EP254: Raising a Tosai to Grand Champion

Today we feature Eric's interview with Jeffrey Duncan, a koi hobbyist, about his grand champion koi. The discussion centers around his journey, from purchasing the fish as a tosai (young koi) to raising it to grand champion status. They talk about the koi's bloodline, Jeffrey's pond setup, and husbandry techniques. He emphasizes the importance of patience, water quality, and selecting koi with growth potential. The interview also covers their experiences showing koi and competing against other dedicated hobbyists. Jeffrey also reflects on challenges, the value of learning from others, and the financial investment required for a show-quality pond and fish.   Key Takeaways:   When koi keeping, fresh water is essential for healthy growth. To successfully raise koi, build the best possible pond you can afford. Be patient when growing koi, as it takes time to achieve length and girth. Don't get a lot of fish for a 6,000 gallon pond. When starting out, learn the levels of koi keeping before investing too much.   Links to resources:    Contractor Sales Secrets: ContractorSalesSecrets.com   Water Garden Expo 2025: WGExpo.com   The All American Koi Show: AllAmericanKoiShow.com   Fitz Fish Ponds: Koi Trips   Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett   The Pond Digger: https://theponddigger.com/   LA Pet Fair: https://www.lapetfair.com/    Atlantic-Oase: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/   You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:   http://helixpondfiltration.com/    TWT Contractor Circle   TWT Contractor Power Circle   And follow his adventures in the pond world at: Instagram  Facebook  TikTok