february – march 2014 aka reporter reporter feb-mar 2014.pdf · 2 the australian koi association...

AKA Reporter

February – March 2014 www.akakoi.com.au

JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN KOI ASSOCIATION INC

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Feb rua ry–March 2014 1

February - March 2014 Administrative Members and contact details _____________________________________ 2President’s Report __________________________________________________________ 3 Meeting Notices and Agendas, New Members ____________________________________ 4 AKA Auction Dates _________________________________________________________ 4KSA Auction Dates _________________________________________________________ 5AKA Committee Meeting Dates _______________________________________________ 5AKA Christmas Party and Young Koi Show 2013 _________________________________ 6Asian Carp in the Great Lakes ________________________________________________ 12 Towards Matsukawabake ____________________________________________________ 15Table Show Results ________________________________________________________ 20

Thank you to our advertisers...Australian Koi Farm _________________________________________ Inside Front Cover PondToss ________________________________________________________________ 9Buy, swap and sell _________________________________________________________ 10 Australian Pet Supplies _____________________________________________________ 11Koi Keeper’s Supplies _______________________________________________________ 14Clear Pond _______________________________________________________________ 19AKA Members’ Supplies ________________________________________Inside back coverAustralian Koi Association 33rd Annual Koi Show _______________________ Back cover

For all advertising enquiries please contact Gordon Kilborn 02 9153 9012 or 0429 664 916

AKA Reporter

AKA Reporter is published by the Australian Koi Association Inc. ABN 91 669 147 584

Advertising enquiries: Gordon Kilborn 02 9153 9012 or 0429 664 916Newsletter production www.petergibson.com.au All correspondence to:The Secretary, Australian Koi Association, 17 Westmore Drive, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125

DisclaimerThe opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of the Australian Koi Association or its management. Nor does the Association accept responsibility for the claims made by advertisers or members in respect of any service or items offered for sale herein.

© 2014 Australian Koi Association Inc.

Scan this tag with your phone www.akakoi.com.au

AKA REPORTER2

The Australian Koi Association Inc.PatronProfessor Simon Chapman AO PhD FASSA Executive OfficersPresident Ian Andrews 0418 255 897Vice President Arthur Johnston (02) 9759 3226Secretary Carol Durrant (02) 9834 4993 / 0415 655 063Treasurer Bryce Hough (02) 9724 5860 (Ph/Fax) / 0408 882 025Public Officer John Rhodes (02) 9661 4735

Committee MembersShow Coordinator Paul Miglionico (02) 9862 0472 / 0415 834 529Show Support Group Shayne Murray (02) 4621 4300 Graham Fameli 0412 304 190 Martin Rocliffe 0407 475 757 Bill Youl 0412 700 638 John Ling 0411 156 648 Boun Keakham 0434 232 271 Lam Chinh-Vi (02) 9749 7676Membership Officer David Durrant (02) 9834 4993 / 0415 655 063 (Subscriptions to 3 Coolong Crescent, St Clair, NSW 2759)Supply Officers Ron and Max Farrugia (02) 9533 2546 / 0403 029 532Auction Master Bill Youl 0412 700 638 / (02) 9629 2968Assistant Auction Master Grahame Fameli 0412 304 190 AKA ReporterEditor Ian Andrews 0418 255 897Photography John Ling 0411 156 648Editorial Kate Andrews (02) 9871 2483Advertising/Distribution Gordon Kilborn (02) 9153 9012 / 0429 664 916

Committee Support PanelPublicity Alf Mizzi (02) 9555 6497Librarians Carol and David Durrant (02) 9834 4993 / 0415 655 063Catering George and Betty Ludbrook (02) 9602 2493Social Secretary Dorothy Miglionico 0434 435 155Sizing and Assets John Rhodes (02) 9661 4735Webmaster and Facebook Martin Rocliffe 0407 475 757

Website www.akakoi.com.au Facebook www.facebook.com/AustralianKoiAssociation Life MembersEthel Allen*; Jack Cohen*; Mary Cohen; Max Farrugia; Ron Farrugia; Barbara & Bryce Hough; Arthur Johnston; Gordon Kilborn; Yvonne Louis; Betty & George Ludbrook; Dorothy Miglionico; Paul Miglionico; Ken Newton; Dave Pogson*; Arthur Robinson; Alan Walter*; Barbara Walter; Harry Watson*; Robert Wood*; Heinz Zimmermann *Deceased

