Nisai Harvest in Fresno: Part I

[Richard Rombold]

I just finished uploading 15 more pictures to my photo host and will bring five more up tonight. To answer some questions.

#1) My only hesitation on this fish is if the pattern is large enough for the fish as it develops, but this may turn into an asset. The skin quality is so good on her that a smaller pattern may simply highlight her best feature.

#2 & 3) Both very nice Males and there are elements on #3 that I'd like to capture and enhance in the gene pool.

#4) Very solid Tancho Sanke. Nice body conformation. Developing full Tancho marking well placed on the head. Beautiful skin quality and deep well proportioned sumi. The deep shimi spot you see on the Tancho I feel is a function of immaturity and thin skin. You're still seeing the brain pan through the skin and this will correct itself as the fish matures. Look for another Tancho Sanke later on that will show this more clearly. The Beni is orange based and takes longer to develop in this now retired bloodline. I have a similar Tancho in my personal pond that when placed last year She had very similar sumi markings. One year later she is still developing and the Sumi has emerged as deep concentrated lacquer like markings. She's going to be stunning as I think this fish will as well.

#5) Will be a nice koi but She has the furthest to travel.

Finally, These fish are kept outside in tanks. The Winter's can get rather gloomy in the Central Valley with a lot of overcast days and Tulle Fog but it stays relatively mild. The area is warm enough to have Orange Orchards if that gives you any idea of our Winters.

I really appreciate the forum members who have taken the time to leave their comments. The more honest and critical the better. I'm here to learn. All ego aside. I listen to EVERYONE so that I can see my work anew and better determine where I need to improve. Thanks. More pictures soon.

[Richard Rombold]

#6 13in Male Kohaku



#7 16in Female Kohaku



#8 (Tategoi) 15in Female Sanke



#9 14in Male Gin-Rin Kohaku (Wonderful Gin-Rin!)



#10 17in Female Sanke

[Steve Nguyen]

hi Richard,

much congrats!! these are great looking pix. I think you done a fantastic job.

I think Mary will have tough time selecting her favorite as more pictures get posted. I am having tough time picking my fav myself.... leaning toward #6 at the moment.

keep 'em coming, Richard.

Steve

[carolyn swanson]

Pearl gin rin on #9?

[mitten]

My attraction to long shots and dark shadows takes me back to #5. That puts me with #8 of this group. I think #9 is the beautiful boy that could make Marreee forget all about the horses.

Thanks for the background on the climate you deal with.

I am waiting to see if someone backs up Carolyn on the descriptor for the GR. When I saw it I said "Hey! That's ____ GR" because I didn't know the name. Thanks Carolyn. Richard, we may need a pic of the scales.

Mickey the windowman

[Sangreaal]

Quote: Originally Posted by PapaBear Ok, some more of you true KoiKichi turned quiet lurkers out there need to speak up. We have an important task at hand for our resident poet laureate, Marie ... not to mention the fact that Richard asked us all to let him have it... good, bad, or indifferent

Thanks Larry! Come on you guys. I need all the input I can get!

I've been pretty slow on the uptake in this thread--must be the shock and awe of it all. *LOL* Perhaps it would help everyone if they knew what I was looking for out of Richard's koi?

Now this is going to take some doing on my part, so bear with me. If you read my post in the "What makes you fork out the green on a fish" thread, choosing a koi, for me, is a pretty ephemeral thing. And it's very hard to put into words.

I guess I'm wanting a multi-purpose koi with a strongly distilled bloodline. Something prepotent so I can stamp the type into an outcross if I so wish. I want a koi that will stand up and be noticed in the show ring, because I intend to grow this one out to the best of my ability. In short...

...I want Jr's dollar.

I need your keen eyes and sharp perfectionist minds to help me do this. Now is that too much to ask?

I'll be posting my opinions on every fish presented and I would appreciate your feedback so I can understand what it is that I'm seeing (or in some instances, not seeing) in them. So this helps me in more ways than one--selection and eye development geared towards both breeding and show. I'll tell you right now, when it comes down to choosing just one, I may have to blindfold myself, twirl around three times and play pin the tail on the donkoi.

Thanks for everyone's contributions so far and in the future. It's very appreciated!

Marie

[Birdman]

Awesome fish Richard, your doing great. Love #8

[Sangreaal]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Rombold #6 13in Male Kohaku This is one gorgeous boy. In many respects I am a headhunter, and this fellow has the type head I most admire, just like #3. I like the distribution of his hi plates and of course the glowing quality of the skin that presents that bright bold beni and snow white shiroji. #7 16in Female Kohaku Nice three step girl, but I'm distracted by the tiny tancho and wish her head had thicker, whiter skin. Will this develop over time, Richard? #8 (Tategoi) 15in Female Sanke This Sanke girl absolutely rocks! I've leaned towards the kohakus from the beginning, but this one could change my mind... #9 14in Male Gin-Rin Kohaku (Wonderful Gin-Rin!) OMG!!! Mickey, you're right....and I'm in trouble now. Someone tell me why I shouldn't pic this fish.... #10 17in Female Sanke

Another strong sanke girl....and I can't get my mind off of #9 enough to even comment. *LOL*

So I'm now juggling #1 and #9, with #3 and #8 lurking around in the back of my mind with that tancho.

God help me...

Marie

[Sangreaal]

Quote: Originally Posted by mitten My attraction to long shots and dark shadows takes me back to #5. That puts me with #8 of this group. I think #9 is the beautiful boy that could make Marreee forget all about the horses. Thanks for the background on the climate you deal with. I am waiting to see if someone backs up Carolyn on the descriptor for the GR. When I saw it I said "Hey! That's ____ GR" because I didn't know the name. Thanks Carolyn. Richard, we may need a pic of the scales. Mickey the windowman

Yes, yes we do, Mickey! I've gotta see those up close, if at all possible. Never seen such a beautiful representation of this sort of ginrin before...

Marie

[PapaBear]

Ok... I'm gonna try
Once again, nice bodies and skin quality throughout so most of my comments will focus on color/pattern/potential... (from a relative novice point of view)
#6 Another fine looking male. Good looking beni, very well balanced pattern, and would probably hold his own in smaller show classes.
#7 Similar skin to #1, but will the hi plates keep up with her as she grows??? Hard to say yes, especially the smallish head patch.
#8 A very nicely balanced pattern with good sumi placement. Big enough to grow well with the fish, and she looks to have plenty of potential for a good sized body.
#9 OK Marie... here's your reason NOT to choose this one. No doubt he is one FINE looking fish with killer skin, pearly gin rin, good pattern, snowy shiroji, and deep rose beni... but he'll never take JR's dollar. He's one of the smallest fish thus far and even though he has a good looking body conformation with growth potential, I doubt he could ever stand up to the big females 3-4 years down the road.
#10 I don't think the hi plates will be balanced as she grows. Lustrous skin, nice sumi, but my guess is that the hi may break away from the dorsal line completely and exaggerate the open area in the tail tube.