Mid~Atlantic Koi The Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
October 2014
Mid~Atlantic Koi The Membership Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
Volume 28, Number 4
October 2014
—Upcoming Events Long Island Chapter Meeting . . . . . .31
Beginner’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Saugerties Chapter Meeting . . . . . . .31
MAKC Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . .8 Hikarimono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
—MAKC News
Dick Benbow, Washington
President’s Message . . . . . . . .4 From the Editor’s Desk . . . . .6 MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers . . . . . . . .31 Sunshine Column . . . . . . . . .33 Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . .33 F..A..S..T Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Mid-Atlantic Koi Deadlines for articles, meeting announcements and ads Nov/Dec Issue Deadline: October 15 Available Online: November 15 Jan/Feb Issue Deadline: December 15 Available Online: January 15
History of Ponds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Lisa Burns, Backyard Getaway
Vacation Nightmare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Ed Keene (DCAS)
Isa Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Courtesy of Hikari USA
Koi Pond Water Garden Winter Care Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Mike Gannon
Utsuri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Pat Daly, Michigan
Mohonk Mountain House Resort . . . . .24 Herb & RoseMarie Ehrich, New York
Panda Paws Wen Trim Surgery . . . . . .26 Wendy Love
The 49th Niigata Nishikigoi Show (2009) Second Grand Champion, Over 80 Bu Showa Sanshoku
On the Road to a Koi Event . . . . . . . . . .32 Picture to Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Joann Mead, New York
MAKC Membership Application . . . . .37
Isa Koi Farm
October 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 3
President’s Message by Joann Mead Suggestions4MAKC@gmail.com
pple season is in full swing in the Hudson Valley and everyone is gearing up for our finned friends and water gardens annual winter slumber. With that in mind if you should have any questions regarding the preparation of your pond or water garden for winter please contact us! That’s what is great about being part of MAKC, people sharing knowledge and the camaraderie.
A
The MAKC trailer title has not been transferred to the State of New York. Under the NYS DMV
regulations any trailer over 10,000 pounds has to have insurance. We are currently looking into various insurance companies to see who will give us a competitive rate. Prior to moving the trailer upstate it will need at least four new tires before it can become road worthy. We will not put any Club member’s life at risk moving the trailer. Once the trailer is upstate the Club will be having its first annual “Trailer Inventory Party.” Because of time constraints and the changing of the season, there will be a “Clean the Equipment Party” in the spring. The Club is in the process of setting up a PayPal account. Once PayPal has confirmed the account we will be able to accept online payments. This account can be used for the payment of Club merchandise, dues and advertising. Club V.P. Herb Enrich and I have both been working with vendors regarding the non-billing of the advertising in the magazine. It has been slow going but we are slowing making our way through the vendor list. With the holidays fast approaching, the vendors who advertise in our magazine are still open for business even though many of our ponds and water gardens might be taking their winter nap. This is a good time to order that item you have been eyeing all year or give that special someone a gift certificate for the holidays.
Joann Page 4 Mid-Atlantic Koi
October 2014
MAKC Executive Committee President Joann Mead
(845) 389-5712
jo_mead@earthlink.net
Vice-President Herb Ehrich
(845) 247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
Secretary Looking for a Volunteer Treasurer Anthony Vitale
(516) 420-0740
nyssba96@aol.com
Central Chapter Vice-President Looking for a Volunteer
Remember to Renew Your Membership
Long Island Chapter Vice-President Bruce Levine
(516) 735-2644
bruce@li-koi.com
Saugerties (NY) Chapter Vice-President Herb Ehrich
(845) 247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
South Chapter Vice-President Chuk Nixon
(301) 717-7702 chuknixon@aol.com
Standing Committees Membership (845) 723-4373
Richard Douglass
pvsherow@gmail.com
MAKC Sales Looking for a Volunteer MAKC Notice Group Manager Michael Snyder Sarah Johnson
(301) 762-2059 makc@imsnyder.com WebMaster (732) 567-6678 sarranna@yahoo.com
Don’t Wait – Do it Today.
Executive Board Advisor y C ommittee Joe Zuritsky (215) 575-4001 Eric Wilson
jzuritsky@parkwaycorp.com
(443) 203-6486
wilseric@comcast.net
Renewal form you can print out is on page 37.
MAKC Home Page: http://www.makc.com
Production: Cindy Graham, NextUp Creations
Mid-Atlantic Koi is the magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club. Material is selected for its interest to Koi keepers. MAKC accepts no responsibility for accuracy of content. Reproduction of uncopyrighted articles is permitted as long as this magazine is credited as the source. October 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine Editor, Carolyn Weise
(239) 573-6650 x105
Advertising Editor, Joann Mead
(845) 389-5712
makcmag@makc.com jo_mead@earthlink.net
Meeting/Events Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 makcmag@makc.com FAST Ads Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 makcmag@makc.com
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 5
From the Editor’s Desk by Carolyn Weise makcmag@makc.com
I was shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Ray Jordan. He was a friend to many and a respected Koi judge. I sat in several of his Koi History lectures which were enlightening and fascinating. This
was his niche in the hobby. He brightened up the shows wherever he went and will be missed. For your reading pleasure this month it is all about ponds and Koi: we have the History of Ponds by Lisa Burns, a look at Isa Koi Farm in Japan, by Hikari, a spotlight on Hikarimono by Dick "Coach" Benbow and another article on Utsuri, two of my favorites sometimes rolled into one! If you have a love for the Oranda Fancy Goldfish, Wendy Love has shared Wen Trim Surgery which is sometimes needed. Then, considering fall is upon us, we have some great fall/winter preparation information to help get you into the mood. I know how hard it is to get motivated sometimes because nobody wants the summer to end. Well, next issue (Nov./Dec.) we will have some interesting technical articles that will educate and prepare you for next year! Stick with us. Big things to come. Take pictures at the club meetings and shows. Share them with us. Let me know what you want to see in upcoming issues. Yours in Koi! Carolyn
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October 2014
Beginner’s Corner
In Memoriam
Ask a question and we will get you an answer.
