want to learn more about conformation...

[Ethan25]

I
have 12 koi in all in my 3,000 gallon pond. Several are still under 12 inches in length. It has been interesting to me to see what type of comments I get here because they tend to be more technical; seems like you discuss the issues that a judge would look at when looking at fish without their pattern first.

I know many of you have seen this one the most, but I wanted to get your opinion about body type, conformation, fins, etc. Someone mentioned 5.5 headlengths being the ideal length of a koi, and to me this one comes closest in my collection.

This fish was purchased back in early 2006 and had some growing pains early in life as it lost most of its sumi. THe sumi is now coming back nicely (in my opinion), and hopefully will fill out some of the bare spots to make it a decent looking fish in my pond.

ANy thoughts on conformation? I assume it is female, as the body is long and slender. Do ginrin koi tend to stay more enlongated compared to their counterparts?

Ethan

[Ethan25]

I divided the fish the best I could into headlengths. Did I do an ok job, or should I have ended the first headlength more toward the gill plate?

[PapaBear]

Try moving the head length scale to the back of the gill plate instead of the front. You'll get a more accurate measure.
All in all the conformation is pretty good. Fins neither overly large or small, the cigar shaped body is smooth and uniform throughout with a thick tail tube right to the base of the fin. Some refer to this shape as a "cheroot" (a Burmese cigar).
Ginrin fish seem to suffer a genetic sacrifice when it comes to their bodies. They're like the "Rhinestone Cowboy" of the Koi world. Lots of flash and dazzle, all hat and no cattle... They lack the stuff it takes to put on the kind of length and girth their less flashy brothers and sisters have as a sacrifice for sparkle.

[Ethan25]

Better?

[PapaBear]

Yupper. More on scale.
Now, study up on what you've heard the pro's talk about in terms of relationship to head length/width, eye placement, etc... and do some self comparisons on this guy.

[aquitori]

I wouldnt add the tail to the length, your focus should be the body ratio from tip of nose to the beginning of the tail.

[diamond*girl]

So that 5.5 head lengths thing - is that really the guideline? Does this koi not even come close at 4.25?

[Ethan25]

Originally Posted by aquitori

I wouldnt add the tail to the length, your focus should be the body ratio from tip of nose to the beginning of the tail.

So, from tip of nose to beginning of tail, what type of headlength are we looking for? Still 5? It'd seem that'd be a skinny odd looking koi in that case. Aren't most nice koi's caudal fins around 1 headlength?

[Ethan25]

Here's the interesting mutt with what I thought was a decent body shape and size. The pectoral fins are small, but I was thinking that the overall shape of the fish was pretty solid. To me it looks like a tad over 4 headlengths to the beginning of the tail.

[Ethan25]

Even the really nice expensive winning koi I have found, I have a hard time finding one that has over a 4.25 headlength in total body length less the tail. What gives? AM I not understanding this standard right?

See the below example.

Ethan