goshiki question

[longlong]

I see a lot of wonderful goshikis in the net with the red very vibrant backdropped against the black background.
Do young goshikis have this red already as the goshikis i have in my pond started with red then the black slowly covered the body and even the hi. Will the hi come out later or do high quality goshikis already have this marked distinction between the red and black from tosai?

many thanks,

longlong

[Ryan S.]

What is your GH level?

Some goshikis appear to darken in hard water or cold water. If neither of these applies to your situation then it will probably not improve. The old style and new style still being breed b/c there is hobbiest demand for both. I have a goshiki that darkens a lot in winter, clears back up in warmer weather.

[saratogatan]

If anyone has more to enligthen us on gishiki, please jump in. I have a goshiki, in very hard water. It was nice, not great, when I got it 3 years ago as tosai. it then went completely grayish dark, ugly to me. then the red crept up, nice, then most of the hi disappeared, then come back again. the hi always show up in spring, and say byebye after mid-summer. Just don't understand what that is all about.

stan

[koiczar]

Longlong, saratogatan

Just from my personal experience, I have seen several "variations on a theme" so to speak. I have had goshiki that had that intense red as tosai and maintained it. I have also had a couple that did what you describe, turn greyish black and even cover the red. I have to say, though, that I've never had one that the red came and went as you desscribe - that's weird!!

I currently have 3 goshiki in my pond. I purchased 2 of them this past year - one, a tosai from Ogata purchased in eary June at 6", and a nisai from Torazo, purchased on my trip to Japan in October. Both had little to no grey/black on them when purchased. The tosai will be going to the ABAKS show next week - IMHO, it's a stunning fish already(5 step pattern, great body). The nisai from Torazo looked like it might turn out to be more kindai (modern style with a nice asagi netting) when I bought it- I'll attach a pic of it from last Oct. Due to our water conditions being so hard, it took this fish less than 3 months to turn charcoal grey-black. Even the face is now solid grey. Hosokai wanted to keep it to put in the All-Japan Show for me but I decided to bring it home - no sense taking any chances with catching VD or something else!?!LOL The red on this fish does not come through in pictures - It has that metallic-glow sheen to it (kinda like Matsunosuke goshiki have). Who knows, maybe he uses that bloodline in his brood stock!?! Anyway, it's doing great, just needs time and refinement before being shown.

As you can tell by my ramblings here, Goshiki are one of my favorites. I had kinda lost the enthusiasm for Asagi until I started reading DickB's posts. Thanks Dick! I'm really enjoying the one I bought this last trip from Hosokai. Her beni is doing exactly what he described it would do - slowly come up! It's just a beautiful addition to my collection.

Anyway guys, enjoy your goshiki! One word of advice - DON'T QUIT ON THEM TOO SOON - THEY MAY SURPRISE YOU - ESPECIALLY IF YOU SELL/GIVE THEM AWAY AND SEE THEM LATER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S POND!!LOL

Mike

[longlong]

thanks to all for replying. ill try to get pics so i can to show you guys the "development" of the black area with my goshiki. Im just quite confused whether it is normal for the red to be covered by black then the hi will emerge later on or once the hi gets covered the red will be forever covered with black making it look like dark gray?

Ryan ... my water is on the softish side
saratogan ... thanks for sharing your experience

koiczar ... my goshikis started looking like the pic you posted with less netting at the start then the black slowly grew and covered even the hi. Do you have pics of the tosai that you bought

[longlong]

heres a pic of my goshiki when i got it

[koiczar]

Longlong

I'll be pulling fish for the show today or tomorrow. I need to take some pics of a few for show I.D.

I'll make sure I send you one of the tosai and one of the Torazo nisai so you can see how much it has changed over 3 months.

Mike

[longlong]

thanks! will wait for your pics and if you have time i would like to hear your comments on your fish. Also any comments on the fish i highlighted? what do you look for in choosing goshikis?

much thanks,

longlong

[tommyL]

I believe there to be broad range of Goshiki with very differing development traits.

A couple of pics how my Goshiki developed. The hi has remained quite clean. Though the rest has darkened.
I would love to one day aquire one of the traditional darker 'burning coals' type of goshiki.

1st pic two year old in November 2003.
2nd pic October 2005

[koiczar]

Tommy

Very nice fish! Who's the breeder? You're absolutely correct, there are several different "variations of a theme" with goshiki. That what makes me enjoy them so much (almost as much as showas) as you have to wait and see. I currently have 3 goshiki from 3 different breeders, Ogata, Jirosuke and Torazo. Each one is different. There's an article about Hosokai in one of the latest KoiBito mags. In there it discusses the variations and also talks about his lines of Goshiki. Incidentally, he took a Kokugyo Award at the All Japan Show with an 80cm goshiki that was to die for.