[dtbh]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR Nice fish. And I'm sure she is agreat source of pride for you. You did an excellent job of keeping her youthful looking. Beyond that I'm not getting the comments that are being made by the group???? The body is good, the growth rate for a 14 year old fish is normal. Most females of a good lineage are 28- 32 inches at this age. In addition, this fish was 24 1/2 inches at 24 months. And has grown another 6 inches in 12 years?! This proves that forced growth technique in one and two year olds is an illusion as the fish simply slows and grows to normal adult size after age 4. Yet one pays up for the promise of a 96 cm monster. The beni is beginning to decline in this fish. The kiwa is retreating on the edges. The beni is good quality but thinning. At least this is how it appears in this photo. Finally, the pattern is of an inazuma type and is considered primitive by most breeders as a type. It is of least value due to lack of wrap over the body ( this is harder to get) and/or stepped pattern ( that is harder to get also). In show fish that have inazuma, the majority are males. But the females can get very far also IF the inazuma moves across the body ( from right to left and left to right) and balances the koi as opposed to just running down the backbone. Again, my apologies. My intent was not to upset you or take any pride away from your fish. You have done an excellent job in keeping this fish- really excellent. But the kudos were building to a real lesson in misteaching and I thought I should correct the record. Koi is a learning experience and it is important to stay on the right path. - JR

Thank you JR for highlighting my error in my purchase date. It should be 2005 instead of "95...my bad. This koi is only 4+yr old. No need to apologise JR. Each feedback is a learning experience. For that I am really thankful.

The photo does not do justice to her beni. I must agree it had thinned a bit considering the growth but it is still of very good quality. This is one of the many reasons why I advice hobbyists not to buy kois merely by looking at the photos.

I fully agree that the pattern of this koi is her weak point. I am a "body structure" enthusiast and that was the over-riding factor why I bought this koi. If the pattern is any better I would have to pay thro' my nose. As it is she already burnt a fairly big hole in my pocket.

Thanks again JR. Always nice to hear you views.

Quote: Originally Posted by Eugeneg I feed my kois 5-8x a day....used to do it 8-9x/day. I have a very big filter to cope (2.5x the size of my pond...an overkill). This kois eats very well which must be the reason why it has grown so well. The growth of your fish is quite normal and considering that it has been very well fed during its life span is not likely to go over 85cm . As compared to a Nigata climate has been force fed . Rose is great for breeding but after that it is an ugly looking fish . I think that fish at that age can not be fed too much and only for 6months . Then you should have a dormancy period for 3 monyhs and lightly fed for next 3 months so eggs are not produced in large number or the body will not keep its shape . I certainly would like to have a fish like that butfor breeding . Regards Eugene

I used to feed very aggressively given our hot climate the whole year round. I have since pulled back a bit with most days feeding 5x/day each time just enough for them to finish within a few minutes. Moreover I have started to stop feeding during weekends to give both my kois and filter a rest.