Koi health & biosecurity

KHV-Free, APHIS-Inspected Japanese Koi

Every koi we import from Japan is federally inspected, quarantined, and screened for disease before it reaches your pond. Here is exactly how ChampKoi protects your fish and the collection you already own.

  • USDA APHIS-inspected
  • KHV & SVC screened
  • Biosecure quarantine
  • Live Arrival Guarantee

USDA APHIS Import Inspection

Every koi we bring in from Japan clears USDA APHIS import inspection and arrives with government export health certification. Japanese koi cannot legally enter the United States without being screened for reportable viral diseases, including Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) and Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC).

Biosecure Quarantine

When our koi arrive in San Jose, they are held in a dedicated biosecure quarantine system and watched closely by our team before anything is offered for sale. Nothing ships until it has settled, fed well, and shown clean, healthy behavior.

USDA-Lab KHV & SVC Testing

We submit samples to a USDA-certified fish health laboratory for KHV and SVC testing. It is the same standard of screening used by the most trusted koi producers in North America, applied to premium koi imported straight from Japan.

How every ChampKoi koi is protected

From the breeder's pond in Japan to yours, each fish passes through the same health-first path.

  1. Hand-selected in Japan

    Owner and certified koi-show judge Tom Lai selects each koi in person at renowned Japanese breeders, choosing for health, conformation, and future growth.

  2. Export health certification

    Before leaving Japan, every shipment is documented and certified for export, the first formal health check in the chain.

  3. USDA APHIS inspection on arrival

    Each import clears USDA APHIS inspection at entry into the United States, screening for KHV, SVC, and other reportable diseases.

  4. Biosecure quarantine in San Jose

    Koi are held and observed in a dedicated quarantine system, kept apart until we are confident they are eating, active, and healthy.

  5. Lab screening for KHV & SVC

    Samples go to a USDA-certified fish health lab so our virus screening is confirmed by an independent, accredited source.

  6. Overnight to your door

    Only cleared, healthy koi ship, sent overnight in oxygenated boxes and backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Why this protects the koi you already own

Koi Herpes Virus is one of the most destructive diseases a pond can face, and a single unscreened fish can put an entire collection at risk. Buying koi that have passed APHIS inspection, biosecure quarantine, and USDA-lab KHV and SVC testing is one of the most important things you can do to protect the fish already swimming in your pond.

Koi health questions, answered

Are ChampKoi koi KHV-free?

Yes. Every koi we import is screened for Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) and Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) as part of USDA APHIS import inspection, and we back that up by sending samples to a USDA-certified fish health laboratory for KHV and SVC testing. Any fish is also held in biosecure quarantine and observed before it ships.

What does USDA APHIS inspection mean?

APHIS is the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the federal agency that regulates live animal imports. Koi imported into the United States must clear APHIS inspection and carry export health certification, which includes screening for reportable viral diseases such as KHV and SVC. In short, our koi are inspected and cleared by the federal government before they ever reach our facility.

Do you quarantine your koi before selling them?

Yes. Every koi is held in a dedicated biosecure quarantine system at our San Jose facility, kept separate and observed until we are confident it is healthy, feeding well, and ready for its new home.

Should I still quarantine new koi at home?

We recommend it. Even with federal inspection, quarantine, and lab testing on our end, a two-to-four week quarantine in a separate tank is the gold standard for adding any new fish to an established pond. It lets your koi rest after shipping and gives you a final layer of protection for the collection you already own.

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Healthy, hand-selected Japanese koi, photographed and filmed in natural light and shipped overnight nationwide.

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