Hi,

Who was the first person to import quality koi into South Africa? And when did this occur?

I will sponsor a 2kg bag of Shogun Koi Nutrition to the first person who gets the questions right.

Regards,
Chris

I did read it somewhere but do not remember the source.

I see that your were involved in Koi Imports back in 1990. Quite an impressive CV you have:


1972: Started collecting Koi. 1988: A Founder member of the South African Koi Keepers Society. 1988 - 1989: Treasurer of South African Koi Keepers Society. 1990, 91, 92: Chairman of South African Koi Keepers Society. 1990, 91, 92: Chairman: SAKKS National Koi Show Committee. 1988 - 1992: Editor of KOISA - the national newsletter for five years. 1990 - 1996: Researched and written four books on Koi and related subjects for the enthusiast. 1. Koi in South Africa - Health & Disease Manual 2. Koi in South Africa - Nutrition 3. Pond Filtration 4. Koi Judges Training Manual 1988 - 2001: Author of articles and essays on Koi and water features / ponds published in Japan, the UK, America and South African magazines. 1990: Received sponsored trip to Japan to purchase show grade Koi and breeding stock for South African enthusiasts. 1990 - 1993: Import agency for Koi fish. Established line of credit with Japanese exporters for importation of Koi fish and dry goods. Imported high grade and show grade Koi fish for collectors, retail dealers and breeders. 1995: Appointed to sub-committee to train Koi judges in South Africa. 1995: Co-Founder and host of KOIndaba, a national forum for the dissemination of information relating to the hobby and industry. 1992 - 2001: Shogun Consultants. Consultant on all aspects of Koi and water features to individuals, architects and corporations. 1996/01: Developed and marketed Shogun Koi and Shogun Tropical fish food. 1996: Contributor to the Koi Book published by Jonathan Ball - Living Jewels. 1998: Researched and wrote study manual for Training Koi Judges. 2001 Appointed by the Associated Koi Clubs of America to write training modules for training Koi Health Advisors in the USA and Canada.
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Hi,

Very hard question . . .

Quote :

Who was the first person to import quality koi into South Africa?

Could be one of the following? :
Allen & Wendy Rock
James Norrie,
Mike Milani or a man from Rustenburg, I can't remember his name!
No, it was a man called Louis Fourie who import the first Koi into South Africa from a breeder, Tanaki.
About 1970.
The first breeder of Koi in South Africa was Mike Milani, who is still in business today, out side Magaliesburg, 30 km from Krugersdorp. Mike Milani sold his first local bred Koi to the Sun City Group, and the Koi was put in a pond at the Cascade Hotel at Sun City.

The South African Koi Keepers Society was formed at Mike Milani’s farm, on his “stoep” in April 1988 as well.

You are right Pieter - it was Louis Fourie - unless there is some one we do not know about.

Well done. I wll arrange to get the prize to you.

I will post the story.

Regards,
Chris

The first person to import quality koi into South Africa

Louis Fourie

Louis Fourie was the first person to import good quality koi into South Africa in 1979.

The story begins when Louis Fourie met Chris Neaves in a band in 1978. They played clarinet next to each other. One day Louis noticed Chris reading a book on koi. Dr Axelrods original book. Louis made enquiries where he could get koi from in SA. Chris told him that he had bought his first koi at Rainbow Aquarium where Shorty brought a few “coloured carp” into the country.

Louis had been to Japan in 1976 on business and had seen koi there and become fascinated with them. In 1979 Louis went to Japan to buy koi. Shorty from Rainbow Aquarium had given Louis the name of the dealer/breeder Megumi Yoshida. Yoshida san was one of the judges at the first SAKKS Koi Show in 1990. The first boxes of good quality koi arrived in South Africa. 16cm koi sold for R6.00, 20cm koi sold for R9.00 and 30 - 35 cm koi sold for R60 – R70.00.

Louis also later brought a box of special koi out – in those days they were grade AA and they landed at the unheard price of R50.00 each.

