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FAQs on Koi Livestock Selection
Related Articles: Koi Selection, Acclimation,
Koi Varieties, Goldfish,
Goldfish Varieties, Dojo/Weatherfish Use In Ponds,
Turtles and Other Pond Animals, Pond
Snails 1, Pond Snails 2, Plants:
Landscape Plants, Water lilies,
Plant Care, Koi/Pond Fish Disease, Pond
Maintenance, Example Ponds/Water Features,
Related FAQs:
A dark (brown or all black) Koi (nagoi), considered good luck |
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Re: pond in Duchess County, NY... koi source
9/9/07
Hi, Bob,
thanks for posting my pond issues and for your comments to me. you are a
sweetheart. I have written to Diane who must live about ten miles from me and
hope to hear from her.
<Neat!>
as i mentioned, i have purchased Area Inc.'s system, should have it up and
running in 10 days, and I will report back.
<Appreciate this... as stated, I have used many of their, and other co.s similar
products over the years doing lake management... IF your problem's roots are
fixable by increasing DO, mixing water... this may make a big improvement. If
this issue is a matter of suspended particulates... other means can be applied>
if you have never been to kodamakoifarm.com, i can recommend it as a source of
divine koi to be purchased at auction online. i visited their "plant" in Hawaii
two weeks ago and was impressed by kodama's operation.
<Thank you for this. Doomo. I grew up in Japan... and have a great affinity for
Nishikigoi...>
if you love koi and have an addictive personality :) be careful when you go out
to the auction site, i speak from experience. the koi i have received so far
were more beautiful and healthier than i had any reason to expect, i purchased
these quality koi at excellent prices. if you're skeptical, i sure understand:
http://www.kodamakoifarm.com
see for yourself!
thanks again, bob.
i really appreciate your time and expertise.
I'll let you know how the aeration system works out.
all best wishes,
max Paetro
<Doh tashi mashiite. Bob Fenner>
Kohaku... judging standards
of Nishikigoi – 08/02/07
Hi Robert,
I have a Japanese Kohaku with great markings, no red on any fins, skin very
white, but has no red on head. Is this a bad thing? Thanks.
Glenn Lambert
<Mmm, well... according to some old/er Japanese judging standards, yes... In
some shows, there is a desire (more points) for some red on the head (but not
the eyes) but if this fish pleases you... who really cares?
<Some further input here: http://www.simikoi.com/article5.html
Bob Fenner>
White?
Luminescent? Spots on new Comet Goldfish (koi?) – 06/17/07
Hi! We just had a new 900 gal pond built. Soon after we added 3
25-cent Comets from a local chain pet store and added 3 more about a
week later. The water was so cloudy at first (from planting; our dirt
has little organic matter but lots of fine silt, which stayed suspended
for a few days till we figured it out - a dose of clarifier
<Not advised>
and it's clear), that we didn't see them very clearly for a few days,
and they were hiding in the rock crevices more until we got enough plant
cover (yay water hyacinths!) for them.
Anyway, we ended up with 5 fish and never did see what happened to the
6th. Our pH is about 7.5, the nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia are low.
The fish have all doubled in size in two weeks or so, and one has more
than tripled. All are active, eating well, etc.
<Ah, good>
We just added 2 more.
<You really should isolate/quarantine all new incoming livestock for a
couple of weeks... you'll soon learn why if not>
My son swears that he saw whiskers on them, and they're too small (about
an inch) for me to tell if there were small koi accidentally mixed in
with the Comets. Anyway, the yellow one looked fine (I know nothing
about fish, so this isn't saying much), and had sort of a set of jeweled
spots on his head evenly spaced behind the eyes that looked pretty cool.
The other one immediately went and hid, but the yellow one immediately
joined the group of existing 5 fish and seems to be feeding and swimming
actively. Today is one day later, he/she already seems to be getting a
little bigger, but the "jeweled" spots seem to be a bit bigger and I'm
now thinking they may be white spots, and looking up white spots on
goldfish realize they could be tons of things, from growth spots to some
nasty parasites.
<Yes>
He/she does not seem to be itchy or feeling poorly. In fact, it was
impossible to get a good still picture, but I'm sending the best I have
to ask what you think. I certainly don't want to introduce any disease
to the other fish or into the pond. We do have a small aquarium we had
for raising tadpoles when my son was young, but I hate to stress the
yellow one by catching it and putting it in such a small space if it's
not sick at all but has growth spots. So here are the best pictures I
could get. Could you tell me what you think?
