Koi Muppet's On Tour

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Bob Hart
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Bob Hart »

More pictures! These I took on the first trip to Matsue. Some of you may not know this breeder very well, he's not the easiest breeder to travel to, being on the opposite side of Japan to Horoshima. The Koi grow large, that's why Mike travels there, and the quality is superb. The people are really nice, good fun and very generous.

Anyway a few pictures, these being taken in the larger Koi houses, where the more expensive Koi are housed. .

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics189.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics190.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics191.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics192.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics193.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics188.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics186.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics187.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics185.jpg[/img]
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Bob Hart »

GERRY5 wrote:goromo...one in the middle will do for me bob , glad you guys are having a great time , keep the piccys coming :wink: :wink: :wink:
Gerry,

That wasnt the expensive one, that was the one at the bottom. The Marutan in the middle was purchased by our Honary Muppet from oop north though, a lovely Koi. Chris specifically wanted a Sansai Goromo from Takigawa, as these are some of the best Goromo's in all of Japan, Chris got his wish!

Here's a couple more pictures of the Goromo, other Muppets may have better pictures
[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics172.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics168.jpg[/img]
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by herbie »

Bob

Nice Pictures

Ignoring the expensive I'd would have bought
the middle fish in the second photo. a very nice fish.

I spent a while last night look at Greggs
photo's
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Gazza »

Hi Geoff,

The guy doing the cooking is Darren and you should of seen the mess i made of my meat that i tired to cook :shock: :oops: lucky Darren was on hand to show me how it was done as it was very nice.This meal is what they call a Korean BBQ i think it was when you just go and get all your food and have want you want from a very big choice including meat,fish,vegetables,rice the full works....we even had some tongue :shock: :D
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by vippymini »

so bob, have i missed the post where you put up the pictures of the koi you purchased.
can we start a new thread with what the Muppet's bought?
when do the new koi get into the country? who's doing the quarantining
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Bob Hart »

Hi Jane,

Pictures of the Koi I bought are already posted, although I didnt say they were mine!!!!!!!!!

I'll put up a post on here with them soon, I'll load up some more pictures and I'll explain what I bought and why.

Got loads of pictures to post, will just keep putting them up on this one thread, so everything is in one place.
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Gazza »

I bought a nice black and white one :D
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by vimes »

Gazza wrote:I bought a nice black and white one :D
hi gazza
i have to disagree you did not buy a nice black and white one



you brought a stunning black and white one
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Re: Koi Muppet's On Tour

Post by Gazza »

Hi Lee,

Well i do hope so as it was a tough choice as more went in the better i liked them :D :shock: :? Then you think perhaps i should of bought two :roll:

These Shiros where bowled up and sorted in no time of us being at the farm as i had been waiting to go there as one fish i defiantly wanted from this trip was a Shiro :D

Here are a few pictures of the Shiros

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7989.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7997.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_8004.JPG[/img]

The brothers who bred the cracking Shiros well done lads :D

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_8006.JPG[/img]
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Re: Koi Muppet's On Tour

Post by Bob Hart »

Here's the Koi I bought in Japan with some explanations as to why.

It was the 3rd Koi buying day before I dipped in with this Kohaku. Matsue is not so well known to everyone as some other Japanese breeders, but I had seen their Koi at Mike's, Darren's and at Nippon Nishikigoi and they seem to grow well and look great. I didnt want to buy a Kohaku really as I do suffer with shimmies, but once a group of these Koi were taken from their pond and put into a vat, the excitement grew. This one I'd seen in the pond and was not the first one added to the vat, as soon as it was I just thought that it had a great body.Not saying any of the others didnt, but this one floated my boat straight away. Keen to get this one as we all stood around the vat, I was the first to say 'I'll have that one' and felt great about it.
Nisai and around 55cm with a great body to continue growing

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics210.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics209.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics208.jpg[/img]

The rest of the Muppet's then continued to mull over purchases and Gazza and Gregg did also buy.

We were asked if we wanted to look at some Tosai, which of course we did. Once we'd seen what was available to purchase from a vat, we agreed a price and how many to a shipping box. A box between us was more than enough, so with bowls and nets we each proceeded to bowl some up. There were a lot to choose from, so we had a bit of fun there for a short while.
I decided on these 5 after some deliberations, 3 Showa and 2 Kohaku. I was looking for clean patterns with no scattered scales. The Showa's to have white on their face is how I like them, but one of the Showa's has such good skin I purchased it anyway. The Kohaku's a selected as they has patterns on top, not wrapping around.
These will all be quarantined and heat ramped together probably at Gazza's, something we've got to finalise yet.

