Could forums hurt or help the learning curve?

[koifishgirl]

Yup. I see it that way to

[hacnp]

to the hobby I was able to avoid many mistakes in the design and building of our first pond due to what I found on the net. That said, it is just a starting point we have far to go in many respects. Without a proper enviorment however good quality fish cannot happen IMHO. It also did not stop me from making my very own mistakes.

[hacnp]

to the hobby I was able to avoid many mistakes in the design and building of our first pond due to what I found on the net. That said, it is just a starting point we have far to go in many respects. Without a proper enviorment however good quality fish cannot happen IMHO. It also did not stop me from making my very own mistakes. Such as double posting and being to dim to be able to find the delete

Regards, Ken

[jbolding]

I think that you can learn an immense amount of information about pound construction and koi husbandry from the forums. I believe that it only takes you so far though. I think that at once you reach some level of sophistication a koi keeper needs to move away from the computer if they wish to continue advancing in this hobby. Hand on experience, and a network of experienced hobbyist (club), dealers, and etc. is necessary to develop real koi appreciation skills.

[Regenmeneer]

I think a forum on the www can be a great asset.

It can give great advice on pond building, technical aspects of all sorts, it can help you find certain things, it can help give advice in emergency situations. It can show you the difference between good and bad bodyshape, and most of all, it can help you prevent mistakes others have already made.

One thing about advice given. If someone on a forum gives advice that is percieved by others as being incorrect, it will be corrected. Thats a great asset of a forum, in contrast of getting advice from just one person in real life.

However, there are also things it can't do, like teach you about skin quality.

But in general, people can learn a lot from a forum, if they are willing to learn and listen.

Regenmeneer

[junglegeorge12]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Hear some of you on this and I also like to say I know alot more people are educated on the pond condition and weak at koi selection. I know this hobby people buy what they like, but for me the fact this is the living jewel hobby. For me I would like to mentor people in koi selection, but it is hard to teach if people can't appreciate what they are looking at.

Very true aquitori. Mentor us. You have the tools. I have also noticed different forums tend to be great and have strength in certain areas. For instance koichat is one of the best for pond construction. So many years of experience sitting there with jules and so many others every day. Koi vet and duncan's new site obviously focus on health issues more. I would love for you, Aquitori, to teach us more about that selection and quality process, and skin and water quality and the roles that plays in the kois health and development for their color and skin!

It kind of burns me up when folks pass off low grade stuff in high dollar stores as 'quality' and get away with it due to consumer ignorance. I think most breeders (not all) love to work hard at getting quality, an informed public makes them all that much more motivated to satisfy the customer and be known for their quality work. It also forces the dealer to be fair and honest.

You should give online classes man. I have enjoyed every thread I have read that you started, and think we need a forum that focuses on the selection issue. I asked you to do a thing a while back and you said it was hard to do with pics, but hey, we gotta start somewhere! It is like a hole in the market that needs filled.

[Rich L]

It can be tough, in the beginning because we all think our own BS is gospel. After a while the newbee will be able to sort out reliable info from mine.

The best by far is a forum like this and a club membership.

[ChrisC]

I found that club meetings happened too infrequently for my information needs when I first started this hobby. Internet forums were, and are a real help. I even recruited some people I met at Koiphen to my local club.

I have also enjoyed "cyber" meeting a huge variety of koi keepers, breeders and dealers on forums which would not have been the case in a lifetime of club meetings.

Nothing beats a hands on wet lab or looking at many quality fish at a reputable dealer's shop, but I don't get there very often (a bit afraid I will end up overstocked!)

And then there is the fun of actually meeting people we meet on Koi Bito!

[Arthur]

From what people have told me and also from personal experience, Koi-Bito is one of the forums on the Internet where good information may be obtained by lurking (OK) and by asking (GREAT).

I also can tell you that information on the Internet is not always correct. Because this pitfall (that requires a certain knowledge to sort out), information on the Internet can, and has been many times over, very dangerous to new hobbyists.

Case in point: several months ago, a koi kepper with a new pond (about 2-3 weeks) comes to me and says his koi are flashing a lot. I said "Have you measured the pH, tested for ammonia?", he says "no I do not have a test kit." I said "you really should have a test kit, but bring me some pond water and I will do some tests for you." Several days later he comes back and says: "I did some research on the Internet and the koi forums and did add salt, did a Dimillin treatment, a PP dose, and Malachate Green, and the fish are still flashing."

This is what Internet-only info does for new hobbyists!!!

Once "over the initial curve" though, I beleive Internet information does a lot of good for "intermediate and more" hobbyist as they have learned not to rush to shotgun approaches and find out what is really going on.

For advanced hobbyists (and intermediate), a forum like Koi-Bito is a GREAT place to go to (they are other places but you have to weed through the posts more). I do consider myself advanced (as compared to a lot of koi keepers) and find that I learn a lot online from people like JR, Duncan, and several others.

Internet information is great once you have learned the pitfalls.

[cocoyboy]

I have to say I'm a hands on person. I like to find out how the clock ticks by looking at it from the inside. But sometimes I need the instructions (Aquatori and E-san) to put it back together and make sense of things.
I think forums is a great learning tool, as well as a way to meet others in knowledge and fellowship. By reading others concerns about fish, and or water quality, helps me to be aware and familiar by the questions being answered by so many of you!
As far as picking fish, I guess I got lucky with the ones that won at the show. But from the koi you have aquatori, teach me more dude! Can't wait for that Hiroshima Kohaku you picked out for me turns out. Thanks!


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Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Hear some of you on this and I also like to say I know alot more people are educated on the pond condition and weak at koi selection. I know this hobby people buy what they like, but for me the fact this is the living jewel hobby. For me I would like to mentor people in koi selection, but it is hard to teach if people cant appreciate what they are looking at.