How would one define their hobby of Nishikigoi?

[aquitori]

There has been alot of new members to this board and not so new members. We all share this board with the common goal of learning koi and expanding our minds to new things and not so new things. How would one define their hobby of Nishikigoi?

This is open to everyone so feel free to share....

[lildude]

A constant struggle to keep up in the knowledge of koi, as well as a constant struggle to know your place, for me atleast. But that is down right ok, for the first one atleast

[koifishgirl]

My ex call my ponds the black money holes.

[dick benbow]

the hobby itself has many doors to enter thru, and many doors to go thru once inside. It is an opportunity to learn about a unique culture that gave us this hobby. It is also an opportunity to create friendships worldwide. many of us come thru the entry door seeking the peaceful serenty and a quiet moment away from the demands of modern hectic life. If we're lucky we learn from our new found koi friends how to care for our charges...and then the hobby seems to offer up so many more doors to journey thru....breeders,bloodlines, water parameters all kinds of neat new info to explore. For some who cannot get the help they need for whatever reason, the hobby eventually leads to the exit door. A little used door for most, but for an unfortunate few, one that must be used to get away from the frustration of loosing fishy friends, or trying to make inroads into cliquey clubs; only to give up in frustration. As we define what door we wish to enter next, let's all vow to take 5 minutes at the next show or club meeting or random meeting at a dealership, to offer a hand in friendship to a newbee. Afterall they are here for the same reason we are. each with their own gift that they bring. let's not send them away and loose what they could have contributed.
Fortunately for us we have KB, It might not be a bad idea to spead the word
that this is the place to feel welcome and feel free to learn. let's make the exit door a thing of the past, so all can find the joy of koi.....thank-you Russ for always being the first one on this board to extend a hand of welcome...

[koicluboftheair]

Koi carp are such a friendly species that are a pathway into feeling closer with nature and the fishes that inhabit the majority of the planet, the watery world. More friendly than sharks and rather easily maintained they offer cross cultural appreciation as the Japanese, a nation scorned by many Americans generations ago created a sort of board game, like chess where those with certain patterns, markings, colors and conformation would be considered the most prized. All the while those who love the fish for their own sake appreciate even the mutant fry that like Nemo has his or her personality meaning no harm, but rather rhetorically wanting like us for the fulfillment of that chance to exist in a healthy environment to enjoy simple pleasures, which in their case include mouthfuls of food we provide. My fish are my family as much or more so in some respects as those of a similar genome. The hobby is not about the people in it, but the spectacle of koi. In this time of Thanksgiving I'm grateful most for the blessings of opportunity to enjoy life in some measure through those things often most unlike me including my koi.

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori There has been alot of new members to this board and not so new members. We all share this board with the common goal of learning koi and expanding our minds to new things and not so new things. How would one define their hobby of Nishikigoi? This is open to everyone so feel free to share....

[Bob Winkler]

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl My ex call my ponds the black money holes.

LOL KFG I have an ex that said that too...


To me the hobby has a much simpler definition...... Inner Peace

[saratogatan]

My wife calls my koi 'mistresses'. and I have to keep buying good quality koi at fire-sale price of $20 a pop. BTW, I like spending time with my mistresses, it really help the stress out of me. But my stress will come right back after admiring my mistresses when my wife starts complaining about them.

stan

[Brutuscz]

For myself, koi are the next step in my evolution as a fish keeping hobbyist. I began keeping fish when I was 10yrs old..and I'm now 37. So, 27 years of fishkeeping. I feel the fishkeeping hobbies have 3 pinnacles that can be reached. 1)Discus...just an amazing species to keep and breed 2)The reef/saltwater hobby...I was in this for many years. My 150 gal reef tank was an incredible amount of work. It had 1200 watts of lighting alone...cost a fortune to run monthly. Really became more work than enjoyment. 3)The pond/koi hobby....where else can you see a fish worth $100,000.00?!?! It is enjoyable..has infinite room to grow as a hobbyist, and cuts you some slack compared to a reef tank. Definitely the pinnacle for a fish keeper!!!

[dizzyfish]

As for me I would enjoy them even if they were common magoi taken out of a local river or stream. Since I was a very young child I had a fascination with all manner of fish. I lived in Michigan, but we would spend the summers helping our grandparents in Kentucky and learning how to work on a farm first hand. My hobby began by taking blue gill from a local lake and keeping them in cattle watering troughs at my grand father's farm. By the time I was 6 my grandfather got tired of me using all this troughs for my fish, and he cut the top out of a 55 gallon steel drum and buried it in the ground so I could keep some goldfish in it. Although I would only get to see them for about 3-months out of the year, I remember they lived for several years and got fairly large. I've been a hobbyist of some sort for over 50 years. Now I own a fish store and I've kept everything from guppies to groupers. Even after 21-years in business I find dealing with the people orientated issues, much more tiresome than dealing with aquatic life husbandry issues. The nishikigoi never gripe or complain and they have a way making me feel like they appreciate all I do for them. They grow and they reproduce, both of which give me great pleasure. Like the rest of you I also enjoy learning about the history of nishikigoi development and I am humbled by the accomplishments of the great masters. While I really enjoy upgrading the quality of my collection, I also have a strong fondness for some of my old friends that survived my learning years. For me this was just something I was born to do.
Mitch

[bekko]

I am doomed to mediocrity.

-st e