ZNA America

NEW ZNA JUDGING SYSTEM show cased in Southern California at the 38th annual SoCal ZNA show!

2012-03-21T14:00:25Z

NEW ZNA JUDGING SYSTEM show cased in Southern California at the 38th annual SoCal ZNA show!

The point system of judging koi is nothing new to koi shows! Indeed, it was the FIRST way of judging koi. Introduced into amateur shows by ZNA back in the 1960s, the technique was the standard for years, but eventually gave way to the more objective 'intuitive' approach. The Intuative approach allowed for concepts of 'quality, elegance and imposing appearance'. And became the world system for decades while the point system remainded, albeit, less used by new judges.

   We now have a new point system which the lucky participants of the Official ZNA SoCal judging seminar got to use for the first time in America!

   It is a fascinating system in that we now have a point system for skin and quality and an addition point allowance for 'finish'. This is exciting for this judge as we have always struggled in the smaller sizes in placing good albeit, raw tategoi against well finsihed highly patterned young male fish as to which is the 'better fish' ( better being a matter of definition).  This system solves that problem.

       very interesting stuff!   JR

Self education program for ZNA judges

2012-03-21T13:50:18Z

Continuing education is very important for judges to embrace. It is the way we keep current, sharp and ahead.
   But continuing education can be a chore if done poorly. In ZNA we have created an annual continuing education program for our judges that can be crafted around their personal interests and personal schedules. The judge is a student and a teacher and as such, can move through their judging role with varying interests within the subject of koi appreciation/understanding. How wonderful that this continuing education requirement comes at a time when interest is so high in koi appreciation !

    In addition to the fundamental ZNA requirements, our ZNA judges will be designing their own continuing education programs in order to accrue required points for education.
    This self designed program will keep our judges sharp, current and involved in their own chapters as well as their sister chapters.
     It is my hope that working judges will continue to judge shows and attend official judging seminars as required by ZNA. But that they will embrace their self designed continuing ed program requirement to give back to their chapters and their local members. Already two of our senior local certified judges have hit the ground running with articles submitted to the district ( for multiple credits) for use on our website, blog and upcoming face book page, They have also arranged for a ZNA general Judging/koi appreciation seminar at a supporting dealers facility ( additional credits). All ZNA memberd and non members are invited. Good stuff for our chapter members.
     Koi judges giving back, teaching and learning-- it doesn't get much better than that.

                                                                                                                                            Jim Reilly, D.C. ZNA

New officer appointment for ZNA in America

2012-03-21T13:35:31Z

It is my great honor to annouce the appointment of Junichi Kayano as our District's Education officer.

    Kayano San is gifted with a good eye and a deep interest in koi appreciation. In addition, Junichi is a student of information direct from Japanese sources which affords him and through extention, us, the opportunity to expand our understanding.
    His recent lecture regarding Deficiencies and Defects is an example of the contributions he has made to our education.

    As District Chairman I couldn't be happier that such an individual has accepted this role in ZNA. Thanks again Junichi!          James Reilly ZNA District Chairman N.A.

                                           Great things ahead for our chapters!

April 14, 2012 judging seminar held at supporting dealer GardanKOI

2012-03-21T12:45:26Z

Attention ZNA Members

Dan Phillips of Gardankoi has invited ZNA members to his home for a meeting on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Art and Nicole Lembke, ZNA judges, will be there to conduct a Koi appreciation seminar with some wonderful fish from Purdin Koi Farm. Please take this opportunity to react one on one with the judges as they discuss what to look for when buying young fish. For more information, contact Gardankoi@aol.com.

Nicole Lembke

MAKC ZNA Representative

Special thanks to Dan Philips, our first ZNA supporting dealer on the East Coast.

James Reilly District Chairman ZNA NA

The purpose of ZNA chapters and local judges

2012-02-22T13:24:37Z

I had a conversation today with an 'elder' sensei of ZNA here in America and he quietly reminded me of so much that I knew but haven't thought enough about lately. And that is the culture of ZNA and why dedicated judges are so important to that culture. I know this sounds alien to many of you but koi is a study for a lifetime. It is one of those hobbies that has many facets to it—koi husbandry, veterinary skills, artistic design basics, gardening ability, building, biology study, artistic appreciation, aquarium skills. The list could be longer. And for these reasons Master Koi Keeping at the ZNA level is an apprenticeship experience. It is one of those few things that you can't just learn reading the internet or a book.

