Richard E. Carlson (REC) has been ardent koi keeper since 1986. While he enjoys all facets of the hobby, his specialty is koi health with a particular interest in the effects of cold weather on koi. He has published a number of educational papers on the koi health including “The Effects of Winter”, “Coming Out of Winter” and “Saprolegnia and Koi”, which are still used by many koi clubs and organizations today for training and reference.

For almost 10 years, Richard was an active participant on Dr. Johnson’s renowned KoiVet website where he served as KoiVet’s administrator. It was from the KoiVet forum that Richard helped shape much of what the koi community knows about good koi health today. He was also a charter staff member of the AKCA's Koi Health Advisor (KHA) program serving on the Curriculum and Anatomy committees. He was a sought-after speaker and koi health instructor at many koi events and may well best be known for his detailed anatomy classes and post-mortem sessions where he taught that even in death, these magnificent creatures have one more thing to teach everyone.

In 2009, Richard “retired” from the active koi community to focus on new interests, but he still works directly with many koi enthusiasts and clubs on koi health issues. He still has yet to meet a sick koi he does not like. He lives in Virginia with wife Maggie, five cats, and his prized koi “Otis” and his 21 friends.