Kohaku photos for Joe

[HenryC]

On another thread Joe asked for more photos of the Kohaku that is in my avatar. Below are photos of her, a Toshio Sakai Kohaku that I got through Mat McCann in November of 2003 as a nisai. First photo was her while still in Japan at 43cm. The next 2 photos are of her today at 67cm. Like most Matsunosuke, she has not bulked out yet (that does not come until year 5 or 6). I needed to get an updated photo for a show she WAS going to go to next month. About 3 seconds after the second shot she decided to end her show career (either that or she was trying out for center on the Orlando Magic). Out of the photo tub and floppying around. Not to bad but she did loose a scale in the middle of her back. It will now be a few years before she gets to go to the show, if ever.

[mulberryjen]

Henry - she is quite a beauty! So sorry she injured herself, I'm sure your heart must have stopped for a moment when she hit the ground. Thank you for posting the pictures, gives me some more insight into the importance of the thickness of the tail stop on a young fish for growth - she is very impressive (even minus a scale.)

[Brady Brandwood]

She's a nice one Henry! The sashi has matured nicely since Nisai! Hopefully she will have a new scale in place soon! She really does have 3 more years of good growing, bulk, and color development ahead,... watch out then! She's a great package!

Best Wishes,
Brady Brandwood

[Dale Torok]

Henry,

Your kohaku from Toshio Sakai is absolutely stunning. I recall when you got this fish in 2003. Was this a replacement fish for another kohaku that you got earlier that year or am I remembering another situation? I still have the picture you sent me in February, 2003 of a Kohaku from Toshio Sakai that I will attach it to this post.

Sorry about the lost scale. I have a goshiki and a kohaku that are both regrowing a couple scales each that were lost in a spawning this spring that had a lot of 'Wham Bam Thank You Mame' koi knocking around.

Is there a story that relates to both these koi? The Sakai kohaku in the attached picture was described as 16" at the time.

Dale

[HenryC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dale Torok Henry, Your kohaku from Toshio Sakai is absolutely stunning. I recall when you got this fish in 2003. Was this a replacement fish for another kohaku that you got earlier that year or am I remembering another situation? I still have the picture you sent me in February, 2003 of a Kohaku from Toshio Sakai that I will attach it to this post. Sorry about the lost scale. I have a goshiki and a kohaku that are both regrowing a couple scales each that were lost in a spawning this spring that had a lot of 'Wham Bam Thank You Mame' koi knocking around. Is there a story that relates to both these koi? The Sakai kohaku in the attached picture was described as 16" at the time. Dale

Good memory Dale. That is the Sakai Kohaku that developed an ovarian tumor the first summer I had her. When I first noticed a non-symetrical lump, I contacted Mat to ask for his advice. He immediately said he wanted to replace the Koi as the photos I sent him looked like a tumor to him (I did not ask nor was intending to ask for a replacement). He then spoke with Sakai for his opinion and Sakai also insisted on replacing her. The tumor grew fast and I had to put her down later that year. A disection showed a tumor the size of my fist. Later Mat sent photos from Japan of the Kohaku Sakai wanted to replace her with. It did not take me but a second to snap her up.
Not something I would ever expect again but was very grateful for both Mat and Sakai's generosity.

[Tom C]

Henry, what a great looking koi.

I think some time back you posted about another koi you had a problem with. I think it was a sanke that won GC for you. What ever happened to the koi? Any chance of posting a picture of that one also? I have to say you have some of the best koi I have seen on these boards.

Tom

[HenryC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tom C Henry, what a great looking koi. I think some time back you posted about another koi you had a problem with. I think it was a sanke that won GC for you. What ever happened to the koi? Any chance of posting a picture of that one also? I have to say you have some of the best koi I have seen on these boards. Tom

Thanks Tom. Yes you are talking about the Torazo Sanke I once had. She somehow managed to smash her head. The best guess was a brain stem injury. Thom Blishock worked with me for a while doing what we could. She eventually got so pathetic we could not stand to watch her stuggle anymore so I put her down. Just another reason I grately respect a large high quality Koi at shows. It only takes one split second action to end their show career. Hopefully the Kohaku's scale will grow back and not show much of a misalignment.

[Dale Torok]

Quote: Originally Posted by HenryC Just another reason I grately respect a large high quality Koi at shows. It only takes one split second action to end their show career. Hopefully the Kohaku's scale will grow back and not show much of a misalignment.

Henry,

You are so right. There are so many opportunities during the life of a koi for infection and injuries to ocurr . When you see a large specimen of ANY variety that is an almost perfect example of that variety, it is a great testament to the person who has kept that koi to get it to that size and age in that condition.

It has not been until the last year or so that I have begun to understand how judges can be so 'forgiving' of flaws in a large koi when it is being judged against a smaller, younger koi of the same variety that may have more intense color or a better pattern, but falls short in conformation and the presence that a larger koi carries with it.

I have an asagi that lost a scale 3 years ago. It has never regrown. There is a white spot in the net pattern where the scale is missing. This spring my female gin rin kohaku was banged up by the males in my pond. The kohaku lost two scales in the hi pattern.

Just this week I snapped several pictures of my fish and happened to get these two fish in the same picture. Have a look and you will see the two missing scales on the kohaku directly above the back of the pectoral fin on the side of the fish. The missing scale on the asagi is in about the same position. I'll post an overhead view of the asagi in which the missing scale is hardly noticable.

Good luck with your kohaku. I will keep my fingers crossed for both of our kohaku hoping both regrow the scales. Brady Brandwood visited here in late May when this kohaku still had pink bruising showing in the shiro areas. He gave the fish a good look-over and said he felt there was a good chance the two scales would grow back and fill the pattern. Of course, it may not, if it goes the way of the asagi.

Dale

[Bob Winkler]

Pretty koi Henry.... I feel your pain, but with your care, I am sure she has a great chance to "come back"

[John Sprinkle TBT]

What rotten luck!!!!
I have had the same thing happen to me. Only the Koi was not a show quality specimen like yours. I now keep my bowls in the pond even while photographing. At least there is a good chance they will end up back in the pond if they jump.