Since everyone is talking about Kohak, what do you look for when buying?

[aquitori]

Since everyone is talking about Kohak, what do you look for when buying? Plus what are some of the signs to tell you to pass....?

[lildude]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Since everyone is talking about Kohak, what do you look for when buying? Plus what are some of the signs to tell you to pass....?

Conformation, and if the koi is a Fingerling, A HUGE head...Indicates big growth, have to be careful with this though. Because if it grows to much, than the color and future pattern can be in jeopardy.

[koiczar]

Good question Tonio!

I'm sure JR would shed some very intuitive thoughts and info on this subject. At least I hope he does.

As for me, I'll try to give you an example

Scenario - There are 50 nisai kohakus placed in front of me. I have already asked the breeder about the keito and have seen them. First thing I would do is select for bone structure - looking predominantly at the head, shoulders and ozutsu. Let's say I find 10 promising bodies.

Second, I would look at the skin quality and how the shiroji looks. Is it somewhat transparent? Is the head clean and white? Is there a break at the odome?

Third - How does the beni look? Is it uniform or homogenous throughout the ENTIRE body? Do I see the deeper insertion of color at the center of EACH scale? Does the beni have a "soft" look to it? If sashi is present in this bloodline, is it uniform across the entire hi plate and the same on all hi plates? What does the kiwa look like. If Kamasori, are all edges sharp like a razor? If it's Maruzome kiwa, does it have or does it appear that all the scales will be completely finished to the edges? Within the hi plates, are there individual scales that appear to be a yellowish tint?

Lastly - Does the pattern appeal to me? If I want to grow the fish out, does it currently have a "big fish" pattern? I personally like a more "unique" pattern versus a standard two or three step. The patterning has to be more artistic than static if you get my meaning. Also, when I look at the fish as it swims towards me, does it's overall appearance appeal to me? It has to stir my emotions immediately otherwise I will become bored of it's look all too quickly when looking at it on a daily basis. I don't concern myself with the question of whether it will win a show or not. I have to see it EVERY DAY and if I'm not happy with it, then what's the point. Because someone else or a judge on any given day will appreciate it? That's not my main goal anymore. I used to be caught up in all that and worry about what others will think. Not anymore.

[lildude]

One of the Things I learned from Sakai-san.

Does the Nishikigoi have a greater distance between the Lips to the Fins?

heres and example (attachment)

If it is, the koi will grow substantially more than others, and will become bigger, but if it grows to quick the pattern will go to crap, because the pattern cannot keep up with the length growing so much, Kinda like me, Im super tall and I cannot eat to mirror my metabolism, so within about 30 minutes I am hungry again, In other words I grow to much.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by lilhelper One of the Things I learned from Sakai-san. Does the Nishikigoi have a greater distance between the Lips to the Fins? heres and example (attachment) If it is, the koi will grow substantially more than others, and will become bigger, but if it grows to quick the pattern will go to crap, because the pattern cannot keep up with the length growing so much, Kinda like me, Im super tall and I cannot eat to mirror my metabolism, so within about 30 minutes I am hungry again, In other words I grow to much.

Bad example Grasshoppa, I will give some examples later...Plus Loran is a special fish that goes beyond any conventional selection process....

[jnorth]

If it looks like a ranchu then you should pass! Seriously though are we talking tosai or nisai or overall? I would think there would be a difference in what you are looking for at each age.

[dick benbow]

One of the things i think should be brought up is what kind of a pond is the koi going into? Doesn't make sense to buy a perfect tategoi with tremendous potential and then put it in a pond where none of the breeders talent can be realized.

Since females take longer to bring around to a finish state and need a bigger
gallonage to create the growth and volumn, a small pond or medium can do very well with male koi. They do well till about the third year or until such time as a female's body starts to influence the decision making. But if you have a small pond and want to compete in the smaller sizes then you fall into a different category in the selection process.

Koiczar had a lot of good points..to add to it regarding pattern...when a koi gets up around 24-25 inches....quality becomes more evident and the pattern does not have the same sway as it does in smaller sizes especially under 20 inches. What that tells you is you need to have a very special pattern in smaller sizes....in bigger koi ,pattern is nice if you have that too but now quality begins to have it's effect...this understanding will help you
make better selections for your specific situation.(yes a great pattern and quality is best but that may be out of our league $$$$ wise atleast for me)

birdman will appreciate this: Back when I used to race pigeons, I had the choice to win the shorter races or the longer. I was drawn to the longer and i bought my bloodline accordingly. While i sent youngbirds out their first year in races my loft never did well. But during old bird season, especially in smash races (lots of storms) I did exceedingly well. Knowing my dream and my facilities I was able to make a good choice...and it works for me in my koi experience as well...match the koi to your dreams and your ability/facility

[Brutuscz]

I know that technically,we all will say bone structure first. But...how many of us really do that? I know my eye is always drawn to pattern and skin/color quality first. If I narrow down to a final few which all have patterns I like...I will then pay close attention to the bone structure to make a final decision. But, it is rare to look at a large group of fish and think bone structure first. The eye candy always distracts!!!

[koiczar]

Brutusz

The longer you spend in this hobby and the more (thousands) of fish you see, you WILL be able to concentrate on the more important parts first. A single trip to Japan will simply whet your appetite. Subsequent trips will spoil your eye. It's like apples and oranges. Once you've seen the apples there just is no other fruit like it.

Dick,

I totally agree with your asessment of taking pond size into account. Forgive me, I left that off. It is of major importance to this discussion. However, I was just giving "my point of view" and that includes having the gallonage to support the size. Lest we forget more humble beginnings!!

Mike

[Tamianth]

*cough cough* Ok guy's, while I understand some or most of this, some of the words being used this person does not understand..... yet!

Quote: Is there a break at the odome?

Quote: sashi is present in this bloodline, is it uniform across the entire hi plate and the same on all hi plates? What does the kiwa look like. If Kamasori, are all edges sharp like a razor? If it's Maruzome kiwa, does it have or does it appear that all the scales will be completely finished to the edges? Within the hi plates, are there individual scales that appear to be a yellowish tint?

I'm not sure exactly what is being reffered to here..