ZNA made the core of its focus, the teaching of others regarding these amazing fish. Including, but not limited to, overcoming challenges and also how to learn to see koi as the Japanese do- as living art. The motto, “friendship thru scales” is a statement for kindred spirits. But being ‘on the same page’ is also a matter of instruction. ZNA is meant to be that mentor program.

So the local koi judge may be trained to judge koi shows as one important function. But a good ZNA judge is so much more than that! To the local chapter the locally certified judge is FAR more valuable as the chapters teacher during the other 364 days of the year!

The officers in ZNA were also usually judges and therefore teachers. In this way, a new person joining a chapter was/is surrounded by all different levels of understanding from the one season student to the true mentor. It’s a great way to find one’s own comfort level.

This is also why the TOP of the structure, the ORGANIZATION itself, is not as important as the local chapter. And certainly should not to be the focus. ZNA is all about the local chapter as that is where the learning and teaching goes on. The rest is really not all that important. The show competition between ‘students’ and between the heavy weights is great fun. And one of the best ways I know to learn and have great fun at the same time!

And This is the reason we encourage ZNA members to belong to a LOCAL chapter where ‘thru scales’ friendships can form and learning can be shared. And the local judge can pass along the lesson.

As part of your membership in ZNA you should add the judges mentoring as part of what ZNA gives to you. Indeed I’m often asked by judges who have lost their way, what does ZNA give my chapter for the cost of dues? ZNA gives YOUR chapter YOU! A trained ZNA judge often forgets how much they know.

Thinking of judging as an Elite position is a terrible byproduct of western judging programs. Judges are not the elite of koi – they are responsible for the mentoring of newer hobbyists. And that, like the koi themselves, teaches humility, the opposite of elitism.

Tri-State ZNA announces its first show dates

2012-02-21T12:14:06Z

Tri-State ZNA Koi Club Show

To the Members & Friends of Tri-State ZNA Koi Club,
The Tri-State ZNA Koi Club is currently preparing for its 1st Annual Koi Show. The event will be
held June 22 – 24 of 2012, in the air-conditioned building of the Freeport Recreation Center. Located at
130 East Merrick Road, Freeport, NY, 11520 this prime location is 20 minutes from JFK and 40 minutes
from LaGuardia airports. Our chapter is eager to produce an impressive show of koi to represent the ZNA
mission as one of its newest members. Our hope to draw a large crowd of koi hobbyists can only become
reality with the help of many selfless volunteers. The Tri-State ZNA Koi Club is requesting your assistance
to become part of the driving force behind the show’s first success.
Tri-State ZNA Koi Club Koi & Trade Show

The Tri-State ZNA Koi Club is a social, special interest organization dedicated to the enjoyment of Koi through participation and education.
Our chapter website Tri-State ZNA Koi Club Koi & Trade Show will be the best source for Koi information for the expert, as well as for the novice Nishikigoi (Koi) hobbyist. One of the goals of our chapter is to provide members with the most current information on the following topics: Koi history, Koi classifications, and detailed technical information on Koi. We will focus on helping educate our members and the public on all aspects of Koi Keeping, to promote the study of Koi and to assist hobbyists in becoming part of the larger community of Koi enthusiasts throughout the country and the world

New chapter show! June 22nd-23rd 2012

2012-02-21T11:17:02Z

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How long do koi live?

2012-02-18T08:55:46Z

How long do koi live?

This is not an easy question! Koi have a hard, and possibly short, life ahead of them when entering the new pond of a new koi keeper! In some cases the answer to the question can be – about as long as summer lasts! And unfortunately this has been the case for much of the history of koi in America. But with educational efforts by ZNA and also by putting the emphasis on koi appreciation (IE the real value of a special individual fish), the strives made to understand the needs of koi and the husbandry of koi have improved the statistics on the life expectancy of koi in America.

