Culling Showa

[mr_koi]

Hi all

Today I culled our Showa babies for the first time. This was the second time that we had spawned this female. We call her "Big Mama"

Big Mama actually belongs to Dan and Sharon Olson. The first time that I saw this koi was when it was a Jumbo Sansai in Toshio’s mountain greenhouse. I believe this was October 2002. I nearly fell in the pond, her body was unlike any showa I had ever seen, her beni was so deep and the skin luster shone in the sunlight. Her most striking quality was her sumi, deep glossy ebony black. Almost foaming at the mouth, I requested a price. Sakai laughed, shook his head and put the glorious koi back in his pond. Dejected, we continued to purchase other koi.

In January 2003, I returned to Japan for the Shinkokai All Japan Show. The Olsons and the Andersons accompanied me on this trip. This was the first time we had met. Dan, please correct me if I have my years wrong. Sakai was truly on form as teacher and salesman. On our second day in Isawa he netted the very same Showa that I had drooled over, just months earlier. This was offered to Dan and he accepted. The Showa would be kept in Sakai’s mud pond for the upcoming summer. After the deal was made, Sakai asked Dan to let me use it as a parent koi after he had finished with it. This made my day and was probably the only time I have wished for a tategoi to finish sooner rather than later.

In the fall of 2003, only the ladies, Sharon and Phyllis returned for the harvest. Both Dan and Gene had to work to pay for their wives’ addiction. Big Mama emerged from the mud pond amid gasps and oohs and ahhs. She looked even better than before.

All returned in January 2004 and Big Mama was inspected by Dan after a years absence. She never really had a show pattern in the conventional way; it was her out and out quality that made her so appealing. She was shipped to Quality koi in spring 2004 and underwent our usual lengthy quarantine procedure. She had traveled with a few unwanted passengers, Anchor worm. They had embedded in her pectoral muscle and an aeromonas infection ensued. This infection was treated but left the pectoral fin rigid and paralyzed. During this time, Dan decided that she would stay with me and we would us her as a parent for Showa. Over the next year her body modified to enable her to swim with her new deformity. This developed into a slight bend in her spine. We first used her as our second showa parent in summer 2005. Overstocking and late spawning realized only a few good babies; however, it was enough to know that she would be our number 1 female. Fungus plagued us in 2006, but she was in full force in 2007. Some of her babies are shown below.

Mat

[Russell Peters]

Mat, that is a great, but sad, story. At least for the Showa. It looks like you will have good success this year with her babies. Thank you for posting.

[MikeM]

I could never be a breeder. I'd have keep all of them for years. Looks like a banner year for Showa.

[Danjols]

Mat, great story other than your squirming around when Sakai offered her, I was very pleased and equally pleased with her progress. Her girth is totally outstanding along with depth of color you have described. Will be looking forward to our harvest trip to QK this fall for another visit of "Big Mama", her offspring should bring happiness to all that step up!

Dan

[dick benbow]

I have a kohaku in the longpond mud this year and the GR goshiki I'm raising with some siblings to see how they turn out......

[dick benbow]

the asagi that shows up eveytime I post is one of Mat's and still my favorite!

[velvetbone]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM I could never be a breeder. I'd have keep all of them for years. Looks like a banner year for Showa.

I agree with MikeM!!

When culling is there an order which dictates which fish are culled first?
For example; 1) deformity
2) ??????
3) etc....

Are only the "choice" fry allowed to live? Thereby cultivating superior lines?

Sorry for the silly Q's but still learning. I couldn't find any answers in Koi Kichi or other resources. If you can suggest where to look that would be great too.
Vince

[gjs63]

I see you picked out some favorites,, what little beauties and so excieting. Did they go back to the same pond? How meny moore times will they be culled? I can't wait to see the ones that make it to the end. It is really hot in N.J. right now, thank you for taking time to share with us. J

[dick benbow]

Kohaku are usually culled first at 40 days. Showa the first 3-5 days.
Kohaku usually are retained with pattern the first cull and yes any obvious deformities or injuries are eliminated. Showa, you are always on alert for crooked or deformed heads.
Sometimes a breeder might keep a few all red kohaku with no pattern as some customers desire them. The all white ones aren't so lucky......usually by the 3rd and 4th cull you can determine by quality which ones that will be your keepers. During the process the bigger koi especially in the initial culling are kept segregated from their smaller brothers and sisters as the big ones often consider them live food, so by keeping them all about the same relative size you can get around that situation. About the third day culling i have a hard time straightening up. But to me it's akin to a women's child birth. By next spring you've forgotten the pain and are anxious to see the new crop

[HEADACHE6]

Number 4 Please !