[Ronin-Koi]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow You need to get some additional lighting to protect the beni.... I like the uniformity of beni on the kohaku, the bigger it gets the better that heavy pattern will ride. I think the showa has the best potential. Over the dorsal in the white area quite a bit of black is destined to come thru. Always be especially patient with showa and their develoipment. With the sanke, It's actually nice to see a koi with smaller amounts of black like the old kichinai bloodline. Today's sanke have been influenced by matsunosuke with lots of heavy black. Funny how the styles change...kinda like men's ties...good luck with your choices

Don and Dick,
The day I posted the photos, I decided to finally get off my butt and upgrade the lighting over the indoor pond. I installed a 48 inch dual tube strip light and am using one "Sun light" 5000K tube and one "Sun light deluxe" 6500K tube. I also added a blue/purple bulb for the overhead light socket. Besides the health value and maintaining the colors, I think the lights make viewing much nicer as well.

Thanks also for the feedback on the three individual koi. Regarding the sanke, it is interesting that you mentioned matsunosuke... that sanke has an interesting "glistening" to the skin -- it isn't gin rin, but it has a sparkle to the shiroji that is different from the other two. I have read about matsunosuke skin, but my newbie eyes have not seen enough koi to be able to recognize it. I will have to ask Brady if there is Matsunosuke blood in that sanke.

- Wayne, will aim to do periodic updates.