[Bob Winkler]

Hi Dimas and welcome to Bito ..... Here is an outline of what has worked fairly well for us preparing our koi for a koi show and the process afterwards for safety and health...Hope it will help your koi.

Before the Show

1) Deciding to take your koi is a personal choice
A) True quality evaluation by competition and judge’s insight
B) Getting involved in a show opens up a new “world”
C) A teaching opportunity for potential koi keepers.
D) Pride in your “babies”.
E) Why not show?
Transporting difficulties and risks to koi

2) Preparing Koi takes effort and planning
A) The payoff is healthy koi
B) Have to have consistently excellent water quality
C) Can be a lot of fun
D) Possible show winner with less money spent
E) Takes several months to do it right

3) Walk around the Show tanks and see what captures your “eye”.
What is this person doing different?

3) Select a “potential” group of candidates
A) It’s hard to know exactly which koi will improve the most under this plan
B) Can plan for a few shows if not too close together
C) Which classes to leave home and which to take (always have the tiebreakers)

4) 4 months before the Show
A) Feed 6-10 x/day Hikari Excel, Hi Growth (Wheat Germ), Paste food recipe borrowed from JR- (Izeki Paste Food, one catfish fillet, collared greens, Uncooked, unshelled shrimp, frozen green peas, one red bell pepper, whole wheat germ, baby vitamins, orange juice, and non flavored gelatin mixed in a food processor and poured out onto cookie sheet. Refrigerate this for one day, then cut into squares and into Tupperware)
B) Treats of Prawns, watermelon, grapefruit.
C) Pond Temp 75-80F
D) Refresh Brand montmorillionite clay at a rate of one cup/week/10,000 gallons
E) Water change 10-15%/week

5) 2 ½ months before the Show
A) Eliminate Excel/Spirulina and Paste food over next two weeks
B) Feed Hi-Silk and Hi-Growth (wheat germ) 50/50% 6-10x/day
C) Pond Temp 75-80F
D) Refresh powder 1 ½ cups/week/10,000 gallons
E) Water Change 20-25%/week


6) 1 month before Show
A) Feed only Hi-Silk, but less times per day
B) Pond Temp 70-75F
C) Refresh Powder 1 ½ cups/week/10,000 gallons
D) Water Change 20-25% per week
E) Find out water parameters at show if possible

7) 2 weeks before the Show
A) Reduce Hi-Silk to once/day
B) Pond Temp 70F or Ambient
C) Water Change 10%/day
D) Bowl and photograph all koi (helps verify how many tanks needed, and if extra help will be necessary)
E) Refresh 1 ½ cups/week/10,000 gallons

8) 1 week before the Show
A) Stop all food
B) Water quality at show levels
C) Water Change 10% every other day
D) Refresh 1 cup/10,000 gallons every other day

9) Show Day
A) Final decision on which koi make the trip at final viewing
B) Double or triple bag and box with O2, Elbagin, pond water
C) Bring extra supplies of each of the above to the show
D) Load boxes sideways in transport vehicle
E) Relax, you are almost there

After the Show

1) Quarantine show koi just like any new arrival
2) Quarantine pond water at show temp, with 0.3% salt, and Elbagin (1g per 236 gallons), Mature filter and possible “canary” koi
3) Low to no light, with majority of “well secured” surface covered with strips of Styrofoam.
4) 1st week
A) No food for 1 week
B) 1st microscope exam at 3 days for parasites, and treat for any found.
C) Temp adjusted up to 72-75F
D) Lights on, and half of Styrofoam removed at end of week

5) Weekly Refresh powder added at 1 cup/10,000 gallons and microscope exams for next 3 months and treat as needed for any parasites
6) Minimum Quarantine time is 3 months.