An advertisement was placed in the Farmers Weekly under the title of Living Jewels. Louis met Dr Neville Marais and his brother who replied to the advertisement. Mike Millani from Colliloch Koi Farm also saw the advertisement and went to Louis’ workshop to enquire about koi and purchase some. The first breeding stock on Mikes Koi farm came from Louis Fourie. Mike later went to Japan to buy koi.

The last time Louis imported koi his entire consignment was killed when there was a 24 hour delay at Hong Kong airport. Every fish was dead on arrival in South Africa. Soon after this Louis sold his businesses and retired to the coast. He has since move back is is staying in Dunnator on the East Rand.

At the Koi Indaba at Petmasters whilst Chris Neaves was giving a talk in walked Louis Fourie. Chris did not recognise him at first as the last time they had seen each other was 26 years ago.

The picture is of Louis chatting to Chris at the Koi Indaba.

I have a story about the Cascades ponds at Sun City and why all the koi died.

Chris

Thanks,

I am busy planning to make a video about the Koi pioneers in South Africa, already talk to Mike and he agrees to feature in the video.

Quote :

I have a story about the Cascades ponds at Sun City and why all the koi died.

I think you should post the story.

Remember Louis sat next to me at the Indaba?

Thanks for sharing Chris, we shall be pleased to learn more on the subject. There are not many resources on the local history of koi.

Servaas De Kock told me that Alan Nementzik was also one of the first to import Koi.

On the history subject, I found the following article which was published in The Burger during May 1994.

Kaapse visplaas lok aandag van Japan se Koi-kenners
Mnr. Servaas de Kock (links) bespreek een van sy Koi-teelwyfies met 'n Japannese kenner, mnr. Katsoesji Takeda (regs), terwyl mnr. Alan Nementzik van die SA Koi-vereniging toekyk. * Die teeldamme op die Q-Koi visplaas naby Bonnievale.

