Visiting Madankoi Koi farm - Day 2 of our 2026 Koi buying trip
If like us you have been captivated by the graceful koi fish or intrigued by the delicate balance behind the production of these vibrant coloured carp, then today you’re in for a treat. Join us as we take you behind the scenes at this massive koi facility. Koi are not your every day fish, they are living art and today is going to be very special.
We pull up to the koi farm and are instantly greeted by the breeder, he is beaming with joy, excited to see us finally back selecting his koi, and we simply cannot wait to get going.
One of the many koi tanks made specially for us.
Madankoi farm isn’t just any koi farm, it’s a treasure trove for Koi enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Walking through rows and rows of sparkling clear water filled with a dazzling array of varieties and colourful koi. From the deep red Sanke koi to the vibrant yellow Ogon koi, each fish tells a story through its unique markings.
The first koi tank we step into is a tank filled to the brim with high quality koi. Its difficult to know where to start. When we pick we like to select in varieties to make sure we cover all the variations of koi.
At first glance, Koi picking may sound simple- just pick the prettiest one right? This is one of the many attributes we look for but other attributes like the fish health is always more important. We carefully study the tank of koi and look for any signs of stress or damage, and we look for lively swimmers with smooth scales and clear eyes.
Each koi goes through a rigorous check before we purchase. One fascinating aspect we have learnt over the years is how pattern balance plays a huge role in the selecting. Some of the best koi have harmonious colour distribution that flows naturally across their body, creating strike but elegant patterns. Here we are spoilt for choice.
This season the koi farm has had clear success with Showa koi . Raising Showa koi is as much about nurturing as it is about genetics. Showa are a koi that requires time and space to develop. Water quality and nutrition are at the forefront of being successful with high quality Showa koi production.
These conditions promote healthy growth and vivid colour development, which is crucial because even the best genetics require the right surroundings. Zohar, the koi breeder at Madankoi, has spent vast amounts of time monitoring the young koi through every growth phase. He’s been busy sorting and selecting those koi with the most potential. This hands on approach is crucial and his time and effort has contributed to some seriously show stopping Showa koi. They seemed to have mastered it this year!
Another strong variety produced here at Madankoi is the Stunning Kikusui koi. Over the past few seasons these fish have continued to improve. Their striking metallic orange pattern on their clean crisp white skin makes these fish an easy choice to add to your collection. This year is no change, the Kikusui koi are very strong this year and here are some stunning examples.
Before we strip off the waders and attempt to dry off, we have one more tank of koi left to go. This koi tank is situated outside of the packing house and is impressively large. It houses all of the farms Yonsai koi (4 years and older). There are some real chunks in here the fish are huge.
This was the perfect way to end our trip and we leave you with just a few photos of the beautiful Yonsai Koi we purchased. Tomorrow we head to Hazorea Aquatics to select some Tosai koi.
