Page 63 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 69
P. 63
4 The first rule when buying a new Koi is buy one 6 Take a close look at the fish. If you are aiming for
that you like! If you are on a trip with a friend then high quality or Show quality Koi then consider the
their tastes may be different to yours, remember, you body shape, skin quality, colour and pattern. The
are the one that has to live with this fish swimming body shape should be classic fusiform fish shape –
around in your pond – don’t be persuaded by well wider at the shoulders and gently tapering towards
meaning friends or helpful staff to buy something the head and tail. Female Koi naturally develop eggs
that you won’t be happy with. from around the age of three and this can lead to
them developing a bit of a tummy – natural but not
desirable for Showing. Over the age of two male koi
can be a little on the skinny side in comparison to
5 Don’t make any decisions until you have seen the
females and whilst in the smaller sizes at Shows this
fish up close in a viewing bowl. This will give you a
isn’t necessarily an issue, it could count against it as
chance to take a good look at it and you will have the
it grows. Look at the tail tube and try not to choose
opportunity to look for any signs of damage or
one that is disproportionally narrow in relation to the
defects. Koi are notorious for genetic deformities and
rest of the body.
sometimes these can be quite hard to spot – even for
the breeder or dealer! On Showa and Shiro Utsuri
The Sumi on this young two-
defects around the head and face are pretty year-old (Nisai) Shiro Utsuri
common. As long as you are aware of it and it is mostly finished and the 7 Skin quality is difficult to explain but it should
doesn’t cause the fish any problems, then a small final pattern is easy to see – have a bright healthy glow to it and on larger fish,
the contrast between the
defect doesn’t necessarily have to be a problem, visible Fukurin (skin between the scales) is good to
black and the white skin
unless of course you are planning on Showing your (Sumi and Shiroji) is stunning. see. The colours should be bright and not washed
Koi. Check that the Koi has all its fins and both eyes out with well defined edges to the scales. If you are
– it seems obvious but it has been known for some choosing a fish to take to a Show you might be
By putting the Koi into a
bowl or floating basket, very expensive fish to make it to the Show vat before better to choose a more finished fish where all the
you can see its true a missing eye or anal fin has been spotted! A good colours are fully developed, particularly the Sumi
quality and size.
tip is to ask the dealer to put the fish in a plastic bag (black). If you are choosing a Koi because you want
and hold the bag up so that you can see all the way to watch it develop over time, then it’s OK to choose
around the fish. one where the Sumi is yet to finish. For Showing, the
pattern should be balanced and lead the eye down
the fish from nose to tail. A Showa should ideally
have all three colours on the face but a Sanke should
not have black on the head. There is always the odd
exception to these rules that do well at Shows
though and you might well find that the Koi that
really appeals to you breaks all the rules and looks
beautiful anyway!
Placing the Koi in a bag
and holding it up will give
you the opportunity to see
all the way around it in This Sumi on this Nisai Shiro
close up and will enable Utsuri has yet to develop
you to easily spot defects fully but when it does, it will
and damage. be an exceptional Koi.
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