In the 1990s decade of the koi show, the average life span of koi probably moved into the 5- 8 year mark. This is however misleading in that the new koi keeper was still losing koi prematurely and they outnumber the established koi keeper 20-1. So even though many ZNA members have koi that are 20 years old, this statistic is swamped by the numbers of beginners and their ‘learning curve’ experiences. And we must consider that many koi die from accidents in their prime which can skew the numbers. Loss of electricity, motors failing, ponds draining, chlorine accidents, over dosing accidents, predators, accidently poisoning and introduction of disease and parasites to an established pond- all pull down our average lifespan numbers dramatically.

Many years ago we were told by some Japanese dealers that koi in Japan live to be hundreds of years old. This was hard to hear for American hobbyists that struggled to have their koi live a single year! Stories of famous koi such as ‘Hanako’ living 217 years were quite appealing to the prospective koi keeper of the 1980s. So it was hard to learn that as charming as that story was, it was just that- a story. Even in Japan, ‘stuff happens’ to koi! And there are exceptions to rules but not 217 year old exceptions!

The truth is, individual koi tend to live, all things being equal, different periods of time. Not unlike breeds of dogs, which can vary from 7 years for giant breeds like great danes to toy poodles that can live 17 years, koi can also have normal life spans that vary widely. Wild type koi types (solid colored koi with primitive colors of black, red or yellow) tend to live a long time. I have known hobbyists for instance that have pet koi for some 30 years. But in the show varieties such as Gosanke, the realistic life span is probably 14- 23 years old. This is likely their normal or natural life span and assumes that koi that do die at ages 8-12 are the result of conditions and stress over their lifetimes and then having a single stress event bring their lives to an end.

We should not ever expect ‘Hanako’ type ages to be achieved in our ponds. But we should strive to make a 20 year old healthy koi a reality. Talk to your fellow ZNA members about the ages of their koi. When you find a member that has koi in the 15- 25 year range, make them your mentor as they must be doing something fundamentally right!

Happy koi keeping. JR

The Defenseless koi?

2012-02-17T11:52:23Z

Koi appear helpless to the casual observer. They have no claws, to teeth to bite, no paws, no arms, no fists, no obnoxious odor glands, no venom and no horns or antlers.

So koi are not about offense. But they are survivors for these past 40,000 years and that is because they are built for DEFENSE. They can survive very low oxygen levels (in the wild form of common carp), they are very strong swimmers and they can survive on things that other fish would never ingest let alone get any nutrition out of!

Kong and I have been talking about the protective elements of a koi’s skin. In that conversation we focused on cell structure and its resistance to sun light. But there is a huge grey elephant in the room we did not bring into the conversation. And that is the koi’s armor. Armor? Armor. Koi are born with budding cells ( scale pockets) within the undifferentiated skin layer. They have no protection then as fry and fingerlings. As the skin layers differentiate and become complex, these scale pockets begin to grow a scale. These growing scales fill in the dermis and actually cause the dermis and epidermis to wrap around the scale as it becomes a uniform armor all over the koi’s body. This ‘suit of ring mail’ protects the fish from the elements and from predators and natural surfaces during foraging and spawning activity. It assists osmotic regulation and protects the circulatory system and it protects the fish from the sun.

If a koi did not have scales it would be naked and exposed to the outside world and all its dangers.

And in ZNA of course, our motto is “friendship thru scales”. Many purposes for scales!

A koi Judge and a Biologist and a koi breeder walk into a bar---

2012-02-15T14:29:12Z

A koi Judge and a Biologist and a koi breeder walk into a bar---

I know, I know, sounds like the beginning of a good joke!

But IF, a koi judge, a biologist and a breeder did walk into a bar to discuss their favorite subject-- would there be any agreement! LOLs

The answer to my riddle is "yes"!

Because when a koi is 'right' it is right. It doesn't matter whether you are talking about in terms of 'imposing appearance', 'jetai' 'quality', ‘rarity’, 'great genetics', ' compounding of mutation traits ' etc.

