Page 40 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 92
P. 40
THE PLACE OF What could make a difference in this whole story is
phenotype. It is generally known that different water
ORIGIN OF YOUR can have an effect on Koi. I am assuming that all
breeders worldwide are capable of keeping the same
quality of water. I will not debate about influences of
KOI, DO YOU CARE? water pollution (filth in this article). There can be a
difference though in water values like carbonate
PART 2 hardness (KH), general hardness (GH), minerals that are
more or less or not at all present in the water. Also
Koen Gevers explains, in detail, the DNA factors, like difference in UV/light intensity, temperature,
influences of a Koi and if this should make which all together could cause the development of
us consider buying more Koi bred outside genetically the same Koi to look very different
of Japan in the future. phenotypically later on. And this could both lead to be
positive and negative. In addition, due to these factors
the young Koi could remain black longer, for instance,
WHETHER Genetically there is no difference between your Koi and before the white comes up, causing the selection to
those in Japan. The art of selecting does come in the perform differently! This could in turn result in ultimately
ONE CAN BUY picture though. Where in Japan this knowledge is lesser or even better Koi for that particular water.
passed on during generations you must learn this
THE BEST yourself. And this cannot be underestimated! The WHEN KOI When Koi are put in different water the colours could
change or even be lost and it could be desirable to then
PARENT KOI chance that you keep the wrong one is phenomenally ARE PUT IN buy Koi that are bred and grown in the same quality
much larger than doing it right with zero previous water to minimise that risk. Give me EuroKoi! No, I
FROM JAPAN knowledge. However, there is a great deal of DIFFERENT should not go too far with that because changing to a
knowledge readily available and if the right, non-
IS ANOTHER Japanese breeder has the right eye, he could just be WATER THE different food one can also ruin the phenotype of a Koi,
or improve it. To improve it is a trick that I do not know
MATTER the Messi of his profession. I believe there could be, COLOURS myself, very few do, but I am 100% sure that it can be
and if they possess the same hardworking attitude as done and that there are those who claim they can do it.
their Japanese colleagues there is no reason here to COULD I can go along with their story on that. Phenotype it is
ever talk about EuroKoi anymore.
CHANGE then. And due to this, breeders from all over the world
Whether one can buy the best parent Koi from Japan is could theoretically breed just as good a Koi as their
another matter, but any breeder can come up with a Japanese colleagues. Which brings me to the next
trick to crossbreed the right good bloodlines which argument, power of the numbers.
could result in the very best offspring! Perhaps this is
This is a well-known term that amongst others
one bridge too far for all varieties, to buy these best
describes that, when you breed more Koi, there is a
parent stock and participate on the highest level, but
higher possibility that a really good one is amongst
there are at least just as many, or more Japanese
them. Compare two theoretical breeders with equal
breeders that also do not have these and have
parent Koi. The chances for a breeder that starts with
comparable parent stock and my opinion is that they
four parent pairs and thus gets about 4 million fry to get
can be put in any pond all over the world. And thus
a really good one is a lot bigger than a breeder that
also here, expect for the absolute world best, and
starts with one parent pair. This in turn is largely
compared to the average Japanese breeder, depending
dependant on the availability of mud ponds and indoor
on your budget, even top breeders, there is no reason
ponds. These chances are further increased by
to talk about EuroKoi again.
knowing which parent couple should be combined.
When using two parents with beautiful and dominant
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