Just bought my first Japanese

[Ethan25]

Just bought my first Japanese koi. Ogata showa, two years old, 14". Bought it from a friend. Any thoughts? I will acquire this fish sometime in late May.

[saratogatan]

Ask yourselves if you like it.


stan

[Sangreaal]

Can't help it...the beni scares me. I'm getting used to sumi rising and falling in the early years, but when I see beni particulating like that I'd have to ask myself--will I like it as a shiro utsuri or shiro muji?

Marie

[Russell Peters]

I hope your friend did not charge you too much, the beni is breaking up on that Koi.

[koiczar]

Ethan25

Did you ask your friend why he wants to sell it? The first sign of the beni breaking up is probably the reason. As you can see, the fish grew fairly quickly. As the beni is a bit weak, it couldn't stretch with the shoulder growth. That's why you see those beni scales separated from the rest of the hi plate. Fish has a decent body and nice shiroji and sumi. Also looks to be GinRin from the photo!?

Mike

[Steve Nguyen]

since you bought it already, just enjoy what you got.

Steve

[Super Kindai]

I like it. the fish itself not bad besides a few Tobihi.
it seems to me that she has a gentle character.

[MikeM]

Ethan: This is going to be a very educational experience in many ways. Most of the comments are focusing on the negative, because it is rather obvious that the Hi is poor. So, knowing that, focus your eyes on the rest of this fish. What do you think of the body? How about the quality of the sumi? Is there a gloss to it? How is the Shiroji? If the red pigment is all fading away, you have a Shiro Utsuri in development... It is a different development process than we typically examine, but it is a process that may lead to improvement. Even Omosako gets Shiro Utsuri that begin their lives with the red of Showa. I had a Torazo Showa that took first place in her size as tosai, but lost almost all of her Hi. What was left was a puke orange. She was named "Ugly". She grew fast and large... and was embarassingly ugly when I found her a new home. A month ago it was reported that she lost the puke orange... at last. As a 4 year-old she is a Shiro Utsuri, and a huge one at that. Her Sumi has a long way to go, I'm told, but is still developing. Who knows, Ugly may turn out to be a fair looking koi. I kind of wish I'd kept her another year to see the progression. Or, maybe yours will not lose all the Hi. Maybe the Hi on the head will stay and you will have a quasi-Tancho. Who knows?

Enjoy the journey. Care for her well and she will reward you.

[mitten]

The first three pics are a year older than the last two? Meaning the fish is older in the last two? Hopefully.

[Ethan25]

Quote: Originally Posted by mitten The first three pics are a year older than the last two? Meaning the fish is older in the last two? Hopefully.

Yes. First three pics are from last November (06'). The last two are from this week. So the fish has deepening sumi. Thank you all for your comments. THe hi was leaving the fish, but has now steadied I think. The conformation is great I think, and the quality of the shiro and ginrin is good as well. I think the black will fill in, and I am hoping it will fill in where the red is a little weak. We'll see.

EThan