Let’s take a great kohaku- I'll describe it;

The kohaku's body line is strong, tapered and full. The volume is full and the structure is large, the shoulders strong, the head well shaped with a large round mouth, the fins are strong and thick, the tail is large, the peduncle is strong and tapered well off the of the body line. The stomach is tight and the scales are well ordered. Frame or bodyline or conformation is A+

The fish's Shiroji is transparent, lustrous and pure. The dermis is soft and the effect of guanine or Fukurin is lovely. The interplay of transparent dermis and luster is amazing. Genetics of the highest quality. High class skin, perfect canvas for pattern and amazing genetic mutation is A+

The fish's pattern is strong as evidenced by the kiwa and the uniform color from head to peduncle. The quality of the color is first rate as it is thick yet gives a light appearance. The pattern's interplay within the white canvas makes the pattern look three dimensional as the fish moves. The colors are a combination of two colors of orange and red. The pattern itself is an excellent example of mutation dorsal genetics.

In terms of color intensity, color luster and color thickness the fish is first rate. In terms of pattern the genetic expression is strong. The pattern compliments, and really works with, the body and the shiroji. AA+

So the art critic and standard bearer ( the koi judge) and the dreamer looking for selective breeding perfection ( the koi breeder) and the student of nature looking for the amazing specimen showing compound mutation genes in a phenotype ( the biologist) can all agree when a koi is 'right' it is an amazing collaboration of nature and man.

And then the rabbi says to the priest-------- J

Question number 3

2012-02-11T13:20:26Z

QUESTION NUMBER 3

3) Koi are entering the autumn season and all of the sudden the shiro Utsuri are looking better than ever! Why?

This is an interesting one because it sheds light on environment and koi physiology and the profound influence that temperature, light and oxygen has on the koi – not to mention, the seasonal effect has on a koi.

So what happens in autumn?

The days get shorter and the nights get cooler. And cooler water also holds more oxygen.

In addition, IF the temperature of the pond starts trending towards the low 70s and high 60s, this becomes the perfect environment for a koi’s metabolic efficiency.

SO when we see our shiro utsuri ( the change is most noticeable in this variety) turn brilliant white and deep black, we are seeing a fish who’s metabolic rate is humming due to high oxygen levels and perfect metabolic efficiency. We are also seeing skin changes in the fish as seasonal effect takes hold. This is primarily in the endocrine system triggered by the light changes detected by iris and hypothalamus.

The fish will also become what is usually interpreted as ‘hungry’ around this period of time. They do indeed feed more vigorously during this time as cooler water and changes in the metabolism stimulate appetite. Again the duel response of high ORP and seasonal cues. The koi’s biological clock knows winter is coming. Not the koi mind you! Just its biological clock and instinctual cues.

It is best advised to not overfeed as the time for winter conditioning actually began in August! But to feed slow and steady until temperatures stay below 50 F for a few days and night temperatures are moving into the low 40s. Each area is different so use your own powers of observation. But do consider the big picture which says, koi metabolically shut down at around 46F. They become ‘inefficient’ regarding how well they can assimilate nutrition below 50F. And inefficiency means that water quality will suffer.

No koi ever died from being fed a day or two below 50 F. But koi die all the time from poor water quality below ice for 16 weeks.

sticks and stones may break my bones---

2012-02-09T12:56:42Z

--- But names will never hurt me!" LOLs

well names may not hurt but they certainly can confuse us !!

I posted the article on Nomenclature so as to give the budding koi keeper a sense the sub-divisions that exist out that. Sub-divisions that break our hobby (and therefore both focus and commitment to details) into different hobbies. Hobbies that are just as different from one another as goldfish bowls are to tropical fish keeping and marine fish keeping.
In this conversion some of us got into the Japanese view on 'GOI'. I'll begin with a riddle:

ALL KOI ARE GOI
BUT NOT ALL GOI ARE KOI!!
CAN YOU TELL US WHY?

All 'koi' are common carp. But all common carp are not koi. And certainly all common carp are not Nishikigoi!

Our first ZNA chairman Kuroki San clarified this point some 40 plus years ago when he said ( paraphrase) that nishikigoi are a unique creation from Japan and that koi has become the short name for colored fancy carp and goi is the description of the magoi ( wild, feral or domesticated food magoi).

Nomenclature for the beginner (and not so beginner!)

2012-02-08T14:37:24Z

Nomenclature for the beginner (and not so beginner!)

