When does a pond keeper or water gardener become a koi keeper?

I recently wrote about a lady wanting to sell her young koi but alas could not find any buyers. This prompted me to think a bit more about koi keepers and pond keepers. It occurred to that it is possible to almost classify different stages or even different pond keepers .

• Class 1. The Peter Waddington's and Nigel Caddock's of this world ... people who are passionate about their exceptionally successful and large and beautiful ponds, and koi. Not only are such persons interested in learning the maximum amount about the koi they own personally but they actually study and develop theories and systems to assist in the development of the hobby as a whole. They go out of their way to help others by authoring books, manuals, articles and magazines. They may even have developed a commercial interest but not necessarily. Koi keepers like this are prepared and do spend large amounts of money on an ongoing basis on their prized koi collections. These keepers are interested in Tategoi .... young potentially major show winners

• Class 2. Somewhat down the scale are the the large show prize winners. Those people who have possibly bought prize quality fish for the simple reason they could afford them and wanted to enjoy the thrill of winning and competing in prestigious koi shows. Such people spend vast amounts on money on buying new koi frequently as well as building bigger and better ponds.

• Class 3. The avid koi keeper who sees keeping koi as an entertaining interesting and challenging hobby on which a fair amount of money can be spent. This koi keeper type would enter important koi shows, perhaps win some of the lesser prizes quite often and rightly pride him/herself on the efforts and rewards of the hobby. This person would almost certainly share ideas through club or association membership. They probably subscribe to koi specific magazines. The person would have a keen interest in water quality and all its aspects.

• Class 4. The koi keeper who keeps ONLY koi in the pond but has no desire (yet) to enter or win competitions. The person is motivated by wanting to see how the smaller koi grow in the pond environment. This person is probably someone who may turn out to be a class 3 member one day and then class 2 and then ...

• Class 5. People like me and probably most other pond keepers. They want a nice crystal clear pond with life in it ... goldfish, koi, rudd, golden orfe, plants, insects and other cold water pond fish ... it is not important that the fish must be koi. The type of fish in general is not too important .... the quality of life afforded by a beautiful pond in a nice garden is. These people are characterized by wanting to learn more on a ongoing basis in order to make their pond "work" even better. It is a bit like owning any other family pet and is a part time hobby.

Which class are you in?