| Hey, nice job on the bekko, then! It is one of those varieties that is quite beautiful in it's simplicity.
I remember when the Isreali first bred koi, they had good luck early on making bekkos but never could get a handle on kohaku ( beni complexity or bulk in the bodies). One of the most beautiful bekkos I ever saw was owned by a Japanese hobbyist. I'll see if I can get a picture of that one up. A beautiful animal that really silienced those that looked at bekko as a sanke cull only until that point!
The old style ochiba is conceptually like the Harawaki. That is, a Harawaki was made from a solid white platinum fish crossed with a solid yellow fish to create a 'half & half" platinum and yellow fish. You then cull to create an impression of pattern. Note: this is what makes kikusui ( which is a true patterned fish) very different from hawiwaki.
The newer versions of ochiba are very different in that a strong dorsal pattern is transferred onto a solid colored fish. Culling tightens up this impression as well but the basic dorsal pattern is a transfer. If you use or obtain a large kohaku pattern it tends to look more like a traditional type only two 'good things' happen, the pattern is more defined and of a redder color but also of a greater luster. The skin itself seems lighter and brighter and not as heavy a look.
As much as this has to be seen as progress, I do miss the look of ochiba as an ogon type body. It is definitely loosing this ogon atmosphere in the average production fish of this modern cross. - JR |