We have talks a lot about koi, koi varieties, variations and genetics ( including where Indonesian long fin ‘dragon’ carp fit in). And I still get the sneaking suspicion that USA judges and ponders are still not ‘solid’ in the demarcation lines?

So let’s try this----

Pond fish—any fish that can live in an outdoor pond. They might be any temperate water fish ( or warm water fish in Florida such as Africans). These fish belong to closely related families—common goldfish, fancy goldfish, Shubunkins, comets, mosquito fish ( hardy tropical), native temperate water fish like ‘sunny’s ( Crapies), colored carp, long fin carp, common carp and ‘koi’. They can live in a basic water feature for a while. But some only flourish in certain settings and therefore death rates are very high in pond fish in general.

Koi—as a sub-division of common carp with color--- Indonesian long fin carp crossed with ‘koi’. Colored carp automatically called ‘koi’ and Japanese nishikigoi called ‘koi’ for short. These ‘koi’ can originate from any of the many Asiatic countries that breed common food carp, tropical fish or colored carp. In addition, western countries also produce a basic koi product.

Japanese koi—those fish that are off spring of Japanese carp, resemble Japanese koi in their basic color mutations . this means that they can be produced anywhere in the world as long as they can trace lineage. They tend to be less expensive that true Japanese produced “Japanese koi”. Today, some of these sources are producing truly good show and pet koi.

Nishikigoi—a product of Japanese breeders originating in select areas of Japan that have lineage, are recognized as one of the 13 Japanese ‘koi’ varieties.

Show Nishikigoi—the upper 20% of all Japanese ‘koi’ production. As fry and youngsters they have potential to represent well the standards of each variety and as such, are called tategoi. the tategoi being a fish with potential and implied, good genetics.

Show koi and pet koi—the remaining grades of Japanese production that are male koi of excellent pattern and color and will be able to compete in koi shows in the pre-adult and young adult sizes. This might also include some female fish of good pattern that might represent value in the koi show circuit.

The next grade lower of Japanese ‘koi’ are a reasonable representation of nishikigoi and be considered pet fish of the highest quality. These fish are the heart and soul of the Japanese production and allow for the upper to 10% to exist as an economic possibility.

those members who----

2012-02-08T14:15:25Z

For those members who would like to post please send your articles, thoughts and questions to my thekoiguy@aol.com and I will post them for you, respond or pass along your questions to the appropriate sources for answers. James Reilly USA ZNA District Chairman

why koi do that ? Question 2

2012-02-08T13:18:48Z

2) In winter a koi is moving at the surface as the pond, swimming as if they are hypnotized. What is it doing??

Koi are cold blooded animals. And in temperatures below 46 F they loose control of balance. In fact, I recall in a winter trip to my friend's koi shop seeing a vivid illustration of this. This dealer has a massive modern koi shop and outside the shop is a large but shallow pool that holds some production fish. In that pond were a hundred shusui. It was a cold and windy day and I'd estimate that the temperature as in the high 30s to low 40s. But the wind chill made it feel a LOT colder. I walked up to the pond and ALL the fish were on their sides! I thought they were dying! The breeder just smiled and said in a heavy accent-- " just sleeping!"

Another important physiological fact is that koi that are in good condition entering winter will , as a response to colder water, begin to shift what muscles it uses as water cools. Nature is amazing. And cold blooded creatures have a tactical strategy to survive. Nature is also very practical and logic prevails-- if a block of muscles is designed to make a fish swim fast in quick bursts, it is great for escape. And when a fish wants to move fast it can uses these muscles along with the slower muscles. But in winter expensive muscle movement ( expensive being any muscle that requires a lot of energy at a time of year when energy must be preserved) is to be shut down. So the cold effect AND the physiological 'choice' to not employ certain muscel blocks all works to help the fish survive the winter. Movement is to be minimal and when necessary, slower, muscle mass can be used-- muscle that requires less energy " more miles to the gallon" so to speak. This does create however an odd wagging motion and not a lot of speed. Again a perfect harmony of limited movement due to cold and need to conserve.

So once again, study your koi, look for other symptoms that will give a better idea of normal vs abnormal condition/movement.

Is there a film on the koi?

Is the koi red or streaked with red veins?

Are the other koi doing the same thing or are they all resting on the bottom?

