Pond construction begins

[aquitori]

Looks good...So just to recap everything...What have you spawned so far? Kohaku, Sanke?

[koifishgirl]

aquitori, I was not expecting this spawn it just happened, I dont plan to do any real spawns untill next spring. I want to do a Kohaku and a Showa spawn to start out with and go from their, got to take it slow as I dont know a thing about culling fry. Im glad I have this spawn as it is going to help ready me for next spring. I will at least no what to expect, and will have learned how to pull the ponds and what works best for me.

How many of these ponds will I need for the two spawns? Im thinking I will need one pond for the culls and the three for the keeper, and a new deeper pond built for the brood stock. Im wanting Showa, Kohaku, and Sanke but their my be a better type for me to start out with, you got any ideas. I cant spawn all types as I dont have the room. My first koi that I wanted was the yellow and white koi. There is something about a snow white koi that really turns me on. If I spawn to many different types I would have to cull very heavy and think that might be a problem for me. I dont want to overdue it.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl aquitori, I was not expecting this spawn it just happened, I dont plan to do any real spawns untill next spring. I want to do a Kohaku and a Showa spawn to start out with and go from their, got to take it slow as I dont know a thing about culling fry. Im glad I have this spawn as it is going to help ready me for next spring. I will at least no what to expect, and will have learned how to pull the ponds and what works best for me. How many of these ponds will I need for the two spawns? Im thinking I will need one pond for the culls and the three for the keeper, and a new deeper pond built for the brood stock. Im wanting Showa, Kohaku, and Sanke but their my be a better type for me to start out with, you got any ideas. I cant spawn all types as I dont have the room. My first koi that I wanted was the yellow and white koi. There is something about a snow white koi that really turns me on. If I spawn to many different types I would have to cull very heavy and think that might be a problem for me. I dont want to overdue it.

So parent fish have you been collecting for next spring? I know you have some Momotaro Kohaku that you purchased early this year how are they doin?

[koifishgirl]

Growing like mad, The color on these two females are very orange. It is my understanding that this is normal untill the reach maturity. One was a male when I bought it, or they said it was anyway. Both gill plates are as smooth as a babies butt. If one does not show signs of being male then I got to go after another male. Im going to get a pair of Showa and Sanke this fall when the temps cool off some, put them in the mud ponds and wait for spring. It would really be great if I knew what to do with the pairs, what I mean is I dont know if I should get a male and a female same type in a Kohaku or Sanke or not. Im thinking I should just get a good Sanke female and spawn with the Kohaku male. Since both types come from each spawn. That way I would not have to do so many spawns, right? As you can see Im not ready for much, just takeing it slow.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl Growing like mad, The color on these two females are very orange. It is my understanding that this is normal untill the reach maturity. One was a male when I bought it, or they said it was anyway. Both gill plates are as smooth as a babies butt. If one does not show signs of being male then I got to go after another male. Im going to get a pair of Showa and Sanke this fall when the temps cool off some, put them in the mud ponds and wait for spring. It would really be great if I knew what to do with the pairs, what I mean is I dont know if I should get a male and a female same type in a Kohaku or Sanke or not. Im thinking I should just get a good Sanke female and spawn with the Kohaku male. Since both types come from each spawn. That way I would not have to do so many spawns, right? As you can see Im not ready for much, just takeing it slow.

I think taking it slow is a good start. I would study bloodlines you want to use and to incorperate in your spawnings. This way you can mix and match certain parent pairs to get what you want. I wish you the best of luck in your venture.

[koifishgirl]

This is my first year of my plan, so I have four more to go. I think I doing well for the first year of learning. Thanks for the help as I do believe the more I learn about the different spawns it will help me with culling, I will know when they are small what they are and if I need to keep them or not. The bloodlines of different koi I do need to learn about and Im sure before I buy to many parent koi I will get the advice of the members on this forum. I dont want to spend money that I dont need to, and do spawns that wont turn out with any real results.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl This is my first year of my plan, so I have four more to go. I think I doing well for the first year of learning. Thanks for the help as I do believe the more I learn about the different spawns it will help me with culling, I will know when they are small what they are and if I need to keep them or not. The bloodlines of different koi I do need to learn about and Im sure before I buy to many parent koi I will get the advice of the members on this forum. I dont want to spend money that I dont need to, and do spawns that wont turn out with any real results.

Your venture can get quite expensive, but if you select the best for the budget now it will be helpful to you. If it were to me I would go Kohaku the and use Matsunosuke Female parent (Breeders: Momotaro, Yamamatsu, Shintaro) the Males would be from Dainichi or Saki Hiroshima....

[bekko]

Better to use a pair which are both from the same breeder. In-bred lines will throw a higher percentage of offspring which look like the parents. The only reason to out-cross is (1) if the line has become "weak" with a lot of deformities and slow growth or (2) you want to improve the line, have a clear vision of what you want the change to be, and are willing to invest a decade or so trying to do it. The Matsunosuke line is not weak and there does not seem to be a clear vision of how to improve it.

-stevehopkins

[D@z]

What do you mean by 'needing one mud for the culls'? You cant possibly waste the immense amount of time and money that these fish will take, you must cull them, trying to keep them alive would be the difference between success and failure in this business venture.

[jbolding]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, but I have been following this thread with facination for some time now. Aquitori stated "I would study bloodlines you want to use and to incorperate in your spawnings.". So my question is What is the best way to go about doing this with out buying specimen koi from every major breeder. For instance how would a hobiest know that typically breeders ab and c breed kindai showa versus breeders xy and z who typically breed old style showa. When buying a younger koi it is very difficult if not impossible to know what they would look like once they matured, but if thier were a breeder bloodline reference you should have a better chance. I know that many on this baord are very well versed in breeders and bloodlines, but I have found it difficult to find a source for such informtion.