(recap of videos listed below) The regularly scheduled May club meeting was held at Andrews Koi International for Andrew Moo’s 10th Anniversary Grow-Out Contest. Many club members and non-members showed up for the contest and to purchase new fish for next years showing. After the awards where given Andrew Moo spent some time providing pointers for koi selection, nutrition, transportation and pond equipment. The categories that Andrew spoke about were:
Selecting koi for showing
Growing large koi
Selecting koi for private ponds
Pond equipment for growing koi
Koi nutrition
Koi transportation
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 Yanez.
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 long face
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 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 Corlett & Blanca Corlett (Nishiki Koi Club members and newsletter editors)
part 1
part 2
part 3