Are the fishes fins clamped or ragged?

These answers will all help to assess if the fish is trouble or just wandering and looking for the sun or away from a cold current.

Why koi do that? question 1

2012-02-08T13:17:01Z

1) A few koi are seen ‘mouthing’ the pond surface near the walls. But no food is visible, what are they doing??

I put this one up as it is a great example as why we really need to know koi behavior in order to see problems early and also not to act or react too soon!

So when koi ALL rise to the surface and are 'mouthing the surface' in general you always need to think ' gills!' This can be seen along with OTHER symptoms of distress. Clapped fins, wobbling swimming, odd movements and lethargy.

But in my question-- a FEW koi are mouthing the surface at a specific location-- the ways.

It could be algae and that would be the end of that behavior lesson--- the lesson being that koi love to browse!

My question is a little more mysterious! They seem to eating something 'invisible'! And they are and it is!! When you feed fish a bit too often or when the temps are not right for the mix you are feeding, the system builds with DOCs. And these Dissolved Organic Carbons/Compounds are air loving molecules-- meaning they are attracted to the surface and settle/float in density around the walls of the pond. Now koi have better 'smelling devices' than Bloodhounds! The barbels lead them to smells. The oils and proteins of DOC are detectable to a creature that must forage in greens and mud for the slightest bit of protein (live dead or decayed). So the fish 'mouth and suck in' the surface water that is coated at the surface with good smells.

Koi your koi and its behavior will help the traumatized beginner ( from previous bouts with parasites and gill infections) from over reacting to this behavior--

remember

1) Are all my koi doing this?

2) What other symptoms do I see?

3) Are fish interesting in feeding?

4) Do my water testings check out o.k.?

5) Did I do anything different lately? new fish, new water changes etc

6) Are my fish just being 'carp'?

Why koi ‘do what they do’??

2012-02-08T13:14:09Z

Why koi ‘do what they do’??

My second favorite subject after genetics of the clan Nishikigoi is – why do koi do what they do?

So I’m going to ask some questions and see if you know the answer:

1) A few koi are seen ‘mouthing’ the pond surface near the walls. But no food is visible, what are they doing??

2) In winter a koi is moving at the surface as the pond, swimming as if they are hypnotized. What is it doing??

3) Koi are entering the autumn season and all of the sudden the shiro Utsuri are looking better than ever! Why?

4) A koi is rubbing against one particular pipe in the pond. Over and over it swims to the pipe and pushes it body against the pipe. Why?

5) A new koi is introduced to the pond and the fish swim after it and seem to be most interesting in the new comer. Why?

6) A fish is anesthetized and when returned to the pond, all its pond mates follow it as if in a ritual. Why?

7) A koi looks like it is ‘chewing’ but no food has been added. Why?

8) A koi gets ‘cloudy’ as if a film is on its body. What does this mean?

9) A koi blows bubbles as it goes to the bottom of a deep pond. What does that mean?

10) You wake up and go out to feed your koi. The pond is covered with ‘suds’ and the fish are all at the surface gasping for air. What happened??

Shiro study-- Judges level

2012-02-07T23:46:03Z

Shiro – Graduate level (Judges)

We have covered in a 101 class ;

1) The mutation of shiro

2) The concept of base color

3) The difference between selective bred shiro and natural mutation shiro

4) Hard white and soft white skin

Moving up to an even more in-depth understanding, I’d like to introduce to our student judges the different genetic types of shiro and how they make our koi very different fundamentally.

The nishikigoi clan can be sliced and diced in many ways. The most fundamental way being by their base colors. ZNA teaches us that koi are eitheir black based or white based. And this should be of no surprise as nishikigoi rises from magoi and specifically from Asagi magoi ( giving us white base) and also from Tetsu magoi ( giving us black mutation colors and also a different ‘branch’ of shiro/pattern).

Asagi magoi is so important because it carried both black and white base. The hyper-melanistic forms rising in the later Karasu clans and the Narumi asagi leading towards the true Leucistic forms.

These two avenues represent the ‘breaking out’ of combined mutation traits of white and black into two separate, yet parallel lines of change. And that in turn gave us two very different types of shiro.

