Jeff Speck's Growout Form

[Jeff Speck]

Years in hobby: 4
Location: California (inland San Diego)

Koi Info
1st pick (#150) size when recieved: 6.75"
87th pick (#10) size when recieved: 6.5"
146th pick (#79) size when recieved: 6.5"

Koi 1 size between 6/1/08 and 7/1/08:
Koi 2 size between 6/1/08 and 7/1/08:
Koi 3 size between 6/1/08 and 7/1/08:

Koi 1 size between 2/1/09 and 3/1/09:
Koi 2 size between 2/1/09 and 3/1/09:
Koi 3 size between 2/1/09 and 3/1/09:

Koi 1 sex guess when received: Female ?
Koi 2 sex guess when received: Female ?
Koi 3 sex guess when received: Female ?

Really hoping to select females. Near impossible to determine size from the pictures, so I tried to eliminate fish that *appeared* either too small, too narrow-headed, too yellow-headed, or had kinked or under-sized fins.

Food Info
Brand and Type fed: Hikari wheat germ, Dainichi growth, Saki-Hikari growth

Pond Info
Gallons: 2800 gallons. This is our pond for small fish, not our main pond.
Stocking rate: Way low.
Filtration: WLim Dragon 1/4 HP, Ultima 10000, 80-watt UV, spray bar, Hakko air pump.
Liner Type: Firestone EPDM
Turnover rate: More than once per hour
Dimensions: Rectangular, deep end is about 5.5'
Water changes: 20-25% every 5-8 days--I don't have a strict schedule. In winter I do 15-20% every 2-3 weeks. I do test for nitrate and use that as a guide for water changes, keeping the nitrate below 5 ppm. I do not own an ORP meter at this time.

Pond temp when received: 49'F
Pond temp at 6 month photo:
Pond temp at final photo:

This is our greenhouse and the 2800-gallon pond for small fish:

[Jeff Speck]

Let me tell you it was a Twilight Zone moment, looking at the picking order and seeing my name listed for the very first pick--Holy smokes! I still can't believe I was so fortunate.
I chose "One-fifty".

Originally Posted by Jeff Speck

Not much black, but it has size, motoguro, menware, no kinks in the fins.

Originally Posted by luke frisbee

150??!?!?!?!?!?!?
well you just made everybody your friend
That always gonna be submerged sumi, almost a shiromuji, big-bellied crapagi!
My Oh MY...

Originally Posted by Gallagher

Nice pick Jeff, I had it as my top pick.

Originally Posted by mstrseed

Jeff that was my # 2 pick. I think its a great choice

Originally Posted by CarolinaGirl

Nice choice Jeff. that one was #6 on my list.

April 20, 2008: This one seems the most female to me so far. Maybe just wishful thinking. Black has come up a little. Some submerged sumi in places where there was previously only white.

[Jeff Speck]

This was the 87th pick overall.

Originally Posted by Jeff Speck

I wanted #10 because it was such a contrast to our first pick #150. Lots of black and looks good-sized to me. More of a gamble, but it could have a checkerboard pattern albeit HEAVY. Also no question about the motoguro.

April 20, 2008: I've actually caught this one chasing twice now. Uh oh, could be a male... Almost completely black now.

[Jeff Speck]

This was the 146th pick overall (or a few higher, since some picks were bumped to the end.)

There weren't many good choices left, but I was delighted to take this fish. Whereas folks probably view my first pick as too short on pattern, and my second fish as having too much black, this last choice is in the middle--more of a standard choice. Hopefully the white will close in around the eyes and the rearward sumi will flourish. Still a clean fish, skin has potential, good fins and motoguro, possibly female.

April 20, 2008: Head is very black now. Sumi is very wild and spotty all over the body, whereas more organized sumi would probably be better. This one is the best eater and most friendly. Would really be happy to get 2 or more females out of the 4...

[Jeff Speck]

We also acquired one of the leftovers, #t190.

Looks small to me. The fins look small too. Those are my concerns. But the shiroji is good, so it could be a small female, never know. I think there's a good chance the "tancho" will fade, revealing a gorgeous shiro utsuri. I do question whether the sumi is as good on the showas as it is on the shiros. Had to have one and find out. Time will tell.

January 24, 2008: 6.0" when received, so it wasn't much smaller than the others. It had darkened up a lot since the selection photos.

April 20, 2008: Now that they are eating a little, I've noticed the 3 shiros are holding some weight and maybe even growing? Unfortunately this little tancho eats but seems to be getting thinner. Thought--maybe flukes?--so I scraped and scoped yesterday. Didn't find anything. At the very least I would say this is a male.

[The Pond Digger]

Wow what pressure to have the first pic! The white on that fish is simply stunning! I will look forward to watching the progress.

The Pond Digger

[Jeff Speck]

Picking was such a delight (as fish shopping always is for us addicts, right?)

Along the way there were several fish that I spent a particlularly long time debating over and subsequently feel a little connection with them. Wanted the list here so I can look for them later in the contest.

#t200 2nd pick--Bito
#146 15th pick--Kntry
#132 23rd pick--Jckoi
#19 68th pick--Thomas T
#56 128th pick--Goodkoi
#t197 142nd pick--Koi2002

[Jeff Speck]

January 24, 2008: picked up the Omosakos today. Here is a group picture:

[kntry]

You're making me feel bad. LOL

Looking at them in the bowl, all together, I can't recognize any of them. They look so different.

[RookieKoiGuy]

Did you measure them individually?
Yours all looked about the same size at Mystic today(Jeff was there when I was today)


RookieKoiGuy Grow out Form