| Everyone is dancing around it but not quantifying it so I'll take a stab--
The basic 'koi' is a conflicted animal! On one hand it is programmed genetically to grow and mature as fast as it can for individual survival ( predation and body mass to survive environmental change) and as a guarantee that at least that individual will be large enough to breed and insure the survival of the species.
On the other hand, that progress is restrained by their natural environmental cycle , which is a seasonal or temperate water model. So the koi has a series of hormones that start up some systems and shut down other systems in a natural rhythm.
This simply means that koi/carp, as very adaptable creatures, will maximize their growth potential when conditions are favorable for that move. But this can not remain open ended. This is because of the natural and rhythmic ebb and flow of growth hormones/ anti-growth hormones and sexual hormones. The presence of these hormones will ultimately determine koi longevity and depth of color.
As far as adaptability goes- koi are the masters of the fish world. Warm water strains and cold water strains of CARP have been produced. Koi will have a more limited range (99- 104 chromosomes vs 95-97 in typical carp species) but they will GENERATIONALLY adapt. So there is a different conversation about generational adaptation verses our conversation about INDIVIDUALS adapting to environmental change in a wholesale way. The classic example of this adaptive shock, by the way, would be when kohaku loose their beni almost overnight when asked to adjust abruptly. The effect on color cells, luster cells and dermis hydration/ protein storage is just as powerful only it occurs over several seasons ( or lack there of).
I would suggest that those in a tropical region find other hobbyists with older fish ( over 8 years of age) to appreciate this assessment. Compare five things with young three year olds just imported from Japan-
The bone structure differences
The body line
The color intensity
The white ground ( luster is what makes for bright creamier whites)
The overall thickness and uniformity of color in the beni plate.
JR |