To take the next step in Shiro study we need a bit of a genetics conversation – As just mentioned, Shiro in nishikigoi comes about from two very different sources/ways. And as far back as the 1960s the Japanese breeders knew of at least one of these sources as evidenced by the creation of white within the karasugoi clan and its systematic breeding program. This line of primitive black fish represents the extreme of hypermelanism yet it is also the best phenotypic example of a certain mutation gene.

This in fact is first shiro we can discuss. This gene is what the Japanese breeders called “the white spreading gene” and what modern geneticists might call the modification gene or the Epistatic gene. This white gene in effect ‘covers’ the real color of the fish! Put plainly, The base of the fish is black yet the white spreading gene expresses itself in place of the base color. This domination represents a hypostatic or suppression of the greater color and inhibits the expression of that color gene. To summarize, this white spreading gene covers and inhibits the true base black color of a koi. We see this demonstrated nicely in the progression from hypermelanistic crow to hajiro to hageshiro to kumonryu to shiro utsuri (in one of the two forms it exists in). As the white gene spreads over the fish, the fish becomes progressively whiter until the matsukawa bake and shiro utsuri look similar to white based derived specimens gotten thru another gene/route.

The second shiro, recognized as a more valuable shiro, is not from the spreading gene. But rather from another natural mutation or expression of Leucism. In this case, we have the skin itself drained of all color and when reinforced by a pattern mutation know as Pie bald gene, the effect is quite amazing! This is a dominate trait in dorsal patterned fish like kohaku but can ‘disappear’ in some of the offspring. Yet it is still carried by the black fish into the next generation. It is this complex that brings us BOTH black based fish (carrying shiro but basically black and mutations of black such as red) and true white leucistic specimens or white based fish. And as these two strains are isolated we see white based fish with dorsal patterns of piebald with very refined white skin AND we see black based fish like the showa, express Leucism within the skin as they age. This is a case of incomplete dominance when no piebald pattern is exists. Instead this gives rise to the wrapped pattern of base black partially replaced with mutation black (red) and shiro from Leucism. And interestingly enough, a DIFFERENT look to shiro utsuri than the other Leucism ( the white spreading gene) brings us! This is WHY there are two very different looks to shiro utsuri and to the amateur seems like the MOST improved of all fish after the Gosanke. In truth it is a different source of shiro and easier to improve than the spreading gene shiro’s.

If you study the white of the two forms of shiro (spreading and pure Leucism) and add the piebald pattern and understand the wrapped pattern ( interplay of shiro on sumi) and its genetics, you will begin to understand koi from a higher level and likely appreciate the nishikigoi even more that you did before you studied these two variations of shiro gene expression. JR

Free your mind---

2012-02-04T16:05:42Z

JR here. Here again like that TV dog with the bone, on that commercial, who can't seem to rest until he knows his favorite chew bone is safe, sound and put where it should be!

When we enter this hobby we really are drawn to shiny, bright and deep colors (and especially their combinations) like red and black. Beni and sumi ARE impressive and Beni, especially, is THE art form in modern koi. With sumi being the very close second.

But as we get settled down in this hobby of koi as living (and aging) art, a new eye takes hold. And to the casual observer it might be said that koi appreciation moves to details and more subdued taste.

As Far back as 1970, teachers of koi appreciation as living art would tell every beginner that the white skin of koi is important because it acts like the canvas for a colorful painting. How wise that simple statement is when you embrace the science behind Nishikigoi's mutation skin.

And that skin really all begins with the dermis and its arrangement and characteristics of fiber within the maturing (and differentiated) skin.

But in the area of color-- there IS no more fundamental place to start that the color of that base skin. And I and others (and others before us) within ZNA have taught for so many years -- the base is either black or white with white being the key to refinement of skin TYPE.

I began this talk with separation of hard and soft shiro. They are different and one is more desirable and probably 'better based on the potential it holds. The other, the hard shiro, is also very beautiful in young fish especially. Why is that? Because as each skin type matures, it grows in complexity, with certain sub-divisions of the skin layers really expanding and making for MORE possibilities for the 'colorful painting within. A mature, complicated and remarkable canvas for, hopefully, a painting that deserves the base canvas!

