Advantages and Disadvantages of Jumbo Tosai?

[JasPR]

So let me get this straight-

This koi was only 3 inches after four or five months of life, but has grown 7 inches in the next 90 days and 2 inches in the last 45 days? Or put another way, it grew 3 inches in the first half of it's life but has grown 9 inches in the second half of it's life. Is that what your saying? This is interesting, you must be heating now more than in the summer weather?

What is the water temperature now and during this time frame, and what are you feeding?
JR

[Super Kindai]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR So let me get this straight- This koi was only 3 inches after four or five months of life, but has grown 7 inches in the next 90 days and 2 inches in the last 45 days? Or put another way, it grew 3 inches in the first half of it's life but has grown 9 inches in the second half of it's life. Is that what your saying? This is interesting, you must be heating now more than in the summer weather? What is the water temperature now and during this time frame, and what are you feeding? JR

Hi, JR. Yes, that's right. This fish was just 3" when it had arrived here from Japan at the end of last Sep'.
Since then, it has been swiming in 125 gal aquarium at 78-80 degrees heated water and I have been feeding SAKI-HIKARI Growth and small dry shrimps.
It's fun to watch

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Super Kindai Hi, JR. Yes, that's right. This fish was just 3" when it had arrived here from Japan at the end of last Sep'. Since then, it has been swiming in 125 gal aquarium at 78-80 degrees heated water and I have been feeding SAKI-HIKARI Growth and small dry shrimps. It's fun to watch

Junichi
That is some amazing growth, please keep us updated. When will you put this fish in your pond?

[Richard Rombold]

Growth rates in koi are highly variable to say the least. Growth comes down to the quality of the environment, temperature, diet and genetics. If a breeder sees a special quality in a tosai during sorting he his likely to place it into more favorable growing conditions. These are his fish with the highest potential. Unfortunately, this same group is also going to receive his most intent scrutiny when harvested in the Fall. After all, these are the best of the best of what he has produced that year. What is sold as a jumbo tosai in this situation is no accidental oversight. There are no GC's here. You would be better off with smaller fish from the same pairing which the breeder may have over looked during the rush of the Summer.

[JasPR]

Hi Junichi, I see now. I was wondering how a koi could shift in growth pattern without a change in environment and additional help in winter. I see now, Japan for fry growth, summer growth and then 'eternal summer' in a fish aquarium.
I'd watch that stretching as the beni looks under stress from the growth? I did something similar with this shiro that I pushed in a 600 gallon aquarium. But I cut back the heat to finish the fish for young shows. JR

[keokoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR I would love to organize a trip with you guys so you could actually see the facilities and what goes on in Japan rather than see you rely on koi merchant reports and snippets from the Internet. Just like talking thu milk carton containers attached with strings, the internet has a way of passing on one dimensional gossip or casual observation as ultimate fact and ultimate truth. JR

Where do I sign up and when can I purchase my ticket? I wanna go!

Joe

[JasPR]

Joe, as you know, its a pretty amazing thing to wake up, have breakfast and then take a 30 minute ride to see maybe six breeders before lunch! In those three-four hours you see the entire years effort of the best breeders in the world! Tosai, Nisai, sansai, yonsai and oyagoi- nothing is hidden. Its like a living genetic map of the last fives years progress and failures. All one needs is the perspective to take it all in. It is also why you should never buy fish on the first day- it can overwhelming and short circuit the evaluation process ! O and then there is lunch and the afternoon visits to six more!!!

After visting Japan once or twice a year since the first trip 17 years ago now ( first trip 1990 All Japan Show), and having missed the last two years, I'm very eager to return this fall!

I would like to organize a trip for the ZNA members. We were talking about a ZNA National show on the other board, but I think things like a 'National trip' would be a better idea to forge links between chapters. What do you think about that idea?
JR

[l113892]

I like that idea. I'm going either way this year.

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR Joe, as you know, its a pretty amazing thing to wake up, have breakfast and then take a 30 minute ride to see maybe six breeders before lunch! In those three-four hours you see the entire years effort of the best breeders in the world! Tosai, Nisai, sansai, yonsai and oyagoi- nothing is hidden. Its like a living genetic map of the last fives years progress and failures. All one needs is the perspective to take it all in. It is also why you should never buy fish on the first day- it can overwhelming and short circuit the evaluation process ! O and then there is lunch and the afternoon visits to six more!!! After visting Japan once or twice a year since the first trip 17 years ago now ( first trip 1990 All Japan Show), and having missed the last two years, I'm very eager to return this fall! I would like to organize a trip for the ZNA members. We were talking about a ZNA National show on the other board, but I think things like a 'National trip' would be a better idea to forge links between chapters. What do you think about that idea? JR

Sounds like a cool idea, I would be down to go on a ZNA trip amongst hobbyist.

[saratogatan]

JR, I love the idea, better if it is free.

talk about super growth mini koi, toni got me 2 koi, about 4" and 7" last april 23rd. The 4" is at least 17" now (larger than the 17" I got dec last year), and the 7" is maybe 19". they have not been fed for 3 months. The points is, if you want fast growth koi, hit the 4 for $100 tanks.

stan