Training Koi For Show? Stupid Question

[UP ALL NIGHT!!]

I hope this is not a stupid question. Last show I was at there were some awfully stressed koi.
I could not see past their big red body's. My koi are extremely tame. My studio is 7' from the pond. I am with them all day.

Have the proper koi traveling equipment, safe container, air, water? A window in the container? A container for each koi?
Lovingly scoop up the koi and place in container.
Drive around the block gently place koi back in pond. Shower with love and extra fine shrimp.

Each time it goes great start to increase the distance. No I wont be dragging my fish to Pet Co or Pet Smart. Maybe twice a month.
Just wondering??????
This is a stupid question. L

[aquitori]

I think the word that should be used is "condition" fish for show. There are fish that travel well and there arent. There are fish that travel hours and still keep their snow white shiroji up and there arent.

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori I think the word that should be used is "condition" fish for show. There are fish that travel well and there arent. There are fish that travel hours and still keep their snow white shiroji up and there arent.

That is for sure Tonio, we have a couple fish that just LOVE to go to shows, one is a showa, she actually gets in the net, so that we will take her. Another is a shiro that no matter how long of a journey her whites never stress..

Then we have this really great Shiro as soon as a net goes in the pond she turns all red veined. It is a shame she is a really beutiful fish, and she will never go to a show.

[kntry]

Nancy, my Shiro does the same thing. All he has to do is see the shadow of the net before it touches the water and he starts getting red. No exaggeration. I took him to a show last year and even with Elbagin in the water, he jumped the entire 10 hours there and back. Made me a nervous wreck. The others were perfectly calm, no stressing.

This is a good question. I was wondering the same thing since my fish don't like the net either.

[MikeM]

UpAllNight: Your suggested routine is a non-starter, but it does lead me to think of an aspect of koi behavior many have observed. Those who regularly bowl their koi to take measurements and inspect for a general 'check-up', hand feed their koi, and have people around their ponds regularly, end up with koi that are less fearful of people and nets. The key is being gentle with such frequent handling. On the other hand, there are my koi... rarely bowled, not hand fed, pond located away from the house and activity areas, and usually free from any human presence (except feeding times). They are very stressed by nets, capture and bowling. Ever seen a 27" Yamabuki jump 3 feet into the air? ...scary. There is not much I can do about it when I'm working 10-12 hour days and cramming everything into the too-short weekends. But, I do believe the luxury of spending 'quality time' with your koi produces benefits.