What are the difference between Taiwan Koi and Japanese Koi?

Answer 1

The difference in Japanese Koi is that they have been preselected by the breeder but over here, I don't know anyone who is skilled enough to do culling at the very early stages. So the kois here are genrally mixed up. The nice ones and the bad ones are all mixed together.

Therefore, you will need a good eye to catch a real gem. It is not easy to find one but it will really train you to have a very sharp eye for this.

Answer 2

Nothing - just the place where the fish originated. Breed, DNA, colors, types, etc., etc., are identical no matter if the koi is from Japan, Taiwan, the USA, Israel, or whatever. A koi is a koi is a koi. However, because of the long history of breeding koi that Japan has, Japanese koi are considered "premium."

Although, PeeTee is also correct when he says that there is "several thousand dollars" difference between Japanese and Taiwanese koi, as even if you have the exact same fish, same size, age, markings, etc., it would cost/be worth more if it was from Japan just because of the reputation, than if it was from Taiwan.

Having said that, I'm sure that inexperienced breeders breed their fair share of "mud" koi whether they are breeding them in Japan or anywhere else - it's just that there are so many well-established koi farms in Japan, and they have been breeding them for so long, that there is an abundance of good fish there - so why would anyone buy a mud koi, instead? Whereas in other areas, there aren't as many good fish, so there is a bigger market for the lower-quality fish.

I don't show my fish - I raise them purely for the enjoyment of it and the occasional sale and/or trade in the pet/pond business, so it makes no difference to me where my fish come from, as long as I like them and find them pretty. People who raise their fish to show, though, are probably a lot more fussy - similar to the way people who show dogs are more fussy about their parentage than those who just like dogs for pets.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Answer 3

For the most part, they are the same. Taiwan's close proximity to Japan and it's shared cultural heritage during Taiwan's colonial days, make Taiwan an ideal place for breeding Koi.

The relative high number of Koifarms, currently over 40, and a active local koi market demanding high quality, geared the local farms to produce in all quality segments, from A to SHOW.

Some farms specializing in one variety of koi, while others breed on a larger scale. Apart from the traditional Kohaku, Tancho, Showa varieties, Taiwanese breeders produce excellent "new" varieties like Kumonriyu, Benikumonriyu, Kujaku, to name a few.
Some farms in Taiwan exclusively use Japanese Koi for breeding, producing Koi of supreme quality, competing directly with Japan's high profile companies like Ogata, Sakai, Momotaro and Konishi. These farms typically compete on an international scale in exhibitions and provide the lead in quality.

Answer 4

Me dunno also. But I think the diff is Good Jap's Koi comes with Cert, never heard of Taiwan Koi with Cert loh..

Answer 5

Several thousand dollars.