Koi Confirmation?

[Akai-San]

Ah yes. Harmony and Balance. Two words that we ALL strive for in everything we do. Something I can relate to, but can never achieve...keep reaching people...never give-up.

How does personal taste come into play when looking at the overall presentation? Especially when taking into consideration the confirmation of a koi as it relates to high quality beni. Will a koi with bad confirmation but high quality beni ever beat-out a superior koi in confirmation with just a LITTLE lesser quality beni? Does age and size of fish ever come into play?

Sorry if I'm openning up a can of worms. Just trying to establish my first taste in the koi that I like. I am really drawn to those koi who are very streamlined when they are tosai or nisai. I like the idea of long large canvas' for which paintings (patterns) can be painted. They just seem elegant in shape, athletically strong and yet graceful in movement...kind of like super models on the runway...Oh Yeah!

[aquitori]

Akai-San, I am sure everyone can tell you what to look from when it comes to conformation on this thread...but, you will need to experience first hands by comparing fish at a local dealer. It took me 5 years to consider buying a fish first on conformation then shiroji then pattern. Also, there are certain bloodlines that the conformation doesn't mature right away and you would have to consider that too...

[swordfish]

Every koi that developed from an egg to fry alive & kicking are perfect to Mother nature. We are the one who classsified them. This is not good, that is not right etc... Maybe we should start appreciating at the positive points of a koi before going to the negative.


SF

[aquitori]

Also conformation is a show term....for those of us who show, we hear it more than people who don't show. Private hobbyist use it because they are alwaays looking for the prefect specimen. I wouldn't be to worried about conformation...We should only use conformation when it comes to finding deformaties that's it..

[Akai-San]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Also, there are certain bloodlines that the conformation doesn't mature right away and you would have to consider that too...

Can you name some of these bloodlines? Would like to know for future conversation sake...I find bloodline tidbits VERY fascinating. I actually keep a book of notes that I like to reference every now and then...Just my way of trying to gather interesting bits of information and interpretations of breeders and koi development.

[Akai-San]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Also conformation is a show term....for those of us who show, we hear it more than people who don't show. Private hobbyist use it because they are alwaays looking for the prefect specimen. I wouldn't be to worried about conformation...We should only use conformation when it comes to finding deformaties that's it..

What would be the purest answer to selecting koi in regards to confirmation? Pending onthe hobbiest intent to grow or raise the koi, do you think conformation is almost always overlooked when selecting young koi? Or is it mostly intuitive? Once you see it, you know it...

[bekko]

Admittedly, I have junk koi. There is not a trophy-winner in the bunch although each has its good and bad points. When I take a minute to watch the gosanke, it's not the thin hi, fuzzy kiwa or mis-placed pattern that distracts my eye, it's that kohaku that has developed a pot belly, the sanke with border-line flared gills, and the one with the snipe nose. These three have some of the best patterns and color, but they will be the first to go.


steve

[Akai-San]

Steve,

Thats what I'm talking about. Those are the things to watchout for when looking at or selecting tosai or nisai. Just be reading your post, I'm that much smarter (or more critical) when looking at koi. I knew that when I saw every koi at Ala Moana a several months ago, that something was just not right. I know a lot of this is intuitive to most hobbiest, but for newbies (like myself), just want to paint that picture of perfection in my head. Thanks a bunch, anymore stuff to add? Sorry, got to keep plugging away...

Carl

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Akai-San What would be the purest answer to selecting koi in regards to confirmation? Pending onthe hobbiest intent to grow or raise the koi, do you think conformation is almost always overlooked when selecting young koi? Or is it mostly intuitive? Once you see it, you know it...

For me it's choosing a koi of good build, not for the prupose of growing out. My pond is small and I know what size limitations of the koi in my pond. I look for defects so I won't get stuck with something after I go home with it. Trust me it happens to the best of us. After purchasing a koi and when the fish comes home you notice one pec is smaller than another or a deformed anal fin. Just simple stuff we should all look out for which is part of "conformation". When picking young koi I think it is overlooked 80% of the time. People get stuck on pattern first, that's given. But seeing so much koi regardless of size I pretty know right away which body will grow big. That's just me though.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Akai-San Can you name some of these bloodlines? Would like to know for future conversation sake...I find bloodline tidbits VERY fascinating. I actually keep a book of notes that I like to reference every now and then...Just my way of trying to gather interesting bits of information and interpretations of breeders and koi development.

Bloodline is a very touchy subject. Let me gather my thoughts and I will get back to you on this. But for now I am sure Dick can elaborate on this.