Brady, this brings up a very interesting and important 'worry' of mine that began many years ago. As you know , you and I ( and I think Mike Pffifer) are 'closet Herpers'. In that hobby and science, many years ago, there was a raging debate about hybridizing as a technique as it introduces 'traits' into a gene pool that are hard to get out once in. We of course, already see this in many varieties that are markers for specific varieties ( eye color, pattern, ect). But because all of these things are within the standard for nishikigoi, this is something we don't worry about too much. But longfin in the wood pile is a departure from the evolution of the gene pool as it exists today. And references to the use of longfins two decades ago to introduce vigor and size is a straw horse.
What I'm talking about here is the sale of non-longfins from longfin spawnings. To me that is a very slippery slope. And it goes way beyond 'what the customer doesn't know won't hurt' type attitude. It is the planting of reproducable conformation genes of a non- nishikigoi nature, into a what appears to be a nishikigoi in the individual.
In practical terms, not much will happen to a purchased fish sold to a consumer when that fish lives out it's life in a backyard pond other than random ' telling spawns'. But as a commentary and reality of the future gene pool of nishikgoi ( as it exists in 2008 ) I see it as an invasion and moving backwards in the purity of the gene.
If I am reading you correctly, you are chuckling about the fish pictured and suggesting the gene was always there and you kinda knew it? We have standards for koi judging in amateur shows and those fish should be passed over according to the standard. These 'partial' longfins are passed over when caught over here. I myself passed over two when I judged one of the florida shows jsut for that reason- they violated the standards. I'm sure someone paid a good buck for those fish.
I will tell you I have bought $10,000 koi from Matsunosuke and I would serious reconsider buying any more fish in that price range if I knew I was looking at culls from longfin spawns.
Now I'll ask you directly- are you selling koi that have longfin traits hidden in them.
- JR
Quote: 
04-13-2008
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