Thoughts on this kohaku

[MikeM]

Akai-san: I do not know if a general rule really serves a purpose, unless you go behind it. Dan says this Kohaku is male, so I'm sure it is. I nonetheless referred to it as a "her" because that is the impression these photos give me.

Males are said to finish early and go down hill quickly, with none of their colors being as good as on females ... the Shiro more yellow, the Hi thinner and prone to breaking up after age 5. Maybe these types of generalities had more than a little truth in them decades ago. I think it may now be better to say that within a particular bloodline the females are generally superior to the males in body volume, length, coloration and likelihood of providing enjoyment over more years. If you look at male Kohaku bred at Torazo, the thick Beni is superior to what you will see on females at many (and maybe most?) breeders. The Torazo males lack in body volume, but not in their Beni, and seem not to grow much past a puny 28". Hasegawa males are typically fairly scrawny, but the reds are bright against very white base color. I have the impression they retain their good looks a long time. Momotaro is setting a different standard with the focus on jumbo tosai. It takes a lot of genetic potential for a koi to be grown to 14"+ in their first year and have the colors look like anything; but Momotaro is spawning so many sets and culling such a high percentage that it is hard to imagine where it will lead; and, as pointed out in another thread, is producing some males of substantial size and volume. with excellent Beni.

So, yes, females are "better", but not all are better than all males, and I'm not so sure we do beginning koikeepers a favor by focusing on the sexes. Focusing on the pigment is what is important, although a very difficult thing to study and understand. Maybe in another 10 years I'll begin to recognize what I see when staring at Hi.

[Dan Blatt]

Mike....agree with ya 100%. This koi is a good example of what you eluded to. In my opinion it is better than most females I see up to 20-22 inch....even many larger ones as far as the quality of the hi is concerned.

I see alot of koi coming through my friend's business where I help out, and seldom kohaku's of this quality.

jjkon...many times a technically correct koi is not the best koi, if you get my drift. In the west so many look at the imperfections first, as though from a book standard. However in Japan, they look at the koi overall and see a much different picture. Took me a while to get by that habit, but when I did, it was amazing to find excellent koi that were passed over. Dick alluded to another kohaku of mine that took Grand Champion at a local young koi show...up to 18 inches. For months everyone praised the look of this kohaku but passed because of some hi on one pectoral. I decided since customers were not interested, that I would purchase it. There was nothing at the show that even came close to this koi. The small imperfection meant nothing in the overall package.

[keokoi]

Dan, I like this Kohak very nice quality good body for male and could only get better. The beni is thick from what I can tell in Pic. Overall impression is this would catch my eye in a pond and with time I am sure you can condition it to get only better.

Dan, only one way to tell if its for you. Buy it and study it...


Joe

[Dan Blatt]

Joe.....Have a video which would give everyone a better look at this kohaku. Any way to get it on here or somewhere else? Tried to uplaod and would not take it.

[aquitori]

File is probably too big, might want to shot something smaller.

[shiromujigirl]

Dan Blat I like what you said about us just looking at the faults in the west and not seeing the koi. When I look at this koi I feel a ding like I've been tapped with a magic fairy wand. Yes its a two step but look at it. The quality is there and it is not a boring two step. The pattern is so artistic a minute later you notice, my god its a two step.

Nothing wrong with male koi. Sure they don't last 12 or 15 years of good looking but they are like flamboyant stallions racing around.

[aquitori]

I think everyones mind should be open to every koi be it male or female. If it fits the "Big Three":
1. Skin Quality
2. Conformation
3. Pattern

Then go for it!! That's what fun about it. 90% of my pond is male and I am happy with it. I like it when people start talking like they want only females because they grow big, but honestly you can't grow females big in a small pond and that's why I stick with males.

[koifishgirl]

Is the koi for sale at a good price I like him or her whatever sex. The colors are very good and I happen to like the fact that one gill cover is red. The pattern look nice on this koi and he is also very clean.