Culling Kohaku

[mr_koi]

Hi All
Today was the second of four kohaku culls. We are only using one female kohaku parent this year. I tested this female in both 2005 and 2006, in those years egg production was very low and I could only raise a small number in both years, but it was enough to see the outstanding quality of her offspring. This year was the absolute opposite, she had an incredible number of fertilized eggs . She is a true Matsunosuke Kohaku. Joe and I purchased her as the premier sansai Kohaku back in Fall 2003 in a moment of shear koi insanity. She remains the most expensive Koi that Joe and I have ever had the privilage of handling. Sakai san originally recommended her as a contender for the All Japan Show, but after another years growth in his mudpond, she returned to Isawa, only to jump in one of his concrete ponds. The accident left her with a white window scar in the beni pattern. With this damage her show career expectation was over before it had begun. I'll post a current picture of her tommorow if your interested.

The koi displayed are around 2-3 inches in length at the first cull. I'm a little late with this cull as they are around 7 weeks old. I'll cull the other two ponds Tuesday and Wednesday. I took photos of certain koi that really caught my eye in terms of quality and pattern. The little buggers are very difficult to get sharp photos as they are constantly moving. I'll try and improve my photography tommorow. The bowl shot shows all the koi that Ross and Bob had caught with two seines of the tosai pond. I would estimate that there are about 40000 koi in that 6 foot bowl. I culled them severely to around 2000 keepers. Hopefully the next two ponds yeild about the same number.

Thanks for reading
Mat

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by mr_koi Hi All Today was the second of four kohaku culls. We are only using one female kohaku parent this year. I tested this female in both 2005 and 2006, in those years egg production was very low and I could only raise a small number in both years, but it was enough to see the outstanding quality of her offspring. This year was the absolute opposite, she had an incredible number of fertilized eggs . She is a true Matsunosuke Kohaku. Joe and I purchased her as the premier sansai Kohaku back in Fall 2003 in a moment of shear koi insanity. She remains the most expensive Koi that Joe and I have ever had the privilage of handling. Sakai san originally recommended her as a contender for the All Japan Show, but after another years growth in his mudpond, she returned to Isawa, only to jump in one of his concrete ponds. The accident left her with a white window scar in the beni pattern. With this damage her show career expectation was over before it had begun. I'll post a current picture of her tommorow if your interested. The koi displayed are around 2-3 inches in length at the first cull. I'm a little late with this cull as they are around 7 weeks old. I'll cull the other two ponds Tuesday and Wednesday. I took photos of certain koi that really caught my eye in terms of quality and pattern. The little buggers are very difficult to get sharp photos as they are constantly moving. I'll try and improve my photography tommorow. The bowl shot shows all the koi that Ross and Bob had caught with two seines of the tosai pond. I would estimate that there are about 40000 koi in that 6 foot bowl. I culled them severely to around 2000 keepers. Hopefully the next two ponds yeild about the same number. Thanks for reading Mat

Hi Mat,

I would be very intrerested in seeing the mother. The four fry that you posted look great and seeing more would be a thrill. I know you are very busy so whatever you can post would be great.

Russ

[Richard Rombold]

Thanks Mat, what a thrill it must have been to work with that spawn. The third kohaku is just outstanding. Good luck with the other two ponds.

[PapaBear]

I'm always ready to see pics of fry and their parents, but especially from a quality spawning like this. Culling our backyard babies is one thing (talking hundreds of mutts rather than thousands of keepers) but seeing the product and process of a REAL culling is good for developing a better eye for good tosai.

[gjs63]

YES PLEASE, moore pics. Very exciting and infromative.

[HEADACHE6]

I believe I have two Kohakus from this Female . One taking BGC at a Show in May 07' (beating out 32 other koi). I have a couple photos of the parent female (If it's her) , but will wait for Mats pics. to make sure before I post them .

[gjs63]

How about pics of the males that contributed. After all it does take two, desen't. Please and thanks.

[Eugeneg]

I culled them severely to around 2000 keepers. Hopefully the next two ponds yeild about the same number.

Thanks for reading
Mat[/quote]
A big cogratulations it will be worth the drive just to see them .
Regards
Eugene

[l113892]

Thanks Mat.

My nisai sanke purchased in December is looking good. I still question whether there is a dent in the shoulder. The hi is strong.

[gregbickal]

Man, that would have been fun to cull through!!!