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Nature's Home Koi
will be opening for the season around May 26th with Decorative and Select grades of koi
for sale.
Please contact us by phone(828-293-2239) or email for your personal appointment to view and purchase koi
from the the Ponds.
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Koi Krazy Resource Network
Find and share information from other hobbyists
and professionals on Koi Keeping and Breeding
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exploring the
koi krazy network
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2008 Koi Shows and Gatherings from the Koi Krazy Net:
March 15-16 2008 - 34th Annual ZNA Southern California Koi Show & Festival
Hosted at the Gardena Civic Center. For more information contact Don Kobashigawa at (818) 207-3238 or donkobash@aol.com.
June 6-8th 2008 - Dallas Koi Kichi 2008 Koi Show
Come join us! Enter your Koi, come to the Banquet, attend the learning sessions or just tour the area and enjoy the Koi and related activities!
June 10-11 2008 - The International Water Garden & Pond Show
IWGPS is open to manufacturers (Exhibitors) and buyers (Attendees) of water garden and pond products. This buying and sourcing event will feature both pre-set scheduled appointments and a product display area. No pond builds take place at this event. The IWGPS will feature all hard-line water garden and pond products, live plants,fish and fish foods.
June 14-15 2008 - Fourth Annual New England Water Garden & Ornamental Fish Show
Mallary Arena, Eastern States Exhibition Grounds West Springfield, MA
June 26-29th 2008 - 27th Annual AKCA Seminar
Jacksonville, FL
July 12-13 & July 19-20 2008 - 18th Annual Pond & Garden Tour
We will keeping the same format as the last three years; there will be four areas and each will be open a different day over two weekends. The deadline for sign up is April 1st, with the goal of having the books ready for sale by May 15th. We will again mail the Pond Tour books to each member. Also please submit pictures of your pond and it might be chosen for this year's cover.
July 17-22nd 2008 - 2008 IWGS Symposium
The Internatinal Waterlily & Water Gardening Society will hold its sympisium in Richmond, Virginia.
August 1-3 2008 - 08' Koi Show and Product Expo, Upper Midwest Koi Club
We would love to have you as a show entry or a vendor at what has already one of the best shows in America - Upper Midwest Koi Club's show for 08'. This is the fastest growing club and one of the most impressive shows in America. 10,500 sft - 30% larger than 2007, non-recirculating well water, indoors, seminars, print and radio advertising in the largest newspaper "Star Tribune" and "Cities 97" radio station. See the 08' floor plan & production in the works!08' is to be even bigger and better!
August 2-3 2008 - Puget Sound Koi Club 11th Annual Show
This year it will be held at Hoshi Koi as it has been in the past. 5002 44th st. E. Tacoma WA (253)922-6708. For koi entry or vendor information use our contact page. The show is open to the public for free viewing, information on koi keeping, general raffles and sales.
August 26-27 2008 - New England Water Garden & Ornamental Fish Show
This two-day event will consist of an English style Koi Show, Goldfish/Tropicals Show, And Tub Water Garden contest with certified judges for the competition. There will be raffles throughout the day on Saturday and an auction on Sunday. At the trade show you will find vendors from all around the Country with the newest in pond equipment and supplies, plants, and some of the highest quality Koi and Goldfish to be found in New England.
August 15-17 2008 - Denver's 29th Annual RMKC Koi Show
Auction, koi from all over the Southwest are on display and are judged, vendors of pond items and live fish.
ZNA Potomac Koi Show - September 12-14 2008
Held at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Show Chairman at jnorth@znapotomac.org or Mike Frady, Pres at msfrady@znapotomac.org
September 12-14 2008 - Pacific Northwest Koi Club Assocation Convention
Koi Convention in Idaho. Pacific Northwest Koi Club Assocation (PNKSCA) is hosting its annual convention in Idaho.
September 12th 2008 - MAKC 20th Annual Koi Show
Held at Carroll County Agriculture CenterWestminster, MD Koi, Goldfish, Vendors and Speakers! For more information, contact Ellie Cooper at mamakoi@verizon.net or call 610-865-1163.
