For Mike Pheffer,...

[Brady Brandwood]

Hi Mike,

No, we're likely not on the same page. Poor quality beni can finish early or late too, but will not have the same texture, depth and "aura" that high quality beni will.

I know where you're coming from though. The term "quality" can mean different things to us in Koi.

Best Wishes,
Brady Brandwood

[l113892]

Brady-

Where do you get your baseline? Where do you see high quality beni to compare what you see with what you produce? Who has been your koi mentor? The knowledge of koi, koi quality, skin quality, sheen, etc. is not something you are born with.

[lildude]

Quote: Originally Posted by l113892 Brady- Where do you get your baseline? Where do you see high quality beni to compare what you see with what you produce? Who has been your koi mentor? The knowledge of koi, koi quality, skin quality, sheen, etc. is not something you are born with.

I am curios too. but I think you are asking too much. that is like asking sakai san to spill all he knows about koi, and how he does something. would that really be the best thing to do?

[l113892]

The biggest secret with koi is no secret at all- you need the best breeding stock that money can buy. Even then- you must have the knowledge to cull efficiently, grow to their maximum potential and many things I don't know about. Many of the tricks of the trade are used to keep ones fish alive- degassing the ponds, predetor deterents. There is only so much you can learn in a vacuum. You need to acquire information from those that have gone before, the generations of breeders that have brought the quality level to where it is today. I don't remember asking Mat any questions that he wouldn't answer.

[PapaBear]

One of the things I've grown to appreciate most about people at the top of the craft is their willingness to educate the rest of us. Knowledgeable hobbiests are the potential customers for the "best" koi. Those who know and understand true quality and potential are able to see and appreciate it, and assign it an appropriate value (and pay a goodly sum for it). The long term future of good breeders is built on their reputation for quality and customer care.
The bottom feeders peddling crapagoi don't educate their customers (usually because they are incapable of it) and their definition of "customer care" is best defined as selling replacement fish for the ones their ignorant customers manage to kill out of ignorance and neglect.

[Brady Brandwood]

Hi Mike,

I don’t personally believe there are any “baselines” in Koi. To some Koi breeding is a business, to some it’s an artform. Some breeders are innovators, and some breeders are content to produce Koi that look just like the Koi from more successful breeders. We're all different. I’m working on several projects here to produce a Koi with characteristics that I personally want to see, whether its in the bodyline, or in coloration. Where would I get a "baseline" for my own vision??? Also, if I am constantly comparing my Koi to other breeders Koi would I not then be doomed to just follow their path? At what point would I become better than them, or produce Koi that were unique and different from theirs? If my Koi do well in shows, and they sell well then they’re considered “good” in general terms. If I’M producing what I want to see in my Koi then what I’m doing is good.

Best Wishes,
Brady Brandwood

[KoiCop]

very well said.

PS -- nice fish.

[lildude]

Bravo brady. A kohaku/Gosanke that looks great at a young age and still has its growing and developing to do for many years to come. That indeed is money well spent.

By the way, nice kujaku


So you are saying pretty much that koi breeding is your passion, Your love. Well From what I think. I feel the same way. I would love to get into koi breeding. It would be so fun, even if it was the hardest thing to do in the entire world. Seeing those fish of yours would more than payoff due to hardwork. Brady, you created those beauties.

[dizzyfish]

I for one am very impressed with the way Brady is innovating and progressing. IMO the best way to learn how koi develop is to raise a few batches. Of course this is easier said than done. I agree with Mike that the best way to shorten the trip to high quality is to start with the best brood stock you can afford. The one thing that people need to know is that koi breeding is hard, sweaty work. It may appear somewhat glamorous from the outside looking in, but the reality is 95% of us city dwellers couldn't handle the work load, and lack of social life. It also takes a pretty sizable expenditure before you can even begin to do things half way right. You could easily spend quite a bit of money getting set up to do something that you find out you don't like near as much as you thought you would. I think many breeders are willing to answer questions quite freely because they know very few people actually have the right stuff to walk the full mile in their shoes. When most people turn a hobby into a business, they find the fun leaves out real soon. My hat is off to people like Brady and Mat and Ross. I wish them all the success in the world.
Mitch

[MikeM]

Oh, Brady. That is a superb Kujaku. Be nice to see when the colors finish. You gotta be a proud daddy.