Ray Jordan
Question - It’s October and I wonder when I should start to shut down the pond for winter?
Answer - You should already have some kind of netting over the pond to keep out the leaves. Feed the fish a wheat-germ based food when the water temperature is between 55 deg. and 45 deg. After that no food till spring and the water is back to 45 deg. I don’t clean and shut down the filters till November, usually around thanksgiving week. When you do shutdown clean the bottom of the pond of debris and do 30% to 50% water change. Clean the filter; make it ready for start-up in spring. If you can cover the pond with plastic, this keeps leaves out and some heat in. Float an air stone from a water bottle about 10 inches from the surface. This keeps the water from freezing solid and lets in oxygen and lets out bad gases.
Ray Jordan (left) judging at the Koi Club of San Diego Show in 2011.
Remember try to do a 10% water change once a month all winter when you get a nice day or two. This takes the fish waste out of the pond in winter. Remove the water from the bottom of the pond. Replace with dechlor and fresh water. The fish will have less stress in the spring because they are not living in their own waste all winter.
Raymond Douglas Jordan, age 65, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2014. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to John and Jessie Jordan.
Note: This column offers suggestions only; the ultimate care of your pond and fish is up to you.
He loved to travel and was an avid outdoorsman. Ray was a member of the American Koi Judges Association, Texas Koi and Fancy Goldfish Society, and ZNA.
Wanted – Your Questions Please email your questions to makcmag@makc.com. October 2014
Ray graduated from the University of Corpus Christi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science which led to his long and successful career with Johnson & Johnson.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Martha Jordan. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 7
MAKC
Corporate
Members
www.mazuri.com
Quality Koi Company Nisei Koi Farm 856-299-7564 info@qualitykoi.com
www.qualitykoi.com
Interested in becoming a Corporate Member? East Coast – Patio Ponds, LTD 301-874-8440 West Coast – Laguna Koi Ponds 949-494-5107
www.MatalaUSA.com Page 8 Mid-Atlantic Koi
Reasonable one time fee for the year – includes a Business Card size ad in all issues in this section and on the MAKC website. Contact Joann Mead at 845-389-5712 or jo_mead@earthlink.net October 2014
Hikarimono by Dick “Coach� Benbow, Washington
reprinted from Inland Empire Water Garden & Koi Society 7/2014 newsletter
electing tosai, or Koi that are one-year old, can be a daunting task. But putting off selection for another year can also be an expensive delay. I'd like you to consider buying one-year old Koi as an educational tool that will help you increase your knowledge.
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Back in the day when I was first learning, we were taught to pick a small fish with a big heavy pattern. That way the fish would grow into it. But if you follow photos of what wins in Japan these days, many of the bigger Koi have patterns that barely touch the lateral line. So like articles of clothing, styles change from decade to decade. Rather than have patterns, especially beni (red), that reach well below the lateral line, maybe just below it will be deep enough. Take a look at the Kohaku picture that I have provided. You can see that the beni just about gets down to the lateral line. As this 8-10 inch fish grows, a small amount of white should show on the edges giving this Koi a kindai or modern look. I selected this Koi because of the uniformity of the beni thickness throughout the steps. Remember, with show fish 10% of their score is based on pattern and 50% is on body. I think the pattern is well balanced with its biggest step behind the head and progressively smaller steps towards the tail. The next photo is of a similar-sized Sanke. Its Mom is an ISSA Kohaku and Dad is from Sakai October 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 9
The second I saw this Koi based on following its older sisters, I had to have it! It will be a longer fish at finish than the Kohaku. I say that because it has a long head and the torso is typical Matsunosuke bloodline. These are traits that find the Koi excelling at stretching and, between fourfive years of age, more effort is then put into bulking. The Kohaku should carry a good body throughout its development. This shows the importance of knowing what bloodlines breeders bring to the development of their efforts. The one thing I liked about this line, was normally when Sanke have stripes in their pecs, called tejima, it usually emerges on the pec that has the strongest sumi on that side. To find Koi that develop tejima on the opposite side really helps to balance the sumi. For some reason both of her older sisters did this as they developed. So while no tejima shows immediately on this Koi at this stage, it will be interesting to see it progress. I mentioned a long head in its description and here's what I do to look for that. I look at the distance from the nose to the eye and then take that distance and apply it to the distance between the eye and the edge of the gill plate. I expect to get one and a half spaces.
