| I'm a little late into this thread, but I too (un-beknown to me) purchased what was told to me was a 10-12" Hajiro (all black with some white on the pec fins). Within 3-4 months, the koi went from black with a little white to all white of the gin rin variety. I honestly thought it was sick, but when nothing happened, we just accepted that he was going to be all white, but not a realy white, an off white with ginrin.
Then a year or so later during spring, he started developing some black spots again, but not too much. It lasted a couple of months... turned back to white with just a touch of black near the tail fin.
I did some research and like you found a Gin Rin Hijaro (the 'i' and 'a' interchanged), so I inquired with the company, but no response. More research led me to GinRin Matsukawabake, and actually someone has said Kin GinRin, but now I think that is splitting hairs.
A couple of months back I started feeding some color enhancing food and he started developing some sumi on both sides of the face and a little on the forehead. He's now at least 3 years old and about 20-21". I'm curious to see what happens next, but I'm curious if he'll ever have sumi that will stay for an extended period of time.
My pond water is very soft, so I'm wondering if this keeps him on the white side.
Anyway, thought I'm late in responding, I thought I would add on. Thanks for the info from everyone.
mike |