This article will summarize what Andrew had to say about these different categories. A video of Andrew’s speech is available on both the Nishiki Koi Club’s web-site and on Andrews Koi International web-site. The video was taken by our own club member and web-master, Caesar.
Selecting koi for showing
The three main criteria for selecting a show fish are:
1. Good body shape
2. Very good pattern
3. Color quality
Koi judges look for koi with proper body confirmation, very high quality color and patterns . When selecting koi look for quality colors that are even and look for white that is shinny. Of course, make sure the body confirmation and patterns are the best you can find.
Growing large koi
If your desire is to pick a fish to grow large then the key is to pick a fish with a strong bone structure. Characteristics to look for are
1) a longface
2) big mouth
3) big head
4) tall body and
5) strong tail joint.
The strong tail joint allows the fish to swim quickly for the food and to exercise more; making it hungry.
Selecting fish for a private pond
If you just desire to stock your pond for your enjoyment Andrew recommends
1) mixing colors
2) select a lot of reds
3) have a least one blue fish (e.g. an Asagi)
4) having at least one Chagoi
5) add white and gold to taste and 6) all others to be Gosankes.
A lot of red will help your pond look happy and the Chagoi will be the biggest and friendliest.
Pond equipment for growing koi
Andrew mentioned that a key component to growing fish is the “hardware” you use, i.e. your pond and equipment. He recommends 10% water changes daily, feed the fish 8-10 times a day,
maintain a high oxygen level, and have currents in the pond.
For water changes Andrew strongly urges that the water added is via a drip system because introducing 10% new water daily will stress the fish.
It is not practical for most people to be able to feed their fish 8-10 times per day and to keep the
feedings consistent. Andrew recommends an automatic feeding system so that the fish are feed
consistently. This he believes will help maximize growth. Of course, the more frequent feeding should be when the water temp is greater than 70℉.
Koi that exercise eat more and that is why Andrew recommends having currents in the water. He
points out that currents should be active during summer months (water > 70℉) only.
And we should never forget the filter! When choosing a filter Andrew recommends getting at least twice the size you think you need. One can never have enough filtering nor can it be too big. Andrew pointed out that filters should be rated by how many fish they can support or how much food can be feed to the fish. Andrew doesn’t feel that the gallon rating on filters is appropriate since equal size ponds require different filters based on the number of fish and amount of food feed to the fish.
Koi nutrition
During the summer growing season (water temp > 70℉) it is recommended to supplement the feeding with vegetables and freeze dried krill or shrimp. Feed the fish with food that is greater than 42% protein.
The freeze dried krill and shrimp is a good treat for the fish as well as an additional supply of protein. Feeding the koi vegetables weekly helps provide needed nutrients.
One interesting recommendation that Andrew made was to also supplement your feeding with vitamin C. He recommends cutting a citrus (lime, lemon, or orange, for example) into some slices and throwing that into the pond. The fish will munch at the pulp and this action will not only provide vitamin C, but also give the fish something to do.
Koi transportation
When transporting koi, for example to a koi show, stop feeding the koi two days before the
transportation. Fill a plastic bag with water up to the koi’s shoulder and fill with oxygen. Tie the bag with a rubber band. There is a technique to tying the rubber band so that it doesn’t snap and fly off when removing it.
When returning fish home let the bag set for at least 30 minutes before letting the koi out. Andrew also recommends treating the koi with treatments such as salt as a preventive measure from transporting unwanted parasites or other biological nuisances.
by Andrew & Blanca Corlett
Selecting koi for showing
The three main criteria for selecting a show fish are:
1. Good body shape
2. Very good pattern
3. Color quality
Koi judges look for koi with proper body confirmation, very high quality color and patterns . When selecting koi look for quality colors that are even and look for white that is shinny. Of course, make sure the body confirmation and patterns are the best you can find.
Growing large koi
If your desire is to pick a fish to grow large then the key is to pick a fish with a strong bone structure. Characteristics to look for are
1) a longface
2) big mouth
3) big head
4) tall body and
5) strong tail joint.
The strong tail joint allows the fish to swim quickly for the food and to exercise more; making it hungry.
Selecting fish for a private pond
If you just desire to stock your pond for your enjoyment Andrew recommends
1) mixing colors
2) select a lot of reds
3) have a least one blue fish (e.g. an Asagi)
4) having at least one Chagoi
5) add white and gold to taste and 6) all others to be Gosankes.
A lot of red will help your pond look happy and the Chagoi will be the biggest and friendliest.
Pond equipment for growing koi
Andrew mentioned that a key component to growing fish is the “hardware” you use, i.e. your pond and equipment. He recommends 10% water changes daily, feed the fish 8-10 times a day,
maintain a high oxygen level, and have currents in the pond.
For water changes Andrew strongly urges that the water added is via a drip system because introducing 10% new water daily will stress the fish.
It is not practical for most people to be able to feed their fish 8-10 times per day and to keep the
feedings consistent. Andrew recommends an automatic feeding system so that the fish are feed
consistently. This he believes will help maximize growth. Of course, the more frequent feeding should be when the water temp is greater than 70℉.
Koi that exercise eat more and that is why Andrew recommends having currents in the water. He
points out that currents should be active during summer months (water > 70℉) only.
And we should never forget the filter! When choosing a filter Andrew recommends getting at least twice the size you think you need. One can never have enough filtering nor can it be too big. Andrew pointed out that filters should be rated by how many fish they can support or how much food can be feed to the fish. Andrew doesn’t feel that the gallon rating on filters is appropriate since equal size ponds require different filters based on the number of fish and amount of food feed to the fish.
Koi nutrition
During the summer growing season (water temp > 70℉) it is recommended to supplement the feeding with vegetables and freeze dried krill or shrimp. Feed the fish with food that is greater than 42% protein.
The freeze dried krill and shrimp is a good treat for the fish as well as an additional supply of protein. Feeding the koi vegetables weekly helps provide needed nutrients.
One interesting recommendation that Andrew made was to also supplement your feeding with vitamin C. He recommends cutting a citrus (lime, lemon, or orange, for example) into some slices and throwing that into the pond. The fish will munch at the pulp and this action will not only provide vitamin C, but also give the fish something to do.
Koi transportation
When transporting koi, for example to a koi show, stop feeding the koi two days before the
transportation. Fill a plastic bag with water up to the koi’s shoulder and fill with oxygen. Tie the bag with a rubber band. There is a technique to tying the rubber band so that it doesn’t snap and fly off when removing it.
When returning fish home let the bag set for at least 30 minutes before letting the koi out. Andrew also recommends treating the koi with treatments such as salt as a preventive measure from transporting unwanted parasites or other biological nuisances.
by Andrew & Blanca Corlett
