I will be posting varieties under this new category for discussion. Please feel free to add any new variety for discussion under the same topic or post some of your shiros on this thread.

The first variety under discussion is the Shiro Utsuri.

The following is one of my local bred Shiros, not top quality, 60+ cm. Any views on the pros and cons will be appreciated.

Herwith a Shiro I purchased 10 days ago.

The color rule for utsuri is good clean snow white, brilliant yellow, or deep red that is bright, uniform, has luster and has no black specks. This, together with a good bodyshape is the most important aspect to look at.

If we look at the first Utsuri, the bodyshape is not good. He is a bit to fat for it's size and age. The white is fairly clean, but not snow white. Bobby's Shiro has a perfect bodyshape and the shiro appers quite good.

The sumi, black, should be bright ebony. The color should be clean and the same color all over the body.

It is desirable for the kiwa to be as sharp as possible.

The pattern must include sumi on the head and should be balanced all over the body. My Utsuri does not have black on the head, but it will still come out despite the fact that she is already three years old. One can see the black underneath, although it does not appear on the photo. However, it should have more black on the head. Bobby's shiro has a good balance and nice pattern on the head, which will still develop into a type of desireable lightning strike.

There must be white (or yellow or red in the case of a hi or ki Utsuri) on the shoulder and head.

It should have a break between the body and tail (odome)

There must be motoguro on the pectoral fins. My Utsuri does not have enough.

A checkerboard pattern or stepping stone pattern is desirable and the sumi should make up about one-third of the body and the color, shiro, hi, or ki, will make up the remaining two-thirds of the body color.

A lightning strike or V pattern on the face is desireable.

The last rule for utsuri is that it must posses overall elegance, quality, and an imposing appearance.

Note: Sumi usually doesn't settle until the Utsuri reaches 4 or 5 years of age.

My Utsuri is not bad for a local bred, but only a nice pond fish, Bobby's Shiro is show quality.

The nice thing about a Shiro, is the contrast between snow white and black.

It is not uncommon for Shiro's to win the Grand Champion price, and is a very popular koi amongst serious hobbyists.

My logo represents the ultimate Shiro.

The Shiro Chris van Tonder had last year was in my opinion a Grand Champion in the making. Sorry Chris for the bad ending but she is one of the Shiro's that I would remember for a long time, and would have loved to own her myself.

I bought this one a couple of weeks ago at Sandton Aquatic (are we allowed to name dealers?). Only a few cm long (5-6 I guess), so it has got a few years to go. Reportedly imported. Quality of the photos not that good- fish was on the bottom and I took flash photos.

Small one to the left of the photo- black and white one above him apparently a no-no






I think a big problem here might be the assymmetrical colour



Having a second look, the black and white demarcation is not that clear- hopefully this will change with time.

This fish is getting as tame as anything and is always around when there is food around
Albie

Albie, I think your Shiro is too black. When older, you will see very little white. Also a bit unbalanced and the pectorals and tail have almost no white.

The sumi appears to be not strong enough. Some white patches are showing through and you might end up with black "specks"

At least, your white looks good, and that for me is the most important.

With Bekko, the white becomes larger. With Shiros, the white becomes smaller. Shiros are black fish with white, Bekko's are white fish with black.

However, Shiros might surprise.

Compare the amount of black on your fish to the one that won the Bloemfontein 2008 Supreme Grand Champion award owned by Gavin Benbrook and the Supreme Champion size 4 below.

This, as far as I am concerned, is the almost perfect Shiro. Well balanced, stunning shiroji, perfect bodyshape, deep ebony black, good motoguru, nice pattern on the head, and almost finished. Just ready for a show.

It just remain so difficult to choose a fish!

Problem is always the budget, I can't spend more than a few hundred on a fish- that means a small, supposedly good, fish. Proven wrong here, again!

I don't want to show, but want a few decent looking fish in the pond.

( The fish that I bought at the Cresta show 2 years ago, helped by people I thought would know, were basically all thrown out in my recent post!)

Thanks for all the advice- cold and raining in J'burg
Albie

Hi Albie

Come to me so that we can help you obtain some good Quality koi for your pond at reasonable prices.

Regards

Collin

Bobby wrote:

The Shiro Chris van Tonder had last year was in my opinion a Grand Champion in the making.

That was indeed a stunning Shiro. Chris paid R 25 000 for it, only to find it dead a short while later. I am so glad I was not his supplier at the time.

Making me feel better R495!

Supreme size 3 at the George Show, March 2009 33cm

Shiro Utsuri was purchased from Phillip Muller in Feb this year. Phillip is breeding in Knysna, this is one of his homebreed
This picture was photoshop after the George Show



This photo taken by Christie at Cape Koi after the show.
Thanks Wayne. it was the wrong photo

I would like to get some feedback as to what you professionals think of these two Shiro Utsuri's I have in my pond. 1 male and 1 female. The male has 2 very small orange dots on the nose but I was told that it's still a very good breeding fish and that the babies won't have these coming through... It seems as if the female still has a lot of development to do.

Female

Male

Hi Chris, I am not an expert and was waiting for someone else to respond, but nobody did.

My views:

Female
Fairly good menware and motoguro
Conformation and bodyshape is not good.
Bit pinkish on the shiroji which is a bad sign.
Nice thick tail tube.
Unbalanced pattern. It is going to be very heavy on the right hand side after the sumi appeared.
A bit to early to judge the quality of the sumi, as it only starts to break through now, and a lot of development is still to come, which is good.
Might be a good breeding fish.

Male
This is from a Showa offspring and either a showa who lost it's hi except for the one spot or a showa developing a tobi hi marking, indicating that it is from a showa spawning, which spoils the overall appearance and quality of the fish. The hi marking might go away, but might also become larger.
The offspring will have the same problem because of the showa blood. (male genes are more dominant than female genes)
There are windows in the sumi pattern which is not good, and the pectoral fins are too black to my liking.
The head/nose is very sharp for a showa/utsuri and no interesting menware.
I like the balance between the amount of white and black.
Utsuri/Showa is very unpredictable, so you you never know how it is going to turn out, but the quality of the shiroji indicates that it will never be a show fish.

Admin wrote:

This, as far as I am concerned, is the almost perfect Shiro. Well balanced, stunning shiroji, perfect bodyshape, deep ebony black, good motoguru, nice pattern on the head, and almost finished. Just ready for a show.

Would this be classified as Gin Rin Shiro Utsuri, is gin generally preferred in the shiro utsuri or not ?

Cheers
Lee

That is a ginrin shiro utsuri.

With reference to your question which is the best, I think it is a matter of personal preference, although serious competitive koi keepers would rather go for a non-ginrin, as it is difficult to win the Supreme Grand Champion award with a ginrin.

Thanks Paul , nice to know.

Cheers
Lee