EEN van die eerste visplase in Wes-Kaapland wat spesifiek daarop ingestel is om Koi-visse van gehalte vir die plaaslike en uitvoermark te teel, het binne enkele maande in die Bonnievale-omgewing opgeskiet en het reeds die belangstelling van Japannese kenners ontlok. Mnr. Servaas de Kock, 'n rekenaarkenner van Johannesburg en tot onlangs ondervoorsitter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Koi-vereniging (SAKKS), het in Oktober verlede jaar ná lang beplanning begin om die Q-Koi visplaas by die Boesmansrivier naby Bonnievale saam met sy vrou, Retha, te ontwikkel. Die moderne en wetenskaplike ontwerp laat hom toe om uiteindelik tot 'n kwartmiljoen visse per seisoen te produseer. Sowat 2 hektaar op die plaas van 155 hektaar word tans vir die visteelbedrywighede gebruik. Sowat 24 gronddamme is aangelê, terwyl die tradisionele teling en seleksies in 'n aantal plastiekdamme gedoen word. Tans word sowat 2 000 Koi-visse per maand geproduseer, maar mnr. De Kock beplan om sy produksie geleidelik tot 10 000 of selfs meer per maand op te stoot. Hy het tot dusver sowat R350 000 aan die ontwikkeling op die plaas gespandeer en het tans vier werkers wat saam met hul vroue werk. Die Koi- boerdery is baie arbeidsintensief omdat visse voor bemarking tot minstens vyf keer individueel gehanteer word. Die teel van Koi-visse is 'n ingewikkelde proses wat internasionaal groot belangstelling by Koi- geesdriftiges wek. Daar is 14 variëteite wat elkeen ander kleure en kenmerke het. Boonop wissel die kriteria voortdurend soos die vis groter word. 'n Groepie Japannese kenners het verlede week die Q-Koi visplaas besoek. Onder hulle was twee beoordelaars van die vyfde Suid- Afrikaanse Nasionale Koi Skou, wat verlede week in Johannesburg gehou is. Mnre. Hirosji Masoeda en Katsoesji Takeda, word as van die voorste telers en beoordelaars van Koi in Japan en die wêreld beskou. Tydens hul kort besoek aan Bonnievale het die twee Japannese geesdriftig aan die werk gespring en sommer begin help met die seleksie van mnr. De Kock se visse. Ondanks sterk mededinging van ingevoerde Koi het mnr. De Kock op die nasionale skou uitgeblink deur drie pryse, onder meer 'n eerste prys, met sy plaaslik geteelde vis te wen. Verfynde karp Koi, Nishikigoi en Koi Karp is almal een en dieselfde ding, naamlik 'n verfynde vorm van die gewone karp, Cyprinus carpio. Koi het sy oorsprong in China waar karp vir meer as 2 400 jaar as eetvis geproduseer is. Die Japannese het egter gedurende die laaste paar eeu deur selektiewe teling 14 kleur-en patroonvariëteite geneties vasgelê en Koi-visse tot die vlak van 'n kunsvorm verhef. Koi word op grond van hul liggaamsbou, kleurgehalte, kleurpa troon en algemene aantreklikheid as 'n ``lewende juweel'' beoordeel en gewaardeer. Navorsing het getoon dat in Suid-Afrika een uit elke elf middelklas voorstedelike tuine met 'n dam met Koi spog. Mnr. De Kock wys daarop dat hoewel heelwat Koi plaaslik geproduseer word, die gehalte nie goed is nie die sogenaamde ``pet shop specials'' en pryse ook laag is. Daar is egter steeds 'n tekort aan visse van gehalte en baie word jaarliks ingevoer. Die yslike mark vir visse van gehalte in die wêreld word onderstreep deur die feit dat die Amatikulo-visplaas in Natal tot miljoen visse per jaar uitvoer. Mnr. De Kock beplan ook om mettertyd uit te voer na onder meer die VSA, Europa en selfs die Ooste. Wyfievisse lê eiers in die plastiekteeldamme. Nadat hulle uitgebroei het word die vissies op 'n grootte van sowat 12 mm in gronddamme geplaas. Dié het baie mikro-organismes danksy kraal-en hoendermis wat daarin geplaas word. Die visse word vinnig groot en weer in die teeldamme gegroepeer vir verkope. Koi word in plastieksakke met water met 'n lae temperatuur vervoer en kan langer as twee dae daarin bly. In die kleinhandel verkoop klein vissies vir so min as R10 een. Visse van gehalte kan egter tot R600 elk kos, terwyl ingevoerde visse vir teling tot R6 000 elk haal. Die ornamente visbedryf is verbasend groot en behels altesame sowat R80 miljoen per jaar. Volgens mnr. De Kock beoog die Koi-vereniging om later vanjaar 'n skou in die Waterfront te hou. Hy sê dat Suid-Afrika nog agter die res van die wêreld is ten opsigte van die gehalte van hul visse, maar besig is om vinnig in te haal. In nog 'n interessante ontwikkeling is in die Jonkershoekvallei ook begin met navorsing oor die teel van visse. Mnr. Hannes Uys, 'n US-student, vertel dat gekyk word na die invloed van beligting, watertemperatuur, verskillende voere, ens. Daar word beplan om 'n tonnel oor van die teeldamme te bou.

Hi Paul,

Alan Nementzic was one of the first koi keepers in South Africa. Alan recalled that be bought koi from ships from the East in Cape Town in the late 60's when he was young. Although Alan brought some koi into South Africa he was certainly not the first and certainly not on the scale of Louis.

As far as I can determine Louis Fourie was the first person to import good quality koi. If anyone knows of someone before Louis I would really like to hear about it. When Servaas and Ronnie were first writing their book they did a fairly extensive search into the history of koi in South Africa.

Shorty from Rainbow aquarium and Vim from a pet shop in Yeoville (Jhb) were already bringing in "koi" when I started in 1971. They certainly were not of the quality Louis Fourie started to import and were imported as coloured carp from Singapore.

Koi were being kept and bred in Rhodesia in the 60's by Prof Fritz Huchuzermeyer. When Fritz was Prof at Onderstepoort he was my mentor for fish diseases. He really did help me a lot and patiently answered many questions. His son Dr David Huchzermeyer is well known in the fish and koi world. Fritz specialises in crocodiles and their diseases now.

Regards,
Chris