September 19 2008 - 14th Atlanta Koi Show
Held at 2101 Tucker Industrial Road, Tucker, GA 30083 - Contact Info: David Pugh 814 Fern Street SE Marietta, GA Ph 770-937-0864
Little Bit of Koi Farming History
There is a lot of information available on koi farming history and they don’t all agree on when koi were
first farmed. One of the reasons is because there is a problem with translations.
The word koi in Japanese means carp and there are many varieties of carp. Nishikigoi means brocaded
carp and those are the beautiful fish we enjoy today. Magoi is the Japanese word for the common
black carp (Cyprinus carpio) and this is the fish that all Nishikigoi descended from. Goi also
means carp in Japanese but it is only used correctly when tagged onto the end of a word such as
Nishikigoi, Kigoi, Midorigoi, etc. Most everyone involved in this hobby refer to the Nishikigoi
as just Koi. So, when you find information relating to Koi in Japan dating back to 200 BC that is
when the invading Chinese brought the common black carp to Japan. The statement “Contrary to common
belief Koi farming did not originate in Japan” is true if you are referring to the common carp but
not true when referring to Nishikigoi.
Rice farmers of Yamakoshigo, a village in the Niigata prefecture on the northwestern coast of
mainland Japan, started farming carp in the ponds used to irrigate their rice paddies to use as a
protein supplement to their rice diet.
Even though there are some very old paintings showing carp with color mutations such as red fins
it wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th century that rice farmers in the Niigata prefecture began
to collect and farm carp with color mutations of red, white and yellow.
The Japanese use the reign of their emperors when referring to historical events. This is also true
of the development of Nishikigoi.
Bunka and Bunsei Era (1804-1829): During this era the first koi with red were farmed in Japan. At
first, their red markings appeared on their cheeks. White koi were also farmed and crossed with the
koi that had red cheeks. The end result was white koi with red abdomens.
Tenpo Era (1830-1843): Farming efforts continued to strive for change that would make the koi more
appealing to the eye. White Koi with red located on the forehead was referred to as Zukinkaburi. Red
covering the entire head was called Menkaburi, red on the lips only was Kuchibeni (lipstick).
Meija Era (1868-1912): This is the era when the Kohaku were developed thru extensive farming. This
is also the era when carp from Germany were first introduced to Japan and bred with the Nishikigoi.
This is where the Doitsu
(German) varieties come from. There are two types of German carp. One type has no scales and is called
the leather carp and the other has large scales along each side of the dorsal fin and along the
lateral line only (mirror carp).
Taisho Era (1912-1926): This is when the Taisho Sanke was perfected. It is a white koi with a red and
black pattern. Sanke means tri-colored. Sanke may have appeared at the end of the Meija Era. Shiro
Utsuri (black with white markings) was introduced at the end of this era. In 1914 some of the most
beautiful varieties were shown at an exposition in Tokyo where some of these colored carp were
presented to Crown Prince Hirohito. This is where it really got started.
Showa Era (1927-1989): Showa Sanshoku (sanshoku also means tri-colored). This is the last of the
varieties referred to as Gosanke (the big three) which includes the Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa. These
are the three varieties of koi most prized by the Japanese and advanced koi hobbyist all over the
world with the Kohaku being #1. These varieties are the ones that win most of the top prizes in
koi shows.
This period has seen the most advancements in the koi hobby with many new varieties being introduced
and improvements in the first varieties. This is also the era when koi were first introduced to the
United States and Europe. As with anything else koi related you can find information stating
different dates when koi farming first arrived in the US. During my extensive research of koi, I've read
that Nishikigoi first became popular in the United States when introduced to California during the
mid 1960s.
Selected Articles from the Koi Krazy Net:
Winterizing Koi and Winterimte Koi Care - by Doc Johnson
This is the time of year that we consider our Koi as being "dead asleep" and we do not
worry too much about them because water temperatures are so cool that parasites and
bacteria are almost as dormant as the fish themselves.