Hiroshima. I have two older sisters from the same parents, each a year apart in age so I know what to expect with this look to the beni. The value of purchasing from the same breeder is getting to know their lines. You can easily mark the sumi (black) under the skin. When finished, this Koi could very easily have a similar volume of all three colors. Though as a teacher I'd like to have you looking at other things besides pattern, but let's be honest. Page 10 Mid-Atlantic Koi
I headlined this article the way I did because looking at the underside of the Koi is a lost art. The information you find will go a long way with understanding how a Koi will finish. Many times the only photo we see of a Koi is pattern showing over the back. There are two color varieties and it's imperative that you see photos of the underneath before purchasing. Take a look at this Kindai or Modern Showa (next page). This photo was taken when it was two-years-old (nisei). It looks pretty much like it did as tosai. Nice colors, nice body potential, but it could really use more sumi. Showa sometimes take fivesix years minimally to finish. So how does one tell if more sumi may appear? It is underneath! By rolling the fish over and looking at its vent and anal fins, you can also see sumi at the base of them. A GREAT indication that the Koi has more October 2014
Showa, as you look at the pecs for the fan shaped sumi (motoguro) occasionally you find a Koi not showing motoguro. But if you see black surrounding the outer edge of the gill plate from the top of the head to what I would call the chin area, chances are good it will develop motoguro in time. So what other Koi would you guess that a peek underneath is even more revealing? Hint: It was the first color variety to be stabilized. Asagi! When selecting Asagi tosai, the importance is finding candidates with what is needed so when they are three-years-old the pattern is there. We want to see the equivalent of motoguro on Showa or what the Japanese call moyoaka (red in the pecs). It can be a starburst looking marking, or a full red pec as long as the leading ray on the pec remains white indicating the red will pull back with age. Interestingly enough, this same sign works for Showa with an all-black pec as long as the leading ray is white.
sumi there than meets the eye. Clean fins indicate just the opposite. Or in other words, what you see is what you get when viewed from the traditional over-the-back look. One other tip on October 2014
Next thing we look for is a touch of red in the tail. Interestingly enough, the Asagi that develop well have clear dorsals until the end of their second year when small red dots appear spaced out along the base of the dorsal. By three years the dots connect and you have that required red characteristic. Now look at the underside of an Asagi. That will tell you how strong the red is in the Koi . This is important because you do not want to select an Asagi tosai overrun with red. Finding red at the base of the anal and vent fins (again like Showa) lets you know red is there. But we honestly DON'T want it showing at this age as we view the Koi from the sides. A few, maybe one or two, rows of red scales should show along the bottom of the belly. As a tosai having red already up to the lateral line is too soon and usually later the red runs over the lateral line in the tail area, ruining the pattern. There are different varieties of Asagi, but acceptable especially in the Narumi variety is a white space along the lateral line that separates the blue back and the Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 11
red belly. By having just a row or two of red showing at tosai, by three the red should have slowly filled in to just below the lateral line. It's best not to feed Asagi any color food because color food tends to push the red, which we don't want. ď ś I'd like to acknowledge Kurt Kleinholz, breeder of these Koi, for allowing us to use these photographs. Dick Benbow, aka coach, has been with Koi close to 35 years. He is a Pacific Northwest Koi Club Association (PNKCA) Bronze Koi recipient and founding father for both Puget Sound Koi Club and Washington Koi and Water Garden Society. Dick is active on many of the Koi chat lines. He is married, has two children and two grandchildren. His favorite Koi subjects are filtration and understanding tosai development.
Page 12 Mid-Atlantic Koi
October 2014
History of Ponds by Lisa Burns, Backyard Getaway
Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Photo by Cindy Graham
Garden like an Eqyptian or an Italian or ‌ Most people, when looking for inspiration for their water garden, think of Koi & Japanese Gardens. You may be surprised to find that the Japanese were not the first culture to keep water in their garden. In fact there are many very October 2014
diverse cultures that influence today’s water gardens. The earliest depictions of a planned water garden actually dates back around 4000 years. Egyptians would plant their gardens inside the walls that surrounded their homes. Ancient records show Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 13
hieroglyphics and paintings of formal water gardens, rectangular in shape, filled with fish, ducks & lotuses & surrounded by fruit trees, ornamental plants, & date palms. The Lotus was believed to be a symbol of the sun; to them, it represented creation and rebirth because it would close at night & re-open in the day. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon created by Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife. These formal Persian walled gardens with their pools & irrigation canals symbolized paradise in an otherwise hot and arid climate. There were rooftop & terrace gardens and fountains to cool the area. Water was brought to the top of the artificial mountain from the river below with a system of buckets, pulleys & pumps & men to power the system. In the hills of northern Italy is the Villa d’ Este palace. This 16th Century garden is dedicated to water features of all sizes. The neatest fountain at the palace is called the Organ fountain. The organ’s pipes which are hidden under the water actually play music. Everything there is turned into a water feature from cement statues to stairs with rivulets. Another 16th Century garden is the Villa Medici which is very similar to the Babylon gardens. Unlike the Persian gardens, the Italian garden is on a hillside making it much easier for the water to flow over the waterfalls. Many Roman gardens were built in conjunction with the public baths giving them a serene spot to meditate. Moorish gardens from the 13th to the 16th century in Spain were primarily created with water, fruit trees & shade. The pools with ornate tiles & spouting fountains would be the center piece of the courtyard garden surrounded by shade trees & colorful plantings. For 2500 years classic Chinese gardens have contained one or more ponds along with Page 14 Mid-Atlantic Koi
