Our Premium Grade Koi& Butterfly Koi are one grade higher in quality than our Select Grade.  They are domestically bred and raised right here in the USA, but represent pure varieties that equal or surpass  the average fish sold in the USA when comparing overall quality. This grade of fish are for those of you that recognize this quality, as well as the various breeds and classifications of Koi. They will have better than average colors and patterns that even an untrained eye would appreciate! For those of you wanting purer varieties, better quality, and you know how to keep Koi and maintain proper water quality, this is the lowest grade of better quality fish (if that makes sense to you) So basically put, these Premium Grades  are the best overall value for those that are at the beginning stages of advancing in the hobby, and beginning to understand traits for what makes quality in Koi & Butterfly Koi. There can also be some pretty high quality fish in this grade as well. These are probably the best overall value to look at if you know how to pick the diamonds in the rough so to speak. Understand that our next grade higher are called Johns Pick Tategoi. To sort these at the farm, we pick the best out of the Premium Grade tanks, and then bump them up to the Johns Pick Grade. So at any given time there are Johns Picks Grade fish in the Premium tanks because we only have so much room in the Johns Pick tanks at any given time. Once the Johns Picks get depleted some, we go to the Premium grade tank and again select the best in there to move to the Johns Pick tank. So long story short, look hard in these thousands of fish and you will find some of great quality! In my opinion these are the BEST overall fish when talking quality for the lowest price.