Indeed, this is an important time of year because what you do (or do *not* do now)
sets the stage for your springtime season in March, April and May, which traditionally
marks the "Disease Season".
There are several considerations for this time of year, which I will address individually.
At this time of year, we should examine the 1-water quality, 2-the ponds' cleanliness,
the concept of 3-springtime feeding, 4-disease prevention and finally, 5-minimizing koi
stress during pond start-up.
Water Quality at this time of year is usually very good. Cold water carries much more
oxygen than warmer water does. Even with the filters off, oxygen tensions remain high,
and very satisfactory for fish. Partially because their metabolism is so slow!
Ammonia can still be a problem...
full article here
Green Water
Although it is sometimes called an algae bloom, normally the names it is called
are unprintable. For some, it seems to happen every Spring (also sometimes in the Fall).
For others, it is almost a way of life. A limited number of pond keepers have never or
rarely experienced this "wonder" of nature. It is said that the Koi thrive in it, but
you cannot see them to tell if they are thriving or not. You have heard many reasons
why your water turns green and tried assorted mechanical wizardry and various chemical
concoctions to clear it, (which may or may not have been harmful to your Koi), but it
is still green. There is a lot of "snake oil" out on the market to clear green water...
full article here
Koi, Hormones & Growth by Chris On Koi Series
Although the following essay demonstrates the effect of hormones on the immune
system, other hormones can have an effect on the growth of koi. If a koi does not
grow in your collection, experiment by removing it to another pond, if possible.
If it starts to grow then you know that the hormones from the other koi fish were affecting
the growth of that particular koi. If it does not grow then one of two things has
happened - the genetics of the koi has dictated the size of the koi or the koi is
older than you know or realize. Just as in all creatures, growth hormones stop after a
certain age and the creature stops growing (unless you are a body builder and munch on
your daily hormone). (does that sound right?).
A study by Perimutter, Alfred, Daniel Sarot, Man-Lin Yu, Rocco Filazzoia and Seely on
the Effects of Crowding on the Immune Response of Fish indicates that there are 'other'
hidden factors at work than first meet the eye.
These are not readily visible or apparent to most koi keepers. Sometimes we simply
notice that our koi die without explanation. Perhaps the study by Perimutter et al
can throw some light on this phenomena.
Their study may indicate that koi kept in overcrowded conditions suffer impaired
immune systems as a result of biochemical agents released into the water by the other
fish living in the pond.
This may be natures way of reducing a large population to more acceptable levels. The
studies suggest that fish can release immune suppressing pheromones (hormones) in
overcrowded conditions. This makes the other koi in the system less able to fight disease.
To investigate their suspicions three separate experiments were set up. These involved
different treatment and...
full article here
Dangerous Hydrogen Sulfide in the Koi
Pond or Aquatic Garden by Scott Weber
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas that can form in aquatic gardens and ponds, when certain
bacteria feed on organic debris in areas of the pond that are low or depleted in oxygen.
The most common way to detect H2S is by a rotten egg odor that may bubble out of the
water when bottom sediment is stirred-up while seining fish, planting, or conducting
general maintenance. In well water that has a high iron content, H2S can react with
iron to form iron sulfide that appears as a black film or sludge on the pond bottom.
H2S may be more prevalent in ponds and aquatic gardens that have been established for
several years and have been heavily stocked with aquatic plants and koi fish. This is
because organic debris accumulates on the bottom sediment surface, preventing oxygen
to diffuse into the pond bottom.
Because H2S forms in anaerobic zones, where no oxygen is present, it is usually found
only at the bottom, or near the soil-water interface in a pond. When mud and water
from the bottom is stirred-up by wind action. Or seining for koi, or even activity of
bottom-feeding koi, then there is a much greater possibility that H2S will come in
contact with koi. This is a big concern because even a very low concentration of H2S
can kill...
full article here
Trickle Filters by Elmer Epistola
Remember that age-old piece of advice that says you can't have clear water without
using a uv sterilizer? Well, no matter how popular it still is to many hobbyists
today, more and more people are becoming convinced that there are other ways to get
that highly-coveted crystal-clear water in their ponds. Their new secret weapon?