pavilions, bridges & bright colored flowers. These peaceful gardens are usually surrounded by white walls with a fancy gate or doorway. The Chinese use four elements in their gardens, water, plants, rocks and architecture; they believe that the garden symbolizes a living organism with the rocks being the bones, the water is the blood & the plants are the dressing. Chinese gardens are meant to bring balance, soothe the spirit & be spiritually uplifting. Japanese gardens may be famous for their beautiful graceful Koi ponds but they draw inspiration from the Chinese gardens. A Japanese garden is a reflection of a larger natural landscape. Although water is a very important element in Japanese gardens along with manicured shrubs, stone and moss it doesn’t necessarily have to be literal, as in a Koi pond, stream and small basin. Water can be simply represented by a dry stream or raked bed of pebbles surrounding a large boulder. With varying tastes and styles, modern American gardens use elements of historic gardens from all over the world, the gardens of Europe being the biggest influence on North American water gardens. If you ask me a garden isn’t a garden without water. "Of all the elements, the Sage should take water as his preceptor. Water is yielding but all-conquering. Water extinguishes Fire or, finding itself likely to be defeated, escapes as steam and reforms. Water washes away soft Earth or, when confronted by rocks, seeks a way around. . . It saturates the atmosphere so that Wind dies. Water gives way to obstacles with deceptive humility, for no power can prevent it following its destined course to the sea. Water conquers by yielding; it never attacks but always wins the last battle." –John Blofeld's The Wheel of Life Author: Lisa Burns, Backyard Getaway, our website is backyardgetaway.net. October 2014
Vacation Nightmare, Don’t Let This Happen to You by Ed Keene (DCAS) adapted for Ponds by Carolyn Weise ere's a pretty good nightmare, as relayed to me by a third party. The details are somewhat sketchy, however, there was enough information provided that I could fill in the gaps. This incident is about an automatic refill malfunction.
H
Seems that the particular fellow in this used to top off the pond water only after enough had evaporated, leaving the water line near the bottom of the refill register. Low water level was his indication that it was time to see about changing the water. It was a fairly large pond and in my opinion it sounds as if water changes were done approximately every 2 months or so. Whatever the water change interim was it certainly was not often enough! Well as it happened, this fellow was leaving for a two week, late summer vacation. He did everything he had to do for his fish with one exception. He did not perform a water change. Although the water level was close to where he would normally change it, he figured he would just do it as soon as he returned from his vacation, since he really didn't have the time now. In fact, he even wrote himself a little note and stuck it on the refrigerator door just so he wouldn't forget. Think about this. Late summer (August?), temperatures in the upper 90's every day, the place completely closed up for two weeks, nobody monitoring, etc. Hmmmmm. I can only assume he had a very good vacation. I do know, however, that he was horrified upon his return home. All his fish were laying on the bottom of the pond, dead - dried up dead! There was no water left in the pond; he walked across October 2014
the yard, didn’t notice the muddiness - at least on the surface. His immediate concern was with the pond and his eyes were glued to it as he walked over to it. Upon closer inspection, he saw the refill had not functioned at all and there had developed a crack in the corner of the pond, in the side, extending to the bottom, which drained all the water from the pond. His pump was fried. His fish were dead. This is indeed a nightmarish chain of events, but really did happen. Just think about it.
In Conclusion Never take a vacation, or invest in a security guard to baby sit your pond 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only kidding!!! On a serious note, however, at least once a week, make sure that all components are operating at peak performance and correct any which are not. Additionally, never, ever, give your pond or any of its components an open invitation to create a disaster like this fellow did. ď ś Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 15
The 49th Niigata Nishikigoi Show (2009) Second Grand Champion, Over 80 Bu Showa Sanshoku
Isa Koi Farm Courtesy of Hikari USA
e continue our series of Koi farmer visits to learn about the critical focus and processes each undertakes. This time we interviewed Mr. Mitsunori Isa of Isa Koi Farm who is famous for its big and powerful Isa Showa whose strongest charm is its eyecatching appearance.
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I. About Isa Koi Farm History The farm is located in the city of Ojiya which is close to the cradle of Nishikigoi, Yamakoshi in Niigata Prefecture. With a long history of 41 years, the farm consists of 31 field ponds on approximately seven hectares of land. They focus mainly on Showa (about 70 % of their total), Kohaku and Sanke. Until the appearance of Isa Showa, it was believed that the Koi of Showa Sanshoku variety were stout and muscular and rarely grew larger than other Gosanke varieties. However, an Isa Showa typically grows to about 80 cm in length, while maintaining its superior figure and qualities. The gigantic Koi parent Isa breeds is a Maruten Showa of 101 cm, which is a sibling of a Koi nicknamed ''Chokansho'' which means the Fisheries Agency Award. They have been using the Page 16 Mid-Atlantic Koi
October 2014
jumbo Koi parent for more than 10 years and its descendants have won the Kokugyo Award several times. The Koi parent is still actively spawning. Mr. Mitsunori Isa's unforgettable Showa This memorable Koi’s strongest charm is its white skin which became conspicuous when the fish was three years old. While maintaining its beauty, the fish grew to 86 cm at the age of seven and won the grand championship for the first time.
