Showing smaller koi?

[atgunner]

in my time I have had at least one fish that was better as a nisai than it was later in life, it is, however, not so widely accepted to show such young fish. Anyone have thoughts or reasons why or why not? I sound nuts even thinking about this I know.

it is now definitely not as good looking as it was 2 years ago

[RayJordan]

Every koi "peaks" at their own time. Most peak/finish very small/young some peak when larger/older. In the U.S. we tend to show whatever koi we like for whatever reason. Many koi taken to shows are unfinished and still developing. Some are near their peak finished condition and these will be the show winners. Others are over the hill and past their prime.

Koi are judged for how they look on the day of the show not for their perceived potential. Koi going to a show need to be near their peak to have a chance of winning a top award - depending on the competion of course.

Most koi are bought based on their perceived future/potential. Patience is required because many koi that take years to reach their peak. Showing koi before it's time risks damage and stress that could negatively affect a koi's ability to reach it's ultimate potential.

[atgunner]

But then there is always the chance it will turn out like my fish, a perfect nisai, but a mediocre adult, I was waiting for it to peak, I thought it had potential, but I was wrong.

[RayJordan]

Yep, sadly more often than not we realize too late that a koi has peaked and on the way down.

[dick benbow]

I think because most koi enthusuasts don't share the same education as the japanese, they don't show their koi before it's time. There is an art to developing a koi and knowing when it's at it's peak. Just as Ray outlines, some peak earlier especially the males. the trick is to show the koi at it's best when it arrives at it's zenith. What used to get me was to see a bunch of under developed young fish with potential, shown in the summer when they should have been growing and then off to 3 or 4 shows just weeks/days apart in a shotgun effort to find someone to recognize it's value! result ruined koi, sick or injured amounting to a real set back in thier potential. many never regained their ability to improve after that.

I remember a few years back when a dealer bought the all japan 1 bu Asagi champion for mega bucks. Think of the profit, the prestege, etc....he couldn't give it away by the following spring. Show koi that last is like fame....pretty fleeting. I think a serious club would do their membership a favor by having a breeder cover that subject at a seminar at their show.

I think the western culture is such that we demand instant gratification for ourt purchase. Bonsai, like Koi and the japanese culture focus as much on the preparation as the end result.....we could even use food as an example.
japanese food is artfully prepared and a real feast for the eyes to be enjoyed.
Around western tables, the grub is immediately consumed.(burp, what's for dessert)

Recently I acquired some bonsai from a collection where the owner was sick for a long time. The family kept them watered and that was about it. many of those I picked up had wire deepely embedded, roots fused together and crooked and many dead/dying branches. My first job is to get that tree healthy again before i do anything to it. that may take several years. Then each stage of development is another season (year) in 4-5 years, I will have them back in a position where i can begin working with them to improve them.

While most business types know the japanese expression kaisan or daily improvement...it takes years....but the satisfaction comes from knowing
you paid your dues and presented your koi at the perfect time in it's career! It may not ven win or place but you know in your heart you gave it it's best chance in life....
I hope more koi kichi's will begin to focus on this concept.

[atgunner]

yeah, and I knew I had a great fish, but part of it was being afraid to show up with a little nisai (although near perfectly formed) and get laughed at. oh well it is a very average fish now.

I dont do many shows, some years none at all, but I do still like to have high quality fish that I can really enjoy, and if I get that special one.......