Tosai,...

[Brady Brandwood]

Some enjoyable reading posted on choosing tosai recently,...

One detail thats helpful for hobbyists to keep in mind when searching for “good” tosai is tosai can become “inferior” in the journey from breeder’s harvest to where and when they are sold.

A breeder evaluates tosai based on:

skin quality

pattern potential - where are the flaws, and how many

size of the tosai - at a given age

sellability - better to sell now,... or better to sell later

value to farm,... potential as future parent koi,... or potential as “show boat” for farm, etc.

When the tosai are sorted,... and many are made available for sale,... where they go, and how they are kept is VERY important down the line to the hobbyist hoping to buy. Most, unfortunately, once they have been chosen to sell go into crowded vats (at breeder’s place) then crowded vats (at broker’s place) then crowded vats (at dealer’s store),... and several months can pass by with the tosai in these conditions. What happens here is they become stunted somewhat,... but more importantly,... also in these conditions the colors begin to “finish” more quickly, and these tosai become very colorful,... or are made very colorful SO they will sell well to hobbyists,... who are drawn to very colorful tosai like flies are drawn to scat.

What you have then is a tosai that posibly had good, or reasonably good potential at harvest time - which now has a limited window of beauty, and a limited future. THIS is what happens to a lot of male Koi,... and what has helped to give them the bad press male Koi get. If a male Koi is grown in excellent farm conditions that a female Koi is the outcome is similar in the “window of beauty” department,... though the body size will always be different between the two.

Here are 3 tosai that are “fresh” and haven’t been crowded, colored up, or compromised,... the “look” is very youthful,... and not so desireable by many hobbyists,... most are looking for a “redder” Kohaku at this age of 7 months. That’s where many hobbyists fail. These are tosai that would not be sold by the breeder at tosai age. These would be grown to Nisai, or longer. Notice the patterning on the center Kohaku,... also notice the size as compared to its siblings - 12" at 7 months,... so is a koi that will grow,... also the pattern looks ordinary right now,... but we have to look into the future, and put this pattern on a large Koi body,... and can then see the potential,... 8 years down the road. Also look at the beni,... even, light, soft.

Did you ever notice that a LOT of the Koi sold on auction sites are small for their age, and very colorful??? Many of these Koi are leftovers that have been sitting around in crowded vats for a long time,... and are bought in bulk as clearance Koi - then sold in auctions where the potential for profit is good.

It’s best to:

1.) Get a good selection - if you can.
2.) Buy directly from the source when possible.
3.) Buy from sources that are very colse to the breeder if posible - in other words buy tosai that haven’t been compromised already.

Best Wishes,
Brady Brandwood

[kingkong]

As an owner of many bonsai male colorful koi, all what you say makes perfect sense and I have proof. It is a shame that this method of koi distribution and sales is allowed but it's the all mighty dollar first and fish quality second in many cases.

[Russell Peters]

Each of us has a choice when buying Koi, and I think most buyers do not know enough about Tosai to make good choices anyway. If you choose not to buy flashy, bright colors on young Gosanke, then maybe your local dealers will learn more and carry a better grade of Koi. They are available, but as long as the buying public prefer the brighter flashier colors, then that is what they will get.

Russ

[MikeM]

Nice, Brady.

[Brady Brandwood]

Yep,... it really can be said that tosai buyers "get what they ask for",... generally speaking. A lot of newer Koi hobbyists calibrate their "Koi eye" on centerfold Koi - photos of Koi that have won shows,... and then they look for "baby Koi", tosai, or small koi they can afford that look like, or have the characteristics of the finished show koi they see in the mags. They will choose the colored up peaking tosai over the true higher quality slow bloomers - IF given the option.

It's a short sighted beginner's approach, and really misses the true value and art - raising the slow blooming "true" Nishikigoi.

Best Wishes,
Brady Brandwood

[Kohaku]

All very interesting. The bottom 2 look good to me.

[kingkong]

Originally Posted by Russell Peters

Each of us has a choice when buying Koi, and I think most buyers do not know enough about Tosai to make good choices anyway. If you choose not to buy flashy, bright colors on young Gosanke, then maybe your local dealers will learn more and carry a better grade of Koi. They are available, but as long as the buying public prefer the brighter flashier colors, then that is what they will get.

Russ

OK Russel or anyone, here is a Sakia of Hiroshima 12 " tosai, Rose Queen off spring. Tell us why you would or wouldn't purchase this tosai kohaku with the information I have supplied only please. Thanks

[Kohaku]

Would: Color, conformation, lineage.

Would not: Fading color, stunted growth?

[RayJordan]

Good comments by Brady and others. Another way to think about this is you are buying koi that the dealer didn't think would get more valuable in the future. The breeders are usually right but not alway especially with changeable koi like showas.

[luke frisbee]

brady,
you have 12 inch long 7 month olds???????