| Mike,
I agree with Dick. I think you'll find very few koi keepers who chronicle the demise of a favorite koi. Two years ago I purchased a 4 step kohaku with great shiro and deep thick beni. It was a 6 year old koi that I was able to buy from another hobbyist while visiting them in Ohio. I was proud of both the koi AND the purchase price. It was a situation where the other hobbyist wanted to reduce the number of fish in their pond. They had several kohaku & took my offer when I indicated an interest in this fish.
This year, just as the water temperatures were climbing in early summer, I noticed the 4th step on this kohaku changing from a deep red to an 'orangy' color. The next day it was more pronounced. The color was less red and thinner. Over the next 3 days, the 4th step disappeared and the same thing was happening to the third step. I watched in shock as the process was repeated up the fish from the back to the front until it was completely shiromuji. The entire process happened in about 10 days, maybe less. I couldn't believe what was happening.
Looking back now, I can't believe I didn't take pictures of the hi breaking up and disappearing. I guess we don't take pictures of things we don't like.
When I reduced my fish population later in the year, guess which was the first to give away? A local ponder was so excited to get a white koi!
Dale |