The 50th Niigata Nishikigoi Show (2010), Grand Champion, Over 80 Bu Showa Sanshoku
The heart and soul of the farm One of the farm's female Koi parents a 13 year old, 90 cm long Showa Sanshoku (“Chokansho”) won the second grand championship (the Fisheries Agency Award) in the 49th Niigata Nishikigoi Show. Mr. Isa intension was to exhibit a superb Koi which would surprise every viewer who attended the cradle of Nishikigoi event. He also felt it could be the last Koi exhibit for this fish as they had been using the fish as a Koi parent for seven years, and its condition was the best within their collection. The fish's lustrous skin looked as if it had been untouched for those years. This fish of sturdy build was producing strong charms beyond words. Many of its offspring have inherited these splendid characteristics.
II. Production Style of Isa Koi Farm Q: What sort of Koi do you intend to farm? A: Our goal is to produce Koi that impress with their natural beauty, October 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 17
Mr. Mitsunori Isa and his father, Mr. Hajime Isa, work together to select young Koi.
power and size. We have established a method to combine bloodlines of Koi parents and can now produce excellent quality Koi with a powerful appearance. Our next goal is to make the Sumi markings of these Koi better as they mature. One of the unique charms of these "moving works of art" is their transformation as they Page 18 Mid-Atlantic Koi
grow, unfortunately it is not always favorable but always creates anticipation of a champion. We devote ourselves to producing a single Koi which meets our ultimate ideal. Full of challenging spirit The farm has adopted new breeding techniques and feed selections over time based on first hand use. This year, 2011, they tried using an artificial implantation net. The result was a significant increase in the incubation rate. They owe part of their success to their fellow Koi farmers, who organized the "Sannichikai" association; Hiroi Koi Farm, Hosokai Koi Farm, Isa Koi Farm, Dainichi Koi Farm, Oya Yoshokujo, Kawakami Koi Farm and Izumiya Koi Farm. These Koi farmers exchange information from day to day, working to improve themselves by competing with each other. October 2014
III. Daily feeding and giving finishing touches to their Koi Q: What do you demand from Koi food? A: As I previously mentioned, we are trying to produce Koi with beautiful and powerful appearance. We demand superior quality and safe food. We selected a Kyorin-made diet and are using it as our main food. We are also using SakiHikari™ Deep Red™ and Pure White™, which were recently added to the Saki-Hikari™ series. Q: Can you give your impression of the new food, Saki-Hikari™ Deep Red™ and Pure White™? A: – Saki-Hikari™ Deep Red™ We immediately realized the effectiveness of Deep Red™ as a color enhancer for the Beni and were quite surprised the skin of the fish didn't become yellow. However, we found when we fed it to our young Showa their Hi wasn't enhanced October 2014
as dramatically. We also found that the pond water became a little brownish after its use, so we carefully monitor water quality during use. Saki-Hikari™ Pure White™ We keep 10 to 15 Koi of four years old and older in our 10-ton pond as part of their finishing stage. After feeding Pure White™ we found their yellowed skin clearly became a beautiful white. In the past we used to stop feeding for the finishing stage and fish often lost weight as a trade off for the development of spectacular white. We’ve found the use of Pure White™ enables the fish to maintain their body weight and form while improving the whiteness of their skin. We use Pure White™ when the water temperature remains low and found the excrement tends to increase, so we have to pay attention to the amount of food we use and closely control the water quality.
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 19
Koi Pond Water Garden Winter Care Tips by Mike Gannon
easonal changes can represent challenges for many Koi pond and water garden owners. Some pondowners may even have to deal with drastic changes for each season. Subzero brutal winter temperatures thaw into the soaking rains of spring time. Spring time very quickly transforms into a summer of heat waves, drought, and soaring temperatures. And before Ol’ Man Winter starts bellowing again the autumn time dumps massive amounts of material into our yards, Koi ponds, and water gardens. As pond owners it seems we need to have a game plan every few months!
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Since winter time in many areas can represent some particularly challenging conditions for Koi ponds and water gardens, let’s touch on some tips for winter pond care. Winter is a time that not enough of us pond owners are enjoying our pond’s natural beauty. It’s understandable since sometimes the conditions just won’t permit it. Since contact could be limited with your pond here are a few things to keep in mind for your winter pond care. Try to start the winter with a clean pond. October is a great time to get your winter pond prep done. Leaf netting placed over your pond is very helpful this time of year, and can come off in a few weeks. As temperatures dip and drop be sure to have your de-icer and aerator installed; sometimes those overnight temperature dips can catch you off guard. This is typically time to stop feeding your Koi and goldfish as well. When winter really blows in, ice and snow become considerations in your pond care. When Page 20 Mid-Atlantic Koi
Koi ponds and water gardens ice over it typically starts at the edge of the pond and slowly creeps inward over the entire pond. Ice cover is ok in ponds 18˝ and deeper in most cases. Properly functioning de-icers and aerators will keep an opening in the ice cover all the way down to the single digit temperatures (F). Single digit temperatures should be considered extreme conditions. If you have a waterfall try not to allow the water to flow over any ice that may have formed in the waterfall or pond; try to keep the water flowing below ice cover. Water that flows over ice can become much colder than the pond water itself, which can drive down temperatures within the pond, which is NOT desirable. Water flowing over ice into your pond should be stopped when you encounter it asap! If you find yourself caught off guard with extreme weather and icing conditions do not try to break a hole in your ice. Ice even 1” thick is a very difficult material to break through, imagine trying to break through 5˝ of ice! For extreme conditions like this a hole saw will come in very handy. Instead of stressing your fish and yourself out with the exhausting chore of hacking through the ice with that hand hatchet from your shed, try using a 4˝ hole saw (found at any big box home store) that will cut a very nice hole in the ice, with minimal effort, which you can drop some air lines down through. When aerating a winter pond try to start with fresh new air diffusers. When placing the diffusers into the pond do not go too deep. If you have shelves in your pond place the diffusers on October 2014
the shallowest shelf. Whatever the case, since so many ponds have different configurations, try to avoid placing the diffuser on the bottom of the pond. During colder winter months the water on the bottom of the pond should not bemoved to the top of the pond that much, since an effect of “super cooling” the pond can happen; much like what happens when water flows over ice into your pond. After heavy snow fall remove some or all of the snow from your water garden Koi pond to allow for some sunlight to get into the pond. This is not a critical task, however, don’t leave your fish and plants in the dark for too long. Snow removal from your pond also improves safety around the pond when it cannot be seen under snow cover; we don’t want people, pets, or critters falling into your pond this time of year so let them know the pond is there. An open pond also provides a nice source of water for small or not so small birds and animals in your area.
