My Shiro turns into _____?

[jjkon]

Hi everyone,

Here is my shiro from April '05 in the first picture.
Here is my shiro from December '05 in the second picture.
I fed him hi silk 21 during the summer for only one month. My purpose was to make the yellow head into white head. It loss all the sumi now. Is it due to the hi silk 21 or is it due the genetic? What do you think genetic/food? Thanks

John

[elunned]

Looks like genetics - the initial sumi in some areas looked more like asagi sumi.
Do you know anything about the bloodline?

What is the hardness (GH) of your water?
Were there any dramatic changes in temperature, or water quality?
Any changes in natural light levels?

I would wait and see; that is a very dramatic change, but sumi can come and go. (Once red goes it tends to be gone for good.)

[James P]

Genetics or a combination of environmental issues including stress in response to those parameters. But Sumi is not a true pattern so I would give the fish some time. Unlike a kohaku, that I would quickly give away if it became shiro muji. But even then, I knew a koi keeper who bought a white koi at an auction and after one year in his pond, it developed a beautiful kanoko pattern!! I mean a really nice kohaku kanoko pattern! Won some nice awards at the koi show! In the case of sumi, this is at least a possibility- but the fish would need some colder water to trigger its return, I think? JR

[jjkon]

Lynne and Jr,

Thanks for the information. It is Ogata. My main pond water temp was not warn enough during the summer months. It only reach 66 degree for a few days and nost of the it is in the low 60 because my pond is under a hugh pine tree and my neighbor also has a hugh tree and block most of the sun So I brought him along with a kohaku into the garage and warn the water to mid 70. Water parameters were the same as the main pond. I never test the GH. I thought Kh is what people are concerned about.

During this experiment, I accidentally discovered how to get riff off secondary hi. I will start another thread with pictures.

John

[MikeM]

JJ: That is a nicely shaped fish. Listen to JR about giving it time. He knows what he is talking about. ...Unlike so many fish that lose pigment, this one is maintaining a white base without smudges and stains. I think the Sumi will be back, especially in hard water.

[luke frisbee]

i agree with Jr. I still see the black underneath. Give the fish a couple of years. Often black comes and goes..I got a couple of fish that are doing hide and seek..I've had then for two years, the black is getting a little better organized over time, but it waxes and wanes

[kingkong]

I am not being negative, just my experience in the past. When the color stock falls it rarely comes back. Sorry for your experience.

[koiczar]

I agree with JR and Luke. Looking at picture #2 closely, you can see undrlying sumi - what you originally saw could have been the juvenile sumi disappearing when you purchased it - the real sumi is still under the skin waiting to be exposed.

Also, you mentioned that you placed the fish in the 'GARAGE' during the summer months. That cut out all the UV light from the sun. This 'may" have had something to do with it - but not sure!
Anyway, hang on to it for awhile. It just might surprise you, pleasantly

[keokoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by jjkon Lynne and Jr, Thanks for the information. It is Ogata. John

How old is it? I think Ogata got his Shiro from Omosako this year.. Although I am not 100% but should tell you some of the lineage and what is happening with the sumi....

Joe

[TategoiKohaku]

jj, it's really nice bekko.