Trickle filters.
Trickle filters, or trickle towers, are filters that are designed for biological
filtration of pond water in 'dry' mode. 'Dry' mode filtration simply means that
the filter media are not submerged under water. In the case of the trickle filter,
the pond water is instead allowed to drip in small 'trickles' through the filter media,
which are usually hundreds (or even thousands) of bio-balls stacked onto each other to
form a column or tower. The primary purpose of trickle towers is to reduce the nitrate
levels of the pond water and turn green water into gin-clear water.
Trickle towers reduce the nitrate level of pond water by exposing the water to a large
surface area of good aerobic bacteria that consume nitrates. The large surface area
is achieved by choosing filter media that has a high surface area-to-volume ratio,
such as bio-balls (plastic balls that have pegs). For trickle filters to work, however,
their filter media need to be fully...
full article here
WHY ZNA? by Ron Goforth
In recent months, a question has been asked of me, and of several of my koi associates, by various
clubs and organizations in the koi world with which I have contact or correspondence: “Why should
we be a ZNA chapter? What is the advantage of being ZNA, in addition to any other koi associations
we may have?”
I once was in the position of considering this question, shortly after the founding of the Lone
Star Chapter. There was discussion about it among the club members, and concern expressed by
some about exactly what the (then) Lone Star Koi Club would gain by the ZNA affiliation. After
researching the question a bit, there were certain things which stood out not only as advantages,
but unique advantages which ZNA had to offer. I’d like to share some of these thoughts with you
now. Whether you are a member of a new koi club seeking national or international affiliations
for support, or the member of a long-established club that is considering branching out more into
the koi world, or even an individual who is not near any club’s area, but who wants to know what
is happening in your hobby---these are some of the benefits of being not only a member of a ZNA
chapter, but a member of ZNA yourself.
ZNA is a well-structured organization, with by-laws and standards/or judging recognized worldwide.
From the beginnings with Dr. Takeo Kuroki, and his Manual to Nishikigoi, to the present day, with
the many-leveled international organization that educates, informs, and supports so many different
local clubs in so many different countries, we have the advantage of a great support system through
ZNA. We have a built-in, tried-and-true structure for our local chapters, their regular operations,
and their shows, including support from other chapters with loans of equipment, advice, assistance,
and education, whether it means training a new judge, teaching a koi seminar class, or translating
for a Japanese guest. Anyone who has had contact with a ZNA show can attest to the level of
quality in judges which is available to us upon request. The judges who come to us from Japan
as the ZNA representatives are consistently familiar with both former and current standards of
koi appreciation which spring from the source of our hobby (i.e., Japan).
Yet, they are unfailingly willing to offer constructive, helpful
commentary without bias to not only the owners of the very best Japanese imported koi, but to the
newest, “greenest” members who are so very proud of their fish as pets. Many owners who enter
their fish for the first time have at the beginning of a show expressed concern to me about being
“embarrassed” to show their fish to a judge from Japan---only to have that judge award a major
prize to one of the fish about which they were so concerned! The comment I hear about this sort
of situation is very often one of relief and pleasure that our ZNA judges are not “koi snobs”;
even though they may see the very finest fish at the All-Japan Show, and are able to judge them,
they are able to see the best qualities in any entrant. Also, perhaps more importantly, they
are always willing to help educate us on standards of appreciation and the proper care of the
koi to make them the best that they can be.
ZNA, by definition and by demonstration, provides us with education in the original emphasis
of our hobby: : the Japanese appreciation of koi as living objects of art. I’m afraid that
as Americans, we are often perilously close to losing that appreciation. That’s why I teach
“Koi as Art” in a continuing lecture series at major koi events, where I feel I can reach the
largest audience. “Zen Nippon Airinkai” contains in the very title the emphasis on the Zen arts,
their definitions of beauty, their standards of how to create that beauty, and how to appreciate
it in the koi today, before she grows, changes, and that particular moment of beauty is gone
forever; it is the momentary nature of that beauty that makes it most especially a Zen art...
full article here
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