October 2014
These are just a few tips to keep in mind during those winter months. There are many other things to observe and enjoy about your pond during this time of year. Every Koi pond and water garden will have specific considerations as well. With these few winter care pond tips you can look forward to the winter months, and actually take time to enjoy the amazing conditions that winter can bring along with it. Enjoy the dynamic and natural beauty of your pond this winter!
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Utsuri by Pat Daly, Michigan
Utsuri Koi (oot-sir-Ä“) The Utsuri variety of Koi are black Koi with white, red or yellow markings. Utsuri is another very popular Koi fish for Koi ponds and water gardens. Look for Utsuri Koi that have pleasing checkerboard patterns and clearly defined colors. Utsurimono have black skin, and are divided by interlacing markings of one other color. It has black bands of color wrapping around the body with one other non-metallic color. A red Utsuri is called Hi Utsuri, white type is called Shiro Utsuri, and the yellow type is called Ki Utsuri. Hi Utsuri and Ki Utsuri have red and yellow markings respectively in place of the white areas on a Shiro Utsuri. The sumi should be dark and October 2014
distinct on the Koi regardless of the contrasting color. Like the Showa variety, sumi (black) on an Utsuri should essentially appear as bands of color on the nose, face side and throughout the body, as well as in the pectoral fin joints. Formerly, Utsurimono were produced mostly as byproducts of Showa Sanshoku breeding. Recently, very high quality Utsurimono have been bred with excellent Shiro Utsuri on one or both sides of parentage. Hi Utsuri Koi continue to be born as a by-product of Showa Sanshoku Koi breeding. ď ś Koi description from : Kloubec Koi Farm
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Mohonk Mountain House Resort by Herb & RoseMarie Ehrich, New York
Andrew was friendly and helpful throughout the entire day at Mohonk. nyone who is lucky enough to visit Mohonk Mountain House is truly lucky. The Saugerties Chapter was invited to make a presentation entitled, “Water Gardening and Koi” during Mohonk’s Garden Week. This was a presentation for guests and visitors of the Mountain House.
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Herb Ehrich began the presentation with a brief history of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club (MAKC). He encouraged anyone interested in Koi ponds or water features to join MAKC or a club in their region. He stressed that knowledge is power! He went on to introduce Joanne Mead the new President of MAKC. Jo greeted the group and thanked them for attending the presentation.
Mohonk Mountain House is an historic, lakefront, castle-like resort built 145 years ago by Alfred and Albert Smiley. The twin brothers had a vision of creating a hotel where people from all parts of the world could gather to enjoy nature at its best. To try and describe the beauty and peaceful surroundings would be a difficult task. You should visit the hotel and see for yourself. The scenic views are breathtaking. Program Host and Garden Manager of Mohonk Mountain House, Andrew Koehn, provided the Club with a great platform introducing people into the world of Koi and water gardens. Page 24 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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In the second part of the presentation club member, Paul Tomasko lectured on the pros and cons of a Koi pond or water feature. Paul spoke about the importance of water quality, testing the water and using various chemicals. He briefly reviewed the history of nishikigoi and different blood lines. He explained that the national fascination for Koi in Japan had increased tremendously when Crown Prince Hirohito was presented Koi for the imperial palace moat in 1914. Frank Almquist was the last presenter. He gave a comprehensive PowerPoint on the construction of ponds and water gardens. Frank stressed that before putting a shovel in the ground, it is important to join a club like MAKC. This way a person can learn the proper way of installing and maintaining their pond or water garden. The presentation ended with a Q and A session. Thank you to Joann Mead, Peggy Almquist and RoseMarie Ehrich for their participation at the membership table. Many thanks to Andrew Koehn and the entire staff of Mohonk Mountain House for their gracious hospitality. It was an amazing day!! ď ś October 2014
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Panda Paws Wen Trim Surgery by Wendy Love
Orandas are born without a wen and usually start to develop them by six months of age. The wen can take up to two years or more to fully develop. reprint with permission brought Panda, my Panda Oranda, home in October. At that time, he had only the beginnings of a wen. He was probably under a year old. Here is Panda about a month after I brought him home.
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Here is Panda on January 2nd. You can see that his wen has started to grow.