All correspondenceAustralian Koi Association, 17 Westmore Drive, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125


President’s ReportWelcome back to our first AKA Reporter for 2014. I trust all our members had a great holiday break and those members that have spawned their koi, I urge you to maintain a high culling rate of your fry to ensure that only the very best fish are retained. That way your remaining babies have a better chance of attaining

their full potential, something that won’t happen if overcrowding rules the day.

Congratulations to Graham and Lee Fameli for taking out Grand Champion with a beautiful Kinginrin Showa and to John Ling on winning Reserve Champion with a Kujaku at our Xmas Small Koi Show. Once again the quality of koi entered this year was very pleasing.

Our main focus now is towards our AKA 33rd Annual Large Koi Show being held on Sunday 6th April being held at the Chinese Gardens Knox Rd Doonside. Our guest International ZNA Judge will be Mr Willem Daffue from South Africa and ZNA Judge Mr Allan Bennett from Western Australia.

We are looking forward to welcoming them both to our Show and I urge first time exhibitors or members who have not shown in recent times to make the effort to exhibit and give the judges a really good show. Our goal this year is to encourage over 20 exhibitors. To attract more participation our Committee has increased the prizes this year.

All exhibitors will receive breakfast and lunch as well as a memorial T-Shirt to be worn on the day. (Details else where in magazine).

Set up for the Show will be Saturday 5th April at 10:00 AM with as many helpers as possible and your koi will need to be in their bins before 8:30 AM on the Sunday.

Please start thinking about what koi you would like to enter and if you need help in completing entry forms or wanting to photograph

your koi or transporting them, please speak to me or any of our Committee who will be only to happy to help.

In other events AKA is about to exhibit with a koi display and information booth at the 20th Annual Pet & Animal Expo being held at Rosehill Gardens on Sat 8th and Sun 9th February. We will have three vats of high quality koi on display, koi videos, and Japanese maples for sale along with koi food samples as well as information to promote our wonderful hobby. Hopefully we can attract a few keen new members. Hope to see many members there.

Kate and I, along with Terry and Wally McNeil, will be attending the Shinkokai All Japan Koi Show before our next meeting. I hope to be able to present a full report, photos and videos on the best koi in the world at our April Meeting.

Lastly, to all our Asian members I’d like to wish you Happy New Year on the 31st January, may the Year of the Horse bring happiness to all. ■

Ian Andrews, President AKA

AKA REPORTER4

Join our monthly meetings

All members and friends are invited to attend our meetings, at which we discuss the general business of the Association, hear presentations from koi experts and enjoy the social company of other koi fanciers. Our meetings also include a table show competition and a raffle draw.

Meetings are held in a family-friendly venue at the Scottish Hall, 4 Weigand Avenue, Bankstown on the first Wednesday of each month.

February Meeting

The February General Meeting of the Australian Koi Association Inc will be held at the Scottish Hall, 4 Weigand Avenue Bankstown, Wednesday 5 February 2014, 7.30 pm.

1. Welcome to members and guests 2. Apologies3. Confirmation of minutes of previous monthly

general meeting held 8 January4. Raffle5. Reports6. General Business7. Guest speaker Lee Nguyen will talk on koi

keeping in Vietnam and his recent judging experiences at the Taiwan Koi Show.

8. Raffle Draw

March Meeting

The March General Meeting of the Australian Koi Association Inc will be held at the Scottish Hall, 4 Weigand Avenue Bankstown, Wednesday 5 March 2014, 7.30 pm.

1. Welcome to members and guests 2. Apologies3. Confirmation of minutes of previous monthly

general meeting held 5 February.4. Raffle5. Reports6. General Business7. Special Evening with the Royal Life Saving

Society of Australia: David Hough, Assessor & Trainer for the South Coast region will bring Members up to date with all the

current techniques on Resuscitation, Basic Life Support, CPR, Defribrillation, Oxygen Resuscitation and Emergency Care. This will be a “hands on” practical evening and one that all Members should be familiar with. Family members and friends also welcome.

