A tale of two koi

[raganwald]

Last Autumn I picked up two inexpensive koi from Canadian Koi and Pond (http://canadiankoiandpond.ca), an overpatterned Ochiba Shigure and an Inazuma Kohaku:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/1806549968_49eebad7b9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/1806549968/)http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/1806550752_2dbfa6e41c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/1806550752/)

I enjoyed them very much and was pleased as punch to see them healthy and hungry the next Spring:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2423674610_1253e369e4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/2423674610/) http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/2483899119_3e48ff59b5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/2483899119/)

Both koi have changed significantly over the Summer. Here's the Ochiba:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2767512243_0a6647511a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/2767512243/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2767512845_a160d46491.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/2767512845/)

It's on its way to becoming a Soragoi! The pattern has darkened significantly (possibly just a water temperature thing) and the pattern is breaking up. Some folks have suggested that this could have been predicted by noting that its did not have sharp kiwa, so the pattern could not be expected to remain stable.

It hasn't become that much longer, but it has gained around the middle. Any thoughts on whether it is obese or merely "stout"?

Anyone care to speculate on other factors at work on this koi? Diet? Stress? Temperature? Sun?

The Kohaku has grown considerably, and it is now displaying a surprise:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2767511073_e8e0714cdb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/2767511073/)

With a close-up:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2768358188_e148b20928_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raganwald/2768358188/)

It is becoming a Kanoko! But the inazuma seems stable. Thoughts? Is a Kanoko only desirable when the entire body is dappled? Is there any way to encourage the colour to fill in? Is there any risk the entire body will become coloured, turning it into a benigoi?

Well, these two have raised more questions than answers for me, and of course I need only way to find out what happens next. But I thought you folks would find the progressions interesting...

[Terri]

Hi Reg,
It's not often I see "secondary hi" develop with LL's kohaku. The beni appears to be fading around the edges of the pattern and on the head - how far it goes..? Looks female, nice body line.

The wanna-be Ochiba, well ... Stout would be a good term for a female of this variety. Looks as if the brown is on the way out leaving behind a nice net pattern of the scales.

Thanks for posting these updates, interesting indeed.

[Jackie Ramo]

The wannabe ochia will make a nice sarogoi and I agree with Terri, female. Without the brown she looks like my own Bullet.

The little hearts on the scales are quite interesting. It will be fun to see how she develops.

[raganwald]

The wannabe ochia will make a nice sarogoi

A quick web search revealed this from Dick Benbow:

some of the best soragoi's even seen were former ochibas' ( in another life) LOL!

I guess we'll see whether this goes "all the way"!!!

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd not argue with Dick, he knows what he is talking about.