A diet rich in proteins and fats contributes to wen growth as does genetics and good clean water. As the wen grows it can completely occlude the eyes rendering the Oranda blind. As you can see from the pictures below, Panda's eyes were completely covered by his wen. He was bumping into the tank walls and was the last to find the food. Here is a front and side view of Panda Paws on March 16th, before his wen trim.
Here is Panda on January 18th. His wen is filling out nicely. I opted for a professional, Dr. Helen Roberts, to do the wen trimming because the wen was totally covering his eyes. The following article documents the wen trim procedure performed by Dr. Roberts. The wen trim surgery was performed on March, 17. Here Panda is being anesthetized. Dr. Roberts used 1/4 teaspoon of Finquel and buffered with Page 26 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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equal parts of baking soda per gallon of water. The Finquel can make the water acidic. If you have soft water you may want to double the dose of baking soda. It took approximately five minutes to sedate him. You can tell he is sedated when he lies on his side and gill movement slows.
Dr. Roberts used a small pair of sharp scissors to trim the wen. To me it looks painful and there is some controversy whether the fish would feel pain when undergoing this procedure. However Panda Paws did receive an analgesic after it was over.
Here Dr. Roberts is trimming around the upper eye area.
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A piece of Panda Paw's wen.
Here, Dr. Roberts is using Brown-Adson tissue forceps to protect the eye while she trims the wen. She flipped them and used the flat handle part because it was smooth and would cover the eye and prevent accidental injury. When she cut around the eyes as in the picture below she used small curved scissors.
It is necessary to put him back into the Finquel solution every few minutes to keep him sedated as the procedure takes about half an hour.
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Next Dr. Roberts trimmed the cheek areas.
The cheek area is a little more fibrous and therefore a little more difficult to cut. The wen is comprised of myxomatous connective tissue with an epithelial surface. It is not very vascular hence no bleeding was noted during the procedure.
Here she’s trimming a little higher up on the wen.
What a cutie pie face he has. Look at those big eyes now.
Finishing up on the other eye. Back into the Finquel.
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A front view of Dr. Roberts trimming the eye area.
Left on the operating table were bits and pieces of his wen. Here Dr Roberts is finishing the eyes and she is taking time to ensure that the wen is symmetrical.
What a puss!
Who could not love that face! A beautiful wen cut! Dr. Roberts made sure to trim the front of the wen, so that Panda could see in front of him too.
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Here is most of what was removed.
Dr. Roberts weighs Panda Paws after the surgery. He weighed 191 grams. When the wen trimming was completed, it was time for recovery. Dr. Roberts wakes Panda Paws Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 29
up in his bucket filled with fresh oxygenated water. It takes about 5 minutes.
The whole procedure took approximately a half hour and Panda tolerated it well. He was given an injection of butorphanol for pain and baytril, an antibiotic. Once home in his tank he rested for about an hour. Now he is the first one to the food and is navigating the tank much better. The following pictures show him back home in his tank directly after the procedure. The rough edges you see around his eyes will smooth out in about a months time.
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Here he is on April 11th. You can see how the tissue that was trimmed has smoothed out. A very handsome wen trim indeed!
M A KC Eve nt Long Island Chapter Meeting Sunday, October TBD The Chapter has openings for future Koi meetings. Please contact me. Please call Bruce at cell 516-477-1823 or email kuba1953@aol.com
Saugerties Chapter Meetings Sunday, October 19 Held at Bernie & Kathy Carroll Saugerties, New York Contact Herb Ehrich for further information about upcoming meetings koiking15@yahoo.com This year’s meetings
MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers Tom Burton Jan & Bill Fogle Terri Janas Jeff Nicholson
Middletown, NJ Wayne, PA Ashburn, VA Odenton, MD
732-671-7045 610-687-3105 703-729-2988 301-912-1928
All members have microscopes and health books. In the event of a recorded message, please suggest a time when you're home to receive a return call or when you'd like to call back. Please remember that advice is given based on your input–the ultimate responsibility and treatment must remain with you. October 2014
November 16 December 14 Meeting are held at 3 pm - 5 p.m. All places of meeting will be determined Contact Herb for further information koiking15@yahoo.com
Send your meeting and event information to Carolyn Weise makcmag@makc.com Deadline October 5th for the November/December 2014 issue.
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On the Road to a Koi Event October 2-7 Quality Koi Company Annual Fall Harvest
For more information http://www.americangoldfish1.org/shows.htm
Penns Grove, NJ – Each day they will be harvesting a mud pond of Koi. First pull of the pond will be around 9am. http://qualitykoi.com
October 24-26 15th Annual Golden Empire Koi Show
October 4-5 7th Annual Regional South Carolina Koi & Goldfish Show
The Bakersfield Koi and Water Garden Society is holding its Koi Show in conjunction with the Fall Harvest Home and Garden Show at the Kern County Fairgrounds http://www.bkwgs.com and www.ggshows.com
South Carolina Koi & Water Garden Society’s Simpsonville, SC • http://sckwgs.org
October 18 American Goldfish Association Virginia Breeders Classic Show & Auction J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Burnette Hall Room 253 1651 East Parham Rd Richmond, VA 23228. Benching starts at 8:00a.m.