8. Raffle Draw

New members

We welcome the following new members: Firas Eleya Jason Jiang Ross LesterNew members are always assured of a friendly welcome when attending the AKA’s monthly meetings. Help and advice is available if required and our Supply Officers can provide you with koi food and accessories at favourable prices. Call our membership officer (see details on page 2) for more information or use the application form included in this magazine.

Facebook

The AKA is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AustralianKoiAssociation.

AKA auction dates 2014

Held at Auburn Botanic Gardens (entry from Killeen Street, Auburn). Commencing at 10.00 am. Quality fish at reasonable prices! Food and refreshments available. Fish food and other fish keeping supplies also available.

Bankstown City NSW Chapter Zen Nippon Airinkai

Sunday 23rd February 2014Sunday 27th April 2014Sunday 22nd June 2014Sunday 31st August 2014Sunday 19th October 2014Sunday 16th November 2014

AKA News & Events


KSA auction dates 2014

10.00 am at Auburn Botanical Gardens:

Sunday 9 March 2014Sunday 25 May 2014Sunday 29 June 2014Sunday 3 August 2014Sunday 21 September 2014Sunday 23 November 2014

The sale of koi by members of the AKA can only take place between members of koi clubs and associations only, as per NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) guidelines. ■

AKA Committee Meeting Dates

Wednesday 26th February 2014

Wednesday 26th March 2014

Special Evening with the Royal Life Saving Society of

Australia

On 5 March we have as our guest David Hough from the Royal

Life Saving Society of Australia who is one of their Assessors

& Trainers for the South Coast region of NSW.

At our March evening we thought it might be timely given our proximity to ponds to bring AKA Members up to date with all the current techniques on

Resuscitation, Basic Life Support, CPR, Defribrillation, Oxygen

Resuscitation and Emergency Care.

This will be a “hands on” practical evening and one that all Members should be familiar with. I also welcome family members

and friends who might also benefit from this training.

AKA REPORTER6

Our Annual AKA Xmas Party and Small Koi Show was again a great success with nearly sixty adults and children joining the annual festivities. At our Christmas Party we get to enjoy one another’s company, the baby koi proudly on display and catch up with the breeding results so far this season. As well as some nice food, drinks and lollies.

Once again thanks to the tireless efforts of Barbara and Bryce Hough everyone got to enjoy themselves and all the festivities went off without a hitch. Hampers for the ladies who had helped this last year were handed out. Lucky door prizes and raffles were won. The annual “Throw a Gold Coin Closest to the Bottle of Scotch” competition was held…along with other favourite games of “In the River, On the Bank” and “Suck the Smartie with the Straw” which this year was won by first time entrant Ros Lindberg who showed perfect control to win easily.

As usual Santa showed up to greet the children and hand out some beautiful presents to the lucky boys and girls. Thank you Santa and his helpers.

With a couple of noted absentees this year we were slightly down on children and grand

children. I urge all Members to place our 2014 Christmas event into your calendars as we really want this event to continue to grow and having a good roll up of children is a key factor to make it really successful.

This year the Annual Christmas Small Koi Show attracted 43 koi and Kate Andrews kindly performed the judging duties. After judging all the koi in the event Kate awarded Grand Champion to Graham and Lee Fameli’s nicely put together showa and a close Reserve Champion

AKA Annual Christmas Party and Small Koi Show

Xmas Small Koi Show Results

Open 1st 2nd 3rdKohaku Ron and Max Farrugia Jimmy Tran Shayne and Mel MurraySanke Graham and Lee Fameli Graham and Lee Fameli Ron and Max Farrugia Showa Graham and Lee Fameli Shayne and Mel Murray Graham and Lee Fameli Utsuri John Rhodes Ogon John Rhodes Kevin Wong Betty and George Ludbrook Hikarimoyo John Ling John Ling John RhodesMetallic Doitsu Shayne and Mel Murray Bill Youl John RhodesNon Met Doitsu Gordon Kilborn Gordon Kilborn Gordon KilbornTancho Ron and Max Farrugia Gordon KilbornKawarimono John RhodesKinginrin A Graham and Lee Fameli Graham and Lee Fameli Graham and Lee FameliKinginrin B Betty and George Ludbrook Graham and Lee Fameli Judge Kate Andrews (ZNA Assistant Certified)

Grand Champion Showa, Graham and Lee FameliReserve Champion Kujaku, John Ling

Graham and John receive their sashes from Kate


Top picture: Our new Life Members (L-R) George and Betty Ludbrook, Bryce and Barbara Hough and Heinz Zimmermann. Bottom picture: Christmas mates share a moment with the entries.

