A 30 month old female Showa comes up from the mud.



Sister Sankes just up and into clear water. The Sanke on the right was held back from the grow-out ponds when she was Nisai because she couldnt be sexed then. The next season she went back in as a confirmed female. This has resulted in a 3 inch difference in size today.



A 3 year female.



A bowl of 18 month old Kohakus shortly after harvest.



This male Showa was born here in 2001, and will be 7 years old in May.
He seems to be still 2 years from peaking.



A closer look at the color development. This type of sumi finishes beautifully, and with sharp edges, and it has the strength to cut through red well.



The downsides are it is hard to locate pattern or determine pattern potential when the fish is young, and this type of sumi can continue to rise throughout the life of the Koi,... which on some Showas can push them beyond their peak of beauty pattern-wise early in their show careers. Heres a progression.



A 30 month Sanke. The balance of this fish makes my eye happy,... 3 colors painting an incredible picture. Will be exciting to see when mature.



A 30 month old Kohaku just up from 6 months in the wild, fins a little tattered, beni a little stretched.



This is what this type of beni looks like on a female a year older, and after its been out of the mud for a few months.



Harvesting tosai Kohakus, with a few tosai Showas in the pond for safekeeping.



Farmers smell just like they look like they smell. The water here was about 60 F. when the pic was taken on 11/23. I planned to keep these tosai in here another month or two since our Fall has been mild, but an otter family had been visiting, so I was forced to harvest right away.



Here are some tosai from the harvest. These Kohakus are all 6 and a half months old.

26 cm maruten.



28 cm



29 cm classic 3 step.



The ridge of very shiny skin right at the nostrils gives us a look into the future here - a skin that holds its luster well even later in life. This trait is also seen on high quality Ogons, that retain high luster even through large growth. I have no issue with the left pec. This will pull up tightly to the fin joint over the next year. 30 cm.



Classic Kohaku face. 30 cm.



These Kohakus are a blend of Yagozen and modern Sensuke traits. The classic elegant Yagozen face can be seen here. 34 cm.



26 cm.



25 cm.





-- Edited by Lotus Land Koi Farm at 14:57, 2007-12-21

-- Edited by Lotus Land Koi Farm at 15:01, 2007-12-21