November 8-10 35th Annual Southern Arizona Koi Assoc. Show, Vendor Fair and Auction Contact Show Chairperson: Brent VanKoevering for more info. 520-780-3980 or bvankoevering@longrealty.com www.sakoia.org
Planning for Next Year March 7-8, 2015 Koi Club of San Diego 28th Koi Show San Diego, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds www.koiclubofsandiego.org Central Florida Koi Show is normally held the second weekend in March. Please check their webiste http://cfks.org/ Have an upcoming Koi event, please send the information to makcmag@makc.com. We will be glad to include it in future articles. Don’t forget your own MAKC Club has events coming up that can be found in our digital magazine or at www.makc.com. We always need volunteers for meetings and shows. It is amazing how much you can learn by helping. Take advantage of being an MAKC member and participate in the club events. See you soon at a Koi event.
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Sunshine Column
Treasurer’s Report Submitted by Anthony Vitale, New York Balance as of June 30, 2014
$13,987.84
Income: Memberships Total Income
637.54
Expenses: Printing/Publication Total Expenses
800.00
Balance as of June 30, 2014
$637.54
We wish to bid farewell to Saugerties Chapter member, Suzanne Terpening and wish her well as she relocates from Saugerties, NY to Port Richey, Florida.
$800.00 $13,825.38
Suzanne will be missed by all her friends in MAKC. We look forward to welcoming into our chapter the new owner who purchased Suzanne's home.
Reserve Account/Prepaid Memberships Savings Bank Account 6,424.21 Balance $6,424.21 Club Total Balance As if July 31, 2014
October 2014
$20,249.59
Send submissions for our Sunshine Column to Carolyn Weise, Editor makcmag@makc.com
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 33
F..A..S..T.. Ads – October Disclaimer: MAKC and its officers assume no responsibility for claims of advertisers or the quality/serviceability of goods offered.
MAKC Member Needs Your Help FOR SALE Remember any MAKC member can list their Koi, pond, or related items for sale here in your magazine at no charge. Please contact Joann today if you have something for sale. BAMBOO. Winter hardy and tropical for indoors. Thinning collection. Reasonable prices. Call Ron Altman, NY 718-442-1673 (Office) or 908-658-3055 (H).
KOI. Wanted Healthy Pond Grade KOI over 10˝. Will pay reasonable prices. I have a 750,000 gallon pond and will adopt any unwanted KOI. Call Joseph Pollock in Virginia at 540-788-9222. KOI. Wanted for large deep natural pond next to soon to be built wine tasting room in wine country of Northern Virginia. Happy to accept any and all Koi of any size and color. Stop by and visit them next year when our tasting room opens. Call Mark Malick in Purcellville, VA, 540-270-3399 (cell). KOI BITO MAGAZINES – in good condition. Send list with asking price, or call Roger Klocke 701-491-2803, E-mail at rklockejr@aol.com. Mailing address: Roger Klocke, 4805 Meadow Creek Dr., Fargo, ND 58104.
WANTED KOI. Foster Home. Large natural pond. Happy to accept your overgrown or unwanted “children.” Call Rich Menashe in Metuchen, NJ, 732-767-0720.
F..A..S..T.. Ads Policy & Deadlines F..A..S..T.. Ads are available FREE to MAKC members only; no commercial ads. Ads are limited to 10 items and must include name, phone number, town and state. Deadline is the 1st of each month. Help do you have an hour or two? We need a volunteer to manage this page. Please contact
Joann Mead • 845-389-5712 jo_mead@earthlink.net
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KOI STORE EMPLOYEE. Looking for a knowledgeable Koi and pond hobbyist. Part-time, competitive pay. Outstanding employee discounts! Call John at Blue Ribbon Koi Products. 703-753-7566. MAKC CENTRAL CHAPTER VICEPRESIDENT. Schedule 4 to 12 meetings per year. This includes making sure that the meeting announcement is submitted to the magazine and the MAKC website. Plenty of advice and support are available. Your "compensation" .... knowing that you have given back to MAKC and your fellow members. Please don't wait for someone else to step forward! MAKC is a membership organization. If more than one person is interested, you can share the fun! E-mail Joann Mead at jo_mead@earthlink.net or call 845-389-5712.
October 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Ad Index Aquaculture Bead Filter Specialists . . . . . . 8, 33 Aquatic Nutrition – Blackwater Gold–N . . . . . . 35 Hikari . . . . . . . . . 8, Back Cover
Matala USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Mazuri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 8 Microbe-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Nisei Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . 8, 21 Pentair Aquatic
Kloubec Koi Farm . . . . . . . . 32
Eco-Systems, Inc. . . . . . 8, 22
Kodama Koi Farm . . . . . . 8, 12
Quality Koi Company . . . 8, 21
Long Island Fish Hospital . . 35
Advertise in
www.makc.com
Mid-Atlantic Koi! Ad Rates from $15/issue* for a business card ad to $300/issue* for a full page color ad.
Join or Renew Your Membership Submit Your MAKC Membership Form by printing out page 37 and mailing it in. Do it today, it only takes a couple of minutes. October 2014
Reach your target audience of Koi keepers & water gardeners each month and leave your competition in the dust!! Contact Joann Mead at 845-389-5712 (leave message) or e-mail: jo_mead@earthlink.net to request information on our advertiser packages and/or a copy of our ad rate sheet. *With an annual 10 issue contract.
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 35
Picture to Share –
Taken at Bernie's Koi by Joann Mead, New York. Have a picture to share? Send your photos to the Editor, Carolyn Weise at makcmag@makc.com. Page 36 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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October 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 37