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics248.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics249.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... s256-1.jpg[/img]

Two days later and we were headed for Ueno down in Kyushu Island. This is a 3+ hour drive so many dealers do not go this far. Ueno had 2 Koi in the top 5 of the all Japan a couple of years ago, so they grow large and with quality. I was really looking forward to going here as I wanted a nice Showa.
On arrival and going in the poly Tunnels, it was apparent that it was extremely hot in there. All their Koi are grown indoors to avoid KHV and the temperature was well into the 20's and every pond having auto feeders on them. We looked in on the ponds and moved around and netted a few Koi up. I wanted a Showa with not too much Sumi, I like Kindai Showa's really.
A few were bowled and returned until we got to this one which really ticked some boxes for me. It was reasonably large at 52cm, Nisai, and had a good pattern and Sumi still to come. Once a price was agreed it was mine.

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics610.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics609.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics606.jpg[/img]

Although Koi were being bowled it seems I was the only person interested in purchasing from Ueno, which was handy. We moved to another pond where the Koi were slightly smaller. I was after more of a Kindai and a few were bowled up. Settled on this one which again has what I like in a Showa. A white face, Kindai pattern and still some changes to occur. Didnt measure this one was around 43cm I guess. A Koi that I think will do well in UK water.

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics627.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics624.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... ics626.jpg[/img]

Three days later found us back at Matsue and this time more Koi had been harvested and there were some Sanke available. Darren started netting/bowling up a few straight away and the Doitsu caught my eye. Looked great but not what I liked, I'm not keen on Doitsu really and dont think I own one. More Sanke were bowled and then some were transferred to the vat outside. Here I saw the Doitsu again and couldn't take my eyes off of it. I just really liked it, the colours were great, in proportion and I was hooked. Others had noticed my keenness on this Koi and some mickey taken ensued, but I bit the bullet and said I'd have it - much to my own surprise. I did have a certain Blond Daughter in mind when I saw it and thought Daisy would love it. That evening I emailed Daisy some pictures of her new Koi and I can just see her big smile when she opened the email attachment and saw it. It wasn't measured but I'd guess at 50cm and Nisai

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... cs1139.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... cs1129.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq196/Bo ... cs1121.jpg[/img]

So there are my purchases from what was a fantastic trip.
It can be difficult to choose in Japan, there are so many options. Darren from A4Koi really helped us all and was always on the net and bowl, thanks Darren you just made it that much easier.

If you do go to Japan, go with a dealer(s) you can trust. Mike Snaden is just about the top dealer in the country and he is really well known and respected in Japan. Over the years he has formed firm relationships with a number of breeders, only those who's Koi are of the right stature and will grow larger though, so Mike doesnt visit breeders who grow small pretty Koi. Mike speaks Japanese which is a great help wherever you go and means no agent is required. He is usually booked up all the time, but with a bit of forward planning Mike agreed to take a bunch of Muppet's on his tour of the best breeders in Southern Japan. With Darren as well they made a great partnership and a truly great trip for a bunch of Muppet's to experience and purchase a few Koi - thanks Mike
Take a trip down to Yume Koi and see what Koi mike has, just see the quality.
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Gazza »

Bob,

How long does it take scales to grow on one of those fish :? :D :wink:

Guys wait till its in the country and Bob gets a better picture it just jumps out at you its a very nice Sanke the colours are so sharp and vibrant.
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Taggy »

To all you Muppets,

Cracking Blog,Cracking Koi,Cracking Time.

The koi that i have seen you purchase are just sublime,i wonder if now you have jumped up a step in the hobby so to speak??

If theres another one at some point perhaps i caould Tag along :D :D


Jealous you bet my life i was/am.


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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Gazza »

This is just for those who think we only look at fish :D we was lucky enough to pop into classic car sales for a look around :D

These cars are completely stripped down and rebuilt nut by nut and bolt by bolt and when finished look pristine.

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7073.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7074.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7075.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7076.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7077.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7079.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7080.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.koipix.com/gallery/albums/userpi ... G_7103.JPG[/img]
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by vippymini »

now youve put up pictures of cars i'm going to ask. how come you didn't make a detour to see some of the world rally championship?
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Re: Koi Muppets On Tour

Post by Gazza »

Hi Jane,

Well this was actually on our way to a breeders and its there hobby/business so we stopped in with him to show us around :D

On this tour we was on the go everyday and there was no stopping we was in a different hotel every night with plenty of travailing in between so its a tad hectic but great stuff :D

Just in case i didn't say it already what a great trip and many many mnay thanks to Mike and Darren :D
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