555 Progress Shots: Tattoo

[MikeM]

I thought it timely to show the progress of a Sanke I got a a couple of years ago. She is not a great koi and not the best I've gotten as tosai, but she has endeared herself with her uniquely pretty face. I am thinking that this will be her last summer in the mud. We'll see in October how she has fared.

These show her as tosai harvested in 2005, as tosai in May 2006, as nisai in October 2006, and as sansai in October 2007. I think she has done OK for a domestic tosai.

[l113892]

I think she turned out quite well.

[gcuss]

any idea on her size through the photos Mike?

I think she's nice. Good confirmation.

Looks like the beni in her pec receded away.

Also, I thought if they start out with a deep, bright hi pattern it could break up early. Yet she's kept a really nice even beni from front to back without any weak areas. Swweeeet.

The sumi looks really good with a nice bright shiroji.

What do you suspect will happen when removed from the mud and brought home? The colors to tighten up more? Should be interesting.

Thanks for sharing,

Grant

[KoiCop]

Hello Mike . . .

Thanks for sharing.

Series of pix showing how koi develop over a period of years are always good learning tools -- and this is a great one.

One thing not commented on so far is the way the beni filled in on the nose.

Very interesting.

[darion6]

gorgeous

[markgardner]

An interesting and unique head pattern

[kntry]

She's very pretty and I love the pattern on her face.

[dick benbow]

pictures are always worth a thousand words.....so glad you documented! Thanks Mike...

[luke frisbee]

pictures are worth a thousand words..............

[JasPR]

Interesting face/head pattern. I would not have predicted that kind of development based on the irregular pattern producing bending and bent back rotation of kiwa. But then again, here is a VERY famous winning fish from many years ago, so I guess this is one kind of stable pattern that remains. It may have to do with being on the head, where the layers of skin are different than on the body proper.
what is interesting is this was the 'best' twenty some years ago, and now our Mike has a fish not too far behind in many aspects of this 10th All Japan GC. At this rate I'm going to loose my $1 in less than twenty years for sure !!! JR