How to pick a stable Tancho?

[bekko]

Depends on where you are Tony. Which island, which side, etc. My water is not so soft and getting good beni is a challenge.

-steve hopkins

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by bekko Depends on where you are Tony. Which island, which side, etc. My water is not so soft and getting good beni is a challenge. -steve hopkins

Yeah I guess it does...so your water is generally hard? do you have shimi problems?

[aquitori]

Bump...Was at the koi shop the other day and a hobbyist asked about Tancho and the selection of Tancho...I told him to visit this board and have a look.

[dick benbow]

Since it's no secret that tancho tosai are vulernable to stress more than any other year class, it would make sense to select a sanke or showa. Should you loose the bright red, you still have a nice bekko or utsuri.

Since beni on the head stretches the least, chances are no matter how we push the growth that won't be a problem. PH however is critical. Stable water conditions are imperative.

To get a better shaped tancho a purchase really needs to be made it's second or third year. With kohaku , the white must be especially good and in all cases since pattern is minimal, the body shape looms as very important.

with tosai, stay away from the cherry red tancho spot and hard shiny white color. Look for something with a soft white like 2% milk and a beni with a safer orangeish red spot.

Tancho kohaku were my daughter's favorite growing up. Every one she had she called "beni botan"...the red button. My koi Kichi Bill blackburn had a killer
tancho goshiki he called "poker chip". A good tancho of what ever color variety is a treasure.