If you're still with me, consider this--- nature produces a canvas that is of the material and 'blankness' that will set off in a three dimensional way, the grouping of sumi and Beni that expand within it and on it. This 'blankness' is so clear and devoid of any shading of sumi that it can only be described as 'pure'. Selective breeding can help here and if time is no issue, can be man made over decades. But nature and its desire to try all variations for survival will 'throw' much of this basic blankness from time to time. And so we 'perfect' white snakes, amphibians and birds-- pure as snow. And we see pure white fish. Breeders can then selectively breed for this trait to assure greater numbers than nature could or would ever produce in the wild.

What I've just described is the emergence of koi from goi. The missing link between the wild common carp and the domestic colored carp known as Nishikigoi.

As the old pop song said " Free your mind and the rest will follow” JR

UNDERSTANDING WHAT WINTER MEANS FOR KOI----

2012-01-30T00:27:58Z

UNDERSTANDING WHAT WINTER MEANS FOR KOI----

Winter is a time where all the natural things of summer and spring ‘go to sleep’ and ‘wake up’ in spring to renew their active lives. Green trees, flowing water, jumping fish, crickets and frogs, all come alive again in the spring.

And we really don’t usually think much further about when the average ponders ‘puts their pond to bed for winter’.

But then there’s that pesky naturalist Darwin! He told us that survival is only for the fit! So what are the challenges that make for a better natural product? Could WINTER be one of them?!

If I haven’t reached you yet—I’ll shout! WINTER is one of those things that makes carp stronger as a species—that’s – “as a species”. It does not mean that YOUR pets necessarily will be spared the stress of winter!

Want to help them out? Yes of course you do----

So here are the things you need to know to allow your pets to survive the winter in Northern Midwest and in the east from the Tri-State area to the mid Atlantic region and from Oregon to Northern California.

First you need to appreciate and understand that koi are common carp. Inbred common carp with robs of amazing color and elaborate pattern—but common carp just the same. Winter is a test of their survivability.

So winter is BAD, then? NO not really. It is rather a challenge that carp have faced for some 40,000 years. And in coping with this condition, as four season fish, they have adapted. But here is the million dollar statement---as they ‘adapted’ they came dependent on winter!! True! Koi are conditioned to experiencing winter and because if that—they have actually become to need it. This is best demonstrated by their very breeding cycle and physiology that prepares them for an upcoming winter long before it arrives. They can’t KNOW that, but their biological clock does.

Think of winter as a tonic for preparing for next spring’s breeding cycle and also as a way to drain the excesses of spring and summer. For a carp’s job, like the ant and the squirrel, is to prepare physiologically speaking when the days are warm and long for the winter ahead.

Natural is fascinating in its wisdom and koi like every other subject of nature, is wise to the future and the rules of nature. Once the light becomes less intense and lower in the sky and night temperatures change, the koi works frantically to store sugars in its organs for the long winter ahead. And the point here you need to embrace is that you can’t stop this!

It is just as important however not to ignore this time of year. When autumn sets in your koi become very active. They are invigorated by the cooler night temperatures but are also aware of the shorter days of sunlight. They are well oxygenated due to cooler waters but also beginning to shift into the winter mode.

Your koi might be under ice or under a nice solar trapping tent—they are equipped for stasis—a condition of complete rest for cold blooded creatures. In either case, they are closing down all ‘non- essential systems’ like any good submarine or star ship commander might. This well be their life for the next 8- 16 weeks. Longer than that and ‘supplies’ start to run out. This is usually seen as disorientated fish wandering the margins of a pond in late March/ early April. Or heaven forbid, in the winter thaw of mid February.

Once spring comes, your koi will be fine and know that the experience, when done in a muted way, is healthy and part of a natural process and tonic. If done badly however it will mean the end of your koi.

The key here is to make sure your koi are in tip=top condition going into winter. Cover the pond and allow for an air space. Do regular water changes once a month. DO have an indoor pond as a precaution. Remember that the very young and the very old should not be exposed to Darwin’s law and should be brought inside.

In the end, when we take responsibility for living things we become their sole provider of living conditions. So do your best to be a responsible koi owner and help your pets to survive the test.

                                                           Best wishes,   James Reilly USA District Chairman.