economics and KHV

[dick benbow]

Our own Mike M had an excellent comment regarding this topic on another board. I thought it worthy of discussion here....his remarks were centered around the topic of the cost of the cure for khv for those just getting into the hobby. The QT Tank, The blood test, probably more exprensive then the koi that would be saved by the effort.So how do we justify the exspense for beginners, where maybe the 6, 3-4 inches they just bought cost less than $50.00?

[aquitori]

Not alot of people are diehard into the hobby like us. Most arent aware of the dangers that lurk around each corner of this hobby.

[dick benbow]

So how do we make education and compliance something other than a protection of investment

[bekko]

Quote: So how do we justify the exspense

We don't. For most people there is little difference between having ich and KHV. The end result is the same - dead fish.

-ste veho

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow So how do we make education and compliance something other than a protection of investment

I think it is up to those who want to accept the info. Some people dont look at their fish as investment and the term "Quality"...For most seasoned hobbyist we pick and choose who we want to help and let those that dont want to listen to suffer the learning curve. When those who havent taken prior advise come back, that is when they come with a open mind to free knowledge.

KHV isnt a concern to those types of hobbyist since there investment is very low, but to those who have alot on the line they take it more serious.

[PapaBear]

I suppose there is a "tipping point" that a typical newcomer reaches as they eventurally become infected with "kichiness" (Koi Kichi Virus aka KKV ), a delightful but expensive malady with similar typology to KHV. Some are naive, some immune, some infected carriers, and survivors.
Naive and naturally immune hobbiests are typically owners of WG's in need of something colorful that can swim. They are likely to kill their WMart crapagoi due to poor environmental conditions anyway, so why QT in the first place? Naturally immune hobbiests will never become infected with KKV and likely drop the hobby as mucking out the puddle and scooping dead fish becomes too much of a hassle. Some Naive hobbiests will become infected with KKV and finally start learning about their pets at which time they'll buy a tub from wallyworld and call it a Q-Tank (been there, done that )
Infected carriers and survivors have gone over the deep end, spend hours going back and forth between ponds, dealers, shows, and forums... each and every day. How severe the infection of KKV is determined largely by the size of the bank account and willpower.
There is no known cure for KKV (apart from chapter 7 ) but I've heard rumors of a 12 step recovery program being developed by the Palestinians to combat Israeli Koi Sales...

[koicluboftheair]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow So how do we justify the exspense for beginners, where maybe the 6, 3-4 inches they just bought cost less than $50.00?

I'd say if we are to "justify" the expense to beginners it would have to be based on the urgent need to prevent the spread of disease. Likewise, hobbyist whether beginners or not shouldn't plumb their pond discharge to storm drains or runoff to creeks and tributaries where eggs and fry might become nuisance populations warranting further government intrusion into our lives. A QT system can be built for cheap and likewise your pond discharge can serve your flower beds nutritional needs. Best management practices are the justification.

[KoiCop]

KKV -- pretty darn good post, Larry.

[PapaBear]

Just my "tongue in cheek" take on the situation. In its own semi-humorous way it measures the lay of the land.
Serious hobbiests have a 180deg different view of Koi than what I believe a typical newcomer has. Therefore we have a 180deg differring view not only of quality, but of Koi health and disease issues as well. Since my entrance into the hobby I know my knowledge has grown and my views have changed dramatically both in terms of Koi quality and Koi health. We had been keeping Koi for over a year before ever hearing the term KHV.
I think it is safe to assume that well over 50% of Koi newcomers in any given year will enter through the water garden/petstore door, not because they are indifferent or careless... merely ignorant. Remember, the word ignorant is not an insult to anyones intellect, merely a measure of specific knowledge. Outside the hobby how many in the general public would have even a remote CLUE what any of the discussions about water, conformation, filtration, health, etc... we have on this forum are about? I'd have to say precious few could make heads or tails of it without a Koi specific thesaurus. Sad but true, if a complete newbie was to read many of the "great" threads here it would be like sending a Southern Baptist to a Catholic Mass in Latin .
Exposure to understandable knowledge is the key, and for most hobbiests knowledge is elusive in the beginning. We are fortunate in that my wife and I both have a hunger for knowledge coupled with an appreciation for excellence being its own best reward. It has no doubt save us a lot of hardship along the way. The world is unfortunately filled to overflowing with those whose hunger is easily satiated by mediocrity and find ignorance a blissfully wonderful way to go through life.
Case in point. A few months back we came home with a bagged Kohaku (sitting in my wifes lap all the way home ) and the man in the toll booth saw it. He mentioned that they were getting all new Koi. The reason why??? A friend had told them the easiest way to "clean the filters" was to just "add the detergent to the pond" I thought he was telling a joke... he wasn't.

[mstrseed]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow So how do we justify the exspense for beginners, where maybe the 6, 3-4 inches they just bought cost less than $50.00?

You don't know my wife.....don't kill off her pets.....

Rule#1 "Don't name them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rule#2 See above....