I have always feared I would not be successful with a pond and Koi. I am impressed ladies.

Laurie, try with inexpensive feeder fish (goldfish) in a half whiskey barrel or small preformed pond. Good way to ease in to fish at very little cost - last time I checked, feeders were 15 cents each and some are very colorful. If you have regular predators, spending money on koi makes little sense. But, if you find you can keep the same fish for a season or two, then I'd spring for more expensive varieties (even some of the fancier goldfish). If you know someone who has koi, they often will have babies that need to be thinned out.

After spending a ridiculous amount of money on koi (all of whom died) I just went to Walmart and paid $5 each for koi and even less for regular gold fish. That was three years ago. This was the third summer for the koi who was about 3" long when I bought him and is now at least 16" long and as big as a small salmon, well maybe trout. lol. The others have grown commensurately. I had to thin out the babies, and even some of the adults this fall. My pond is about 2900 gallons and will only support so many inches of fish. If they keep growing then somebody has to go. I also have two shebunkin.