Koi Adoption vs. Buying Koi
By definition, a koi dealer is anyone in the business of selling Japanese koi fish for a profit. As a nonprofit animal rescue specializing in large koi fish, our mission is to find suitable new forever homes for the majestic creatures entrusted to our care. While we are not koi dealers or resellers, we would be very happy to refer you to several reputable koi dealers located within Southern California who fully support our mission.
What is our primary koi rehoming method?
After finishing a comprehensive koi quarantine process lasting several weeks, most of our rescued large koi are ultimately rehomed as initial stock for large, properly designed koi ponds constructed by our supporting pond builders. Today this remains our primary and most successful rehoming method for large koi fish.
Beginning in October 2020, out of necessity during the height of the COVID pandemic, we also began making a limited number of large koi fish available to approved hobbyists via private adoption for the very first time.
How often are koi adoption events scheduled?
Our koi adoption events are hosted by some of our dedicated volunteers approximately every 4 – 6 weeks. Only approved hobbyists are eligible to schedule appointments to attend.
With our supporting pond builders now back at full strength, our hosted koi adoption events will only continue if sufficient interest continues to exist amongst approved hobbyists wishing to attend. Pond owners wishing to attend these events are encouraged to submit a completed Koi Adoption Request. Once approved, these hobbyists will be notified via SMS text when future hosted koi adoption events are scheduled.
How much does koi adoption cost?
While koi adoption is not free, the effective rehoming fees charged at our events are a tiny fraction of typical koi dealer wholesale cost. These minimal fees help to offset some of the considerable costs for the onsite services we provide throughout CA, NV, and AZ. We work extremely hard to keep these rehoming fees as low as possible, and we are quite confident in stating that hobbyists will never find large koi fish available at a lower cost. Hobbyists can view a sample rehoming fee schedule on our Koi Adoption Events resource page.
Why are koi dealers and resellers ineligible for koi adoption?
Making our koi available to koi dealers or resellers would go against our mission, therefore koi dealers and those seeking to acquire koi for resale are explicitly prohibited from attending our koi adoption events. We have experienced multiple instances in the past of unscrupulous individuals infiltrating our events under false pretenses to acquire koi inventory for resale to their retail customers. So, if you are a koi dealer or reseller, please look elsewhere to acquire your inventory. Our koi adoption events are not for you.
What is the quarantine process completed for adoptable koi?
All koi complete a comprehensive quarantine process lasting several weeks before ever being made available for rehoming through private adoption. In most cases, adoptable large koi are with us for several months before rehoming. Adoptable koi are also sorted and inspected by our volunteers before each event. Hobbyists are encouraged to visit our Koi Quarantine resource page to learn more about the specific quarantine process followed and recommended by Southern California Koi Rescue.
Besides large koi, what other pond pets are available during our events?
As a nonprofit rescue specializing in large Japanese koi fish, as you might image, most of the koi available for adoption at our events are not small. We do, however, often have a nice selection of smaller koi and butterfly koi, goldfish, and red ear slider (RES) aquatic turtles available for adoption during our events.
