lost koi while under breeder care?

[dinh]

Just wonder how many of you have lost your koi while under breeders' care in their mudponds in Japan? If so, what was the deal you got with your breeder/dealer for the lost ?

[dick benbow]

as it was explained to me dinh, at the time
the breeder would take charge of my koi and treat it like his own. Sometimes things happen
which the breeder has no control of...if this should occurr I acknowledge there is a risk involved and i accept it.

My fish was replaced with a better koi. It was not mandatory but it sure reenforced my passion as a consumer to continue frequenting this individual because of hteir integrity.

That said however,
there are certain things that happen that wipe out the reserves of a breeder who then does not have the resources to make amends....IE: Earthquakes, Vandalism

I think the healthiest attitude is to adopt the one mentioned in the first paragraph, anything else is a bonus

I am hopeful your asking for someone else that that you have not experienced any loss

[Brian]

Dinh,

The general rule that I've seen as accepted is that if the koi dies in the mudpond, and the breeder can produce a photograph of the carcass then that's too bad and he's not responsible. If there is no photo, there's no proof of what happened. The koi could have "gone walkies" due to theft or other reasons, and there have been cases in the past of the same koi being sold to numerous people who were all later told that it died in the mudpond. I won't mention any names, so please don't ask.

Depending on the breeder, they may at least take responsibility that a nisai will come up in the autumn, but after that there are no guarantees. Keep in mind that not everyone operates on the same terms, so I would suggest that you come to terms with the breeder before deciding to put anything up.

[dick benbow]

wow! your candid explaination is kinda sobbering Brian.....

[Auntiesue]

Dick we just got that very news about our Sanke. Kevin's importer/agent lost two ponds the same day and lost all fish in his greenhouse and most from a mud pond where a stand pipe had been removed..

We lost a very nice Kohaku. that we left to grow on with Marusei (sp) a few years ago. That fish was supposed to be harvested fall of 2006, but the breeder didn't harvest that pond for whatever reason. I'm told he didn't have time to get to it. When it was finally harvested last fall the fish was nowhere to be found. Kevin arranged a replacement, NOT THE BREEDER. Now that fish is also gone to vandilism.

We are still waiting to hear about the Ueno Showa. Can't get information. That pond was isolated last year because the road was washed out to the pond (heavy rains). They now know the pond survived, but have not harvested yet. I was assured the pond would be harvested this spring even though it holds larger fish. So now we wait some more!! It's going on 3 years with this saga.

Personally I won't leave fish in Japan anymore. it is a gamble so if you can't afford ($$$ and emotionally) to loose a fish you anticipated for so long, don't do it.

So far we are batting 0 for 3!!!

Sue

[JasPR]

I have lost several koi over the years. Leaving koi is a big risk and should only be done if you can handle the idea that you may never see the koi ( or the money) again. That is the hard truth. JR

[dick benbow]

Back a few decades ago when my koi friends had thier koi in the mud of Niigata, I used to get tickled cause they always have pictures of the koi to look at to help pass the time till harvest.
It was a big part of their life and was frought with expectation of the fullfillment of a hope or dream. I loved to kidd them about it. But I confess to have done the same thing when I had my very first showa over in Igarashi Kazuto's grow ponds.

It's truely sad to see many have this fun in anticipation dashed thru a bad experience. It shouldn't be part of the joy of koi but sadly it is a reality.

Sue, I wish you better things in your life with koi , that will bring the joy back!

[MikeM]

The insurance plan of Nisei Koi Farm takes away most of the risk on their koi. But, even if a fish is replaced, there is no avoidance of disappointment when the koi is harvested and something is 'wrong'. Amazing how attached one can get to a photo.