[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by Alfie102 Hi All, I am new to all this. However, I have a chance in a competition to choose an Omosako Shiro Utsuri and wonder if any of you could give me some guidance. the fish are available to look at online at koicarp.org.uk and under the section koi stocks in the "show & grow" competition. I have looked at lots of different posts and internet sites about picking Shiro Utsuri so if any of you can take a look at the web page I've mentioned there's 49 youngstock on there to look at so I hope I can nab a nice one to grow on. What do you experts think? Any guidance would be appreciated as I am very new to all this. Thanks.

Experts Hey guys, he called US EXPERTS!!!

Just Messin' with ya Alphie
If anything we've learned humility. Omosako has some development photo's on his website if you care to take a look;

‹ÑŒï‚Ì–Ê”——{Œï�ê

Just one of several, but it gives a hint at how difficult it can be for we mere hobbyists to see them as the breeders do. I look for soft translucent skin with Sumi clearly evident, but evident can be on the surface or submerged, especially at tosai or nissai stage.
Shiro's are a truly challenging fish to select at a young age, so prepare yourself to be surprised as you look around this forum at the various contestants from the beginning up to this point. As you search through them bear in mind that at the end of our competition most of them will look very different than they do today, and 4 or 5 years from now they will surprise us again