<Oh! Is a little Ohgon, "sun-colored" koi (Nishikigoi), and these spots
are "just" coloring... It is a different species, so may take time to
never associate with the "lowly" goldfish (Heeee!). Bob Fenner>
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Re: White? Luminescent? Spots on new Comet
Goldfish (koi?) – 6/17/07
Thank you, Bob! And thanks for responding so fast.
<Welcome!>
So my son's eagle eye did see very tiny "whiskers" (I don't know the right
term),
<"Barbels"... just in case you're ever on Jeopardy or such>
and I just bought a pretty little koi from the Comet tank for 25 cents! And the
koi's first instinct was to go hang out with the Comets and is following along
with them much of the time. So much for high-class snobbery! I've read lots
about koi and goldfish being fine together, especially when, like mine, the koi
is the smaller one introduced later rather than bigger and the first in.
Yes, I read about quarantining, but I figured since they all came from the same
tank at the same store within a couple of weeks of each other (and no new fish
in the tank at the store), I'd be OK.
<Mmm, careful here>
I'll take it much more seriously now that I have an established group of fish.
<Ah, good>
BTW you might notice in the very large Comet in the pictures. He/she started out
silver with a little brown on top and now he's all brown (with maybe a hint of
orange)
<Yes, I saw this>
except for his underbelly, and we call him Stealth because he's so hard to see
against the brown rocks and in the hyacinth roots. The other fish we introduced
with the koi was an almost totally silver Comet. I saw him last night
(essentially a day later) and he's gone an even darker brown, again with a light
underbelly -- an almost immediate camouflage adjustment! Even though I know
goldfish change color through their lives, I suspect that these two may always
be our "stealth" fish.
Thanks for your quick help!
<And you for sharing. Cheers, Bob Fenner> |
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Koi importation restrictions 9/2/06
Bob,
Have you heard about this yet?
People,
This just in from the USDA -APHIS WEBSITE.
<Mmm, just rumors of this pending... Thank you for sending this along. Bob
Fenner>
USDA TO PLACE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON LIVE FISH, FERTILIZED EGGS AND GAMETES
SUSCEPTIBLE TO SPRING VIREMIA OF CARP
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2006--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service is proposing to establish regulations restricting the
importation of live fish, fertilized eggs and gametes of fish from certain
species that are susceptible to spring Viremia of carp (SVC).
The following species are considered susceptible to SVC: common carp (including
koi), grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, Crucian carp, goldfish, tench and
sheatfish.
SVC is an extremely contagious viral disease of carp. Outbreaks of SVC confirmed
in the United States in 2002 and 2004, and since eradicated, have been linked to
unregulated importation of SVC-infected fish. This action is necessary to
prevent further introductions of the virus into the United States.
This action is scheduled for publication in the Aug. 30 Federal Register and
becomes effective Sept. 29.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Oct. 30. Send an
original and three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to
Docket No. APHIS 2006-0107, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,
Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. If you
wish to submit a comment using the Internet, go to the Federal eRulemaking
portal at http://www.regulations.gov
and, in the “Search Regulations and Federal Actions” box, select “Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu; then click on
“Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0107 to submit or view
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available
electronically.
Mitch Gibbs
Friendliest koi
What is considered the friendliest variety of koi? I
bought a brown koi that led my other koi to become
hand-fed. Is one variety of koi thought of as being
more easily trainable than other varieties or are all
varieties of koi generally quite trainable?
Thank you for your help.
<All koi/nishikigoi are the same species (Cyprinus carpio), but the solid
metallic varieties (Hikarimuji) often called "Ohgons" or Ogon (mainly
all gold or silver, but sometimes all red or orangish) are definitely the most
outgoing, seem to imprint on humans more strongly. Though not that popular in
Japan, many folks have at least one of this variety in their ponds in the west.
Bob Fenner>
Japan I am (looking for nishikigoi, self understanding)
Hello, I am an exchange student from Los Angeles in the study of Landscape
Architecture. I am currently at the Kyushu Institute of Design in Fukuoka.
