There are regular competitions to name the top koi. Judges and buyers pay attention to how healthy its skin looks, its size and body shape, and how gracefully the fish moves in the water.

The cost increases with greater size and elaborateness. Consider these items in your planning: Contact your local fish and game or natural resource office before you dig. Some states require a koi ...

Not a real one, of course, although the bright orange-and-white graffiti art has the fluidity of a real fish hovering in the water. The stenciled koi on our city streets range in size from a foot long ...