subject: A Competitive And Enjoyable Competition [print this page] Koi competitions are a popular event as more people discover how enjoyable these creatures are to watch. The competitions are fun for spectators and especially for owners. If a person has koi and would like to enter them into this type of show, there are a few steps to keep in mind.
Koi are ornamental fish bred from "Japanese carp." They are usually kept in special koi ponds, CrossOver ponds, or Hybrid ponds. They come in a rainbow of colors. The most common colors to see are red, black, yellow, blue, cream and white. There are 15 main types of koi. When people enter them into a contest, it is important to know what type he or she has. It is usually easy to tell by the fish's color. For instance, Gold Ogon are metallic gold in color. Showa are black with white and red patterns. Kohaku are white and have different red patterns on them.
Entering fish into contests is much like entering dogs into competitions such as the Westminster Kennel Club show. People can find koi shows by reading magazines, blogs, listings of upcoming events, interacting with an available online community and pond tools. By connecting with other koi owners, a person can learn the best types of competitions in which to enter his or her fish.
Some competitions are free, while others cost a fee. Some even require membership in certain organizations. Each competition will provide a list of requirements, some of which may be a picture of one's fish, the water temperature of the fish's pond or tank and a certain container. One may also want to familiarize with certain Japanese terms associated with koi, such as the words used to describe the colors. For instance, Hi means red, a popular color of many Japanese carp.
Many competitions offer prizes for winning fish. The entries who take the highest rank often have the honor of being displayed on koi club websites in the Hall of Fame section. Participants in shows sometimes have the chance of winning door prizes, like trips to Japan.
Koi are fabulous fish worthy of showing off, which is one of the reasons why competitions have grown in popularity over the years. Owners have started to take the opportunity to enter their fish into these shows. It is an enjoyable way to have fun and stay competitive, and it's also a way to meet other fish owners and make new friends.