<I have visited there>
I am very interested in seeing koi farms and shows. Can you make some
recommendations for me as how I can see the real Koi.
<Definitely... I would contact (or have Japanese speakers help) the ZNA (Zen
Nippon Airankai, Japanese Koi Association...) in Japan re their show schedule,
and for sure travel to Chiba, Niigata to see some farms, visit with breeders,
attend auctions... while you're in Japan>
I will be here for 10
more months. It is quite expensive for me to go to far from Kyushu to see
koi.
<Taksan okani... much money, for sure, Honto des>
So I was hoping to see some near Kyushu?
<Yes, there are breeders, shows on the southernmost of the country's
principal islands>
I can make one special trip
next year if you could recommend the best show to got to? Thank you for your
time.
<Again, do have your friends contact the ZNA, look through their directories,
make introductions for and travel with you. Bob Fenner>
Matt-Dell
RE: Employment opportunity for an experienced koi breeder
Thanks Bob,
I do appreciate any help you can offer.
Norman
<You're welcome... do have many industry contacts, an old but large experience in the field overall... And perhaps very importantly... have "seen" the future (after writing that "ponds are going to be big in the U.S." for eighteen years in the trade press...) and there will definitely be a market for good quality koi. The water quality (I know the temperature will be fine, but the hardness, pH...) you have will hopefully retain/enhance Hi and Sumi markings? You will hopefully avoid the pyxocephalic (square head) problems of so-many domestic breeders... Have you been to visit places in the industry in Japan?
Much to discuss. Bob Fenner>
RE: Employment opportunity for an experienced koi breeder
Bob,
I have been to Japan and to the U.K, and also some farms here in the U.S.
<Ah, excellent>
If
you can refer someone, I will pay a referral fee if we hire the individual.
<Appreciate the offer. Will look about. Will only refer people I know to be proficient, honest, truly desirous of doing the job. Bob Fenner>
Thanks
Employment opportunity for an experienced koi breeder (posted 9/19/01)
Bob,
I am seeking an experienced koi breeder/Manager for a Koi Farm located in
Jamaica, WI.
Please respond if you're interested or if you may be able to recommend
someone or avenues for advertisements.
<Thank you for your offer. Am too busy to take on "a real job" unfortunately. But will post your request/offer of work on our site (WetWebMedia), circulate it around, and gladly help you (gratis) distantly with input, content if I may be of service in your nishikigoi endeavors. Bob Fenner>
Thanks
Norman Thompson
(Koi) Restocking Question
Presently in our pond, I have 9 adults, ranging from 12-16" in length. After
last weekend's visit to the Menifee Koi Auction, we are going to make the
jump and invest in some quality koi.
<Ah, there comes a time>
Of the 9 I have now, I would like to
give away 5 of these adults to a local ponder. These can be seen at
http://pages.prodigy.net/rwfarris/_uimages/pages.prodigy.net/rwfarris/.wi_ko
i.jpg.
<Hmm, "page not found">
They are the top four on the left, not the Platinum Ogon or the
Tancho Sanke. There is also a black butterfly female. Do you know anyone who
might be interested or recommend a method of finding someone.
<Would try the local Koi Club, classified ads if selling>
These are
breeders and have been spawning for two years now.
Rick Farris
See our pond at:
http://www.koireef.cjb.net
<Be chatting my friend. Bob Fenner>
RE: Restocking Question
Oh yes. The Platinum Ogon and the Tancho Sanke are staying, along with two
Kohaku.
<Ah so deska. Wakarimas. Thank you. Bob Fenner>
Rick Farris
See our pond at:
http://www.koireef.cjb.net
All is well (Got nishikigoi? Koi)
Both the aquarium and pond are doing well, but I wanted to tell you about a
new business up in Menifee. The old Sunset Koi is now Koi Auction Online. I
had the winning bid last week and went there to pick them up rather than
having them delivered. The quality of the koi Naro has is no less than
incredible. Should you ever find yourself in the area, I highly recommend a
stop by there.
<Interesting concept, and great to hear about good quality>
They also have a web site, hence their name, at
www.koiauction.com. Take a look at the brightness of the colors and the
patterns. AWESOME!!!
<Will post on new FAQs, move to archives later, place link. Thanks for this, Bob Fenner>
Rick Farris
See our pond at:
http://www.koireef.cjb.net
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