
- Minimize stress by keeping the travel tank dark and quiet.
- Keep an eye on your Koi during transport.
By following these tips, you can safely transport your Koi and ensure they arrive at the competition in top condition. Good luck!
Meet our Champion Koi Master
Step into the world of Koi breeding and Competitions and meet Mamoru Kodama, a master breeder and owner of KODAMA KOI FARM and KODAMA POND SUPPLY, who has dedicated over 50 years of his life to raising these magnificent Koi Fish, producing high-quality pond products and Winning Koi Competitions.
With a long list of Koi champions produced under his guidance, Kodama knows the secret to their success lies in feeding them only the finest ingredients. That’s why he created “Kodama Koi Food,” a Koi food brand backed by years of research and made with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available.
Mr. Kodama Koi Food Raises Champion Koi
Our two primary products, “All Season” and “Color Up,” are designed to enhance the growth, health, and vibrant coloration of your Koi, qualities that are highly valued in koi competition judging.
The exclusive koi food brand for the champion Koi that won the renowned “All Japan Nishikigoi Show” The Kodama Koi Food. Additionally, four other Koi that were also fed with this Kodama Koi Food won a total of five grand championships in the competition.
Good Luck in the Koi Shows!
Are you ready to take your koi fish to the next level and potentially win a competition?
With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can showcase the beauty and quality of your koi and maybe even bring home a shiny trophy!
Remember that it is fun just to be able to participate in a koi show. If you have never attended, than we recommend you visit a local koi club’s competition in-person to truly prepare yourself for a future event you may want to enter.
Let us know your tips and tricks for winning koi shows in the comments.
