I need everyone's opinion on the below Kohaku.... Please give honest comments soon as possible.
It's a 50 - 54cm female that was imported from Marudo about 2 years ago.

Very sorry about the picture quality but the sun was very strong and you can clearly see the shade from the net in the first pic. Pics doesn't actually do the fish justice but gives you an idea of the patttern and overall body shape. The fins aren't clear in any of the pics but trust me when I say that they're 100% spotless.

Please guys..... I need your professional advice here as I'm interested in buying this koi. Also, what would you say is a fair price to pay for this koi?

The red extends a bit into the tail area and no tailstop and overall a bit to much hi to my liking. A bit of red over the eyes which is a demerit with little white on the head. Menware could be better. The quality of hi and shiroji appears to be very good. A good breeding Kohaku. Bodyshape better than the Showa.

A bit difficult to judge from this photos.

Menware on a Kohaku

Menware on a Showa, Yes

Menware is the Y-shape sumi marking on a Showa or Shiro Utsuri head,
dividing the face in two.

cheers

Hi Drikus, thanks for pointing that out. Menware only refers to showa and utsuri.

I was referring to the head pattern and Menkaburi (The hi patttern of this Kohaku that spreads almost over the whole face)

I always remember Men-wear -Y fronts

There is also hi in the dorsal fin.

The hi on the head does not seem to be fully extended on to the gill plates or side of the head, full menkaburi, but rather to just below the eyes, both of which are white so are not too much of a demerit in judging terms.

If are you are being asked a couple of hundred rand for this then probably not too bad for your pond,

It is however impossible to judge show quality from this picture as it is almost impossible to see the skin, shiroji and hi quality.

p.s

be carefull with thos specimen carp landing nets as the ray of the anal fin often gets snagged in them.

Quote :

The red extends a bit into the tail area and no tailstop

Can anybody please point out what a tailstop is?

Hi Chris

A tail stop is just a smallish hi marking just before the tail fin starts it is best when placed centrally and evenly.

A tail stop is the white space occurring between the last red step and the beginning of the tail fin, also known as the odome.

In this case, the red extends into the tail with no break in which case it is called zobonhaki.

Dis eintlik Ojime...potato, patato...

Odome - Last pattern mark before the tail. Refers to the last hi pattern marking on the background colour.

Ojime - The gap between the last Hi pattern before the tail...

Wayne, I think it is the other way around.

Ojima this means the last Hi patch. It should end about 3/4 inches (2cm) from the tail in a small koi (30cm) and as the Koi gets larger the gap to the tail will increase somewhat, hopefully to give a balanced look to the Hi.

Odome = tail stop, the area between the last hi and tail.

I know it as ojime. Here are some online dictionaries.

Odome - Last pattern mark before the tail.
Ojime - The gap between the last Hi pattern before the tail.

Ref : http://www.mankysanke.co.uk/html/japanese_dictionary.html

Odome oh·doh·meh Pattern stop in the tail tube region
Ojime oh·jih·meh Pattern stop in the tail tube region

Ref : http://www.allthingsaquatic.com/Reference/Koi_Dictionary.php

Odome (oh·doh·meh) Pattern that stops in the tail tube region
Ojime (oh·jih·meh) Pattern stop in the tail tube region

Ref : http://www.qualitykoi.com/koi-carp-fish/glossary.php

potato or patato?

Maybe a juge or japanese speaking person can point it out but getting back to the point. In English a tailstop is the white marking between the last hi pattern and tail fin.

chris back to your fish for a minute - i dont think its all bad - are you evaluating it as the next supreme grand champion? or do you just want to know if it makes the grade as a good kohaku. I certainly think its a solid fish with a reasonable body shape - the photo is poor so anyone's guess about the hi and the white - that being said looks like the rear pattern line is fairly strong.

What is the price? $$$$?

Hi Paul
ek sal n bietjie met Servaas moet incheck want hy het my so geleer. Sjoe.

As I said in the main post:
Imported from Marudo in Japan about 2 years ago.
50cm female
Guy wants R1500 but it's negotiable.
I'm not looking for a fish to enter into any show. I want a fish with a good bloodline for breeding.
I don't want to rush into buying so I'm still looking around.
These pictures don't do this fish justice. The hi on the fish is the same throughout and it very clear. There's also a bit of development still to come I think.

Dis glad nie 'n slegte prys nie.

I dont know much about show quality, but I would take it for that price.

Can anyone tell me if I should receive any sort of proof that this koi was bought in Japan or is it just a matter of trust? I don't know what papers (if any) one receives when buying from Japan...
Also, should I request a KHV certificate?

Chris, you worry too much.

Buy it.

Dis wat ek like van Jaco....straight to the point, no bullshit. Ek maak maar altyd seker voor ek besluite neem.

Ook nie verkeerd nie.
Ek het nog nie van jou vergeet nie, sal jou pics stuur einde April se kant.

Great!! Dankie Jaco.

By the way.............



DIE VIS IS SKOON!