Any breeders please post an update !!!!!!!!!

[estanque_koi]

Jaco, haven't had enough time to take more pictures so far. But temperature in the greenhouse is reaching 50 celsius degrees and more, and water temperature in the fry pools is up to 34 celsius degrees. Despite they are fine and eating like beasts, I shall be culling and taking the keepers to an outdoor pond whithin the next days. I'll try to take more pictures during the process.

Quote: Originally Posted by GazKoi ... lucky enough to go and see Maurice Cox and his koi farm on the weekend... I have placed a couple of pictures for you ...

Gazza, I like very much your new Chagoi. Her? siblings are also wonderful. But I was amazed by the Kohaku in the pictures. Are those also from Maurice's breeding program? Could you post any additional details about these Kohaku? Maurice, would be great if you can find some spare time to visit the Forum and comment.

Diego

[Doug Ward]

Nice Brady.
Are you expecting menware on those 2 ?
My batch had an easier winter than your batch so the sumi is up a bit more..... Well, my water is harder than a Padrez PP at a cub scout meeting too.

I wish I had some mud...
I gotta shoot some pics for you tomorrow.

Quote: Originally Posted by Brady Brandwood A pair of sibling tosai, from All-American parentage. Those who enjoy studying lineages and bloodline characteristics may be able to trace the path from Japan. Best Wishes, Brady Brandwood

[jacovors]

Wow Thanks guys.
I am busy changing my fry ponds for the coming season and the more I have to do with them the more excited I get about breeding again.

Brady as always you have outdone yourself and looking at these pics anyone can see the quality of koi outside of Japan are increasing by leaps and bounds.Brady do you think all the sumi on the Utsuri will surface eventually?The Kohaku is of outstanding quality, my favourite.If I can produce Sanke of this quality I will be a very happy man, they are what I look for pattern wise in Sanke I like more black than what the modern Sanke has. Sadazo I believe.Can't wait to see the next issue of Koi Fixx and more pics of the koi you produce and what is happening at Lotusland.

Doug please take some pics and post them thanks.

Diego glad to see you are back on track. It must be difficult to work in that greenhouse with the temp so high. Pics please.

Greg I look forward to see what you're new parent koi delivers this season. You're fry are raised outside a mud pond and I believe it is easier to get parasite problems in concrete pond than mud ponds because of the limited space. What do you think?

Gazza I would have given anything to have been there with you guys. The steps Maurice have taken to ensure quality koi is produced at his farm is honourable. Must succeed.

Thanks again MORE MORE !!!!

[Maurice]

I've been through a real busy time over the last couple of weeks,....

....but breeding is under way. Some far I have 3 kohaku, 2 showa and hariwake spawned. I shall put together my platinum set tomorrow.

It will take many seasons to learn how to use these indoor mud ponds, they are very different from outdoors and are presenting their problems, but so far this year, with a little experience I am gaining better growth than last year. The speed which the fry are growing is keeping me guessing how quick to increase the fry food size. Within 10 days, I have had to increase the food size twice.

My oldest fry are 3 weeks and many are up to 1 1/2". This is good as my pond size is small, my first cull has had to be at 6 weeks, but I may be able to bring this forward to 5 weeks, with this years growth.

Only 14 sets to go. I'm mad!!

Maurice.

I'm struggling with PH swings and may consider adding shade cloth above the ponds.

It's very hot hot in the tunnels this week, muds ponds are runnning at 25c at the moment, but this may go up this week, as the forcast is for high temps. I need some cooling, working beyond 10.30am is very hard this week.

[estanque_koi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Maurice ... real busy time ,........but breeding is under way. ...these indoor mud ponds, they are very different from outdoors... Only 14 sets to go. I'm mad!! Maurice. ... It's very hot hot in the tunnels this week, muds ponds are runnning at 25c at the moment, but this may go up this week, as the forcast is for high temps. I need some cooling, working beyond 10.30am is very hard this week.

Hello Maurice, good to hear from you again. Working with so many breeding pairs seems a tremendous task. I wish you all the best, you have worked so hard this year!

But common, you shouldn't complain about your temperature
What do you mean with "hot hot", just 25 celsius degrees?
Please, forgive me but it sounds funny ... this morning I have spent almost 4 hours culling in the greenhouse (door and windows fully opened all the time, shadow clothing almost all over) at 48 celsius degrees , the water temp in the pools reaching up to 34. Of course the fry are now two months old, that is the great advantage. I guess you will start spawning your Koi sooner next year.
Anyway, you are wellcome to come over and teach me how to cull, in exchange you'll get some proper training to handle real hot weather
Best wishes,
Diego
PS are you going to the BKKS Koi Show this year?

[Maurice]

Diego, the tunnels are real hot at the moment in the 50c region 'working' beyond 10. 30am is hard this week!
But I'm able to keep the ponds cooler because a of a larger volume of water. If the sun shines for too long then the ponds start getting too warm.

I'll be at the BKKS National all weekend, hope you are coming over?

Maurice.
PS, your English is getting good.

[jacovors]

WOW A greenhouse and sauna in one lol

I know a good indicator to know whether the fry are doing well is to get 1mm of growth per day.Maurice you're fry are 21 days old and 37mm already so you must be doing something right.
How many gallons do you're ponds hold and do you use one mud pond per parent set and do you feed them from start or after a few days or weeks?
I am glad I do not have to pay for all the food you are going to use this season , but then again I got to know you as someone who never does anything cheap.
All the best for the season and may all you're pairs be a perfect match.
Jaco

[Maurice]

Jaco, my mud ponds are 150 tons, around 33.000 gallons.

I start feeding a small amount of powder food from day 4 or 5 after they are free swimming, slowly building up the amount when I see that they are eating it.

I'm expecting a showa spawn to hatch tomorrow, I have a 'special' platinum set doing the business tonight, I hope!

Next week should be 1 kohaku, 1 sanke and 1 shiro utsuri.

A trick I am using this year is to keep one pond supplied with rich water, this is breeding 'good' daphnia. I have a pump, drawing from very near the top. Each day I move the discharge from this pond to another fry pond, the fry spend all day crowding around, feasting on the live food. It's working well!

I shall continue to use this method until all the spawning is carried out and the fry to a reasonable size, then pond 14, where the live food is being cultured will be used for my final spawning, my fabulous set of chagoi.

My dream is to use my 'own bred' parent sets, this year I shall be using my own bred tosai sanke male, plus my own bred chagoi males for the second season. To use your own bred parents is where you start becoming a breeder in my mind.

Maurice.

[GazKoi]

Hi Maurice,

I am sure you will get where you are going as you effort is 200% which a few of us have been lucky enough to see.The little one we have i doing really well and is a greedy little bugger obviously he never had enough food before lol.

Thanks and good luck on the next spawning

[jacovors]

Thanks Maurice,

Helpfull as always. Wish I had the water and space here.
Do you split the eggs into more than one pond for each parent set or do you use one pond for each parent set?
I know you are very busy and appreciate the time you take to answer my questions thanks.