Ochiba Shiguri Markings Question

[PapaBear]

I have a tosai Ochiba which has been normally marked with a golden brown leaf pattern on a pale blue base... until recently. After putting him back in the outdoor pond a strong sumi leaf pattern has asserted itself on his back. If I can get a good picture I'll post it but it isn't easy to get a good shot now that he's back in the pond. BTW, he started out black with a gold outline on the head only and the ochiba pattern rose up from the belly during the first 6 months
My question is simple. Does strong sunlight have this effect on Ochiba's or is he just going kujaku on me???

[Brutuscz]

Is you pond a black liner? I have a black liner pond and anything that can turn black..will turn black!!! Sumi seems to do great in this type of environment. I think it is more likely the background than the sunlight.

[MikeM]

Very interested in seeing a pic.

[PapaBear]

They're all a bit agitated right now as the spawning is ready to start any time but I'll try to net him for a fresh photo. My pond liner is the color of carpet algae (OK, my pond liner IS carpet algae) which is plenty dark so I suppose that could be it. It just seemed odd to me that the black would overlay the leaf pattern on top the way it has.

[Brutuscz]

Well, there is a way to prove it. Get a white bottomed kiddie pool. You can get them in walmart or target..holds 500gal. I use them as quarantine tanks. Put the fish in there for a week...it will probably get lighter. That will prove the backround was the cause. I saw it happen with my fish.

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by PapaBear I have a tosai Ochiba which has been normally marked with a golden brown leaf pattern on a pale blue base... until recently. After putting him back in the outdoor pond a strong sumi leaf pattern has asserted itself on his back. If I can get a good picture I'll post it but it isn't easy to get a good shot now that he's back in the pond. BTW, he started out black with a gold outline on the head only and the ochiba pattern rose up from the belly during the first 6 months My question is simple. Does strong sunlight have this effect on Ochiba's or is he just going kujaku on me???

Larry

Sounds like TWO things are going on at the same time.

First, genetically, the fish was destined to change as it got older. It just wasn't showing it's "true colors" when you purchased it. Now that you have placed it in your outdoor pond with bright sunlight and black/green surface, it's taking on a darker coloration. I've seen a lot of ochiba that have developed sumi or very dark brownish-black markings. This could all change again as the fish ages. Only time will tell. I have a fish that I purchased two years ago as tosai that was in a 5/$100 group just to put in my Q-tank to keep things going. That fish, when purchased was marked as a doitsu ochiba. Even the dealer said that was what it was. Well, two years later, it is now 17" and has the coloration of a doitsu goshiki. Very, very BLACK with very nice RED. It even has beautiful motoguro. It's not a show fish by any stretch of the imagination, just a pond mutt that has become a family favorite. Try culling those out of your pond, haha!

Mike

[PapaBear]

The wife tookthe camera to work with her. (can't really complain, I gave it to her for Christmas a few years ago so she is the master of the digicam )

Thanks for the responses so far. This Ochiba and his kinginrin brother were both born in our pond last spring and kept for the learning experience of watching them develop. This one has been interesting to say the least. I actually like the looks of it as the patterns are complimentary. It's just part of the backyard learning lab. I promise to post pix as soon as I get my hands on the camera again, probably tomorrow AM.

[koiczar]

Larry

Can you confirm the parents or was this a free for all spawning?

Mike

[PapaBear]

But the father could either be a Shiro Bekko or my avatar pic. I'm betting on the Avatar as the father as many of the offspring from that spawning favor him a great deal. We kept several with similar coloring to see how they would mature.

[koiczar]

A Sanke female X GinRin Aka Bekko!! Interesting combination to achieve an ochiba from. Sounds like these sumi markings that are coming up are starting to show the true colors. Also, I would be willing to bet the "brownish/orange" spots will turn into hi eventually and that the blue coloring on the back is simply going to turn white. Guess what you'll have?? A Sanke?? Maybe!!