AKA REPORTER8

was John Ling’s kujaku which had also won the Tategoi of the Year event, being the best of all the monthly Table Show winners.

Lastly, our AKA President got to formally introduce all the recent inductees into our Honorary Life Member listing. Mssrs George and Betty Ludbrook; Bryce and Barbara Hough and Heinz Zimmermann were made Life Members at our AGM held in November for “services of excellence” to the AKA. Their efforts, past and present are a key factor on why the AKA is such a successful, family friendly koi club.

These Life Members of AKA have for many, many years worked very hard in helping with the promotion and day to day workings of our club, ensuring its success and these efforts have formally been recognised by their peers. Congratulations to each and everyone on achieving Life Membership. ■

Top left: Graham and Lee’s GC Showa. Above: John Ling’s Reserve Kujaku. Left: The “Kids” play “In the River, on the Bank…”!


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PondToss produces small peptides that aide in the displacement of pathogens of fish. PondToss creates a natural, beneficial Bio-Floc, while controlling ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. PondToss digests organic solids and bottom sludge.

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AKA REPORTER10

Buy, swap and sellBuy, swap and sell notices can be placed free by members. Please call Ian Andrews on 0418 255 897 or email [email protected] for more information.

For Sale2 x NEXUS 200 EASY Filters with K1 MediaShown right6 months old, as new$1200 each Phone Ros 0409 749 454

The Australian Koi Association does not accept responsibility for the quality of any items or any transactions advertised under Buy, Swap and Sell.


Australian Pet Supplies Pty Ltd are manufacturers of top quality pellets and flake foods for ornamental fish. Top ingredients, listed below, provide for your fish all protein, minerals and vitamins to maintain healthy growing Koi fish.

Products are all fully manufactured in Australia and are available from your supply officer.

Our Goldfish and Tropical Pellets and Flakes contain the fol-lowing ingredients in varying amounts:

WHEAT FOLIC ACID RICE FLOURRIBOFLAVIN (B2) SPIRULINA VITAMIN B12FISH MEAL BIOTIN SOYA BEAN MEALPYRIDOXINE B6 CHLORINE CHLORIDE KELP FLOURCOBALT TUNA OIL IODINEDRIED YEAST COPPER WHEATGERMIRON VITAMIN A MANGANOUS OXIDEVITAMIN B TOTAL ZINC VITAMIN EETHOXYQUIN MENADIONE ANTI-TOXNICOTINIC ACID THIAMINE B1 CALCIUM B PANTOTHENATECOLOUR ASCORBIC ACID (especially developed for the aquaculture industry)

AKA REPORTER12

$18 billion to remove Asian carp from Great Lakes

The US Army Corps of Engineers has suggested a number of options to stop the spread of Asian carp in its 232-page report that was released recently.

The US Army Corps of Engineers submitted to Congress a long-awaited report on options to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Formally titled the “Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study” (GLMRIS), it sought to determine potential solutions to the threat that Asian carp present to the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. The document suggests eight possible courses of action, the most expensive of which will take 25 years and cost over $18 billion to complete.

Asian carp are a highly invasive freshwater species first imported to the United States in the late 1960s. The fish were used primarily in aquaculture to control plant growth, but it did not take long for some to escape into the Mississippi River. Asian carp quickly colonized the waterway and began spreading to connected

rivers, eventually reaching the Illinois River and Chicago Area Waterway System. From there, it is a simple hop to Lake Michigan.

The efforts of numerous government agencies have prevented the carp from spreading with the use of electric barriers and other methods. However, recent reports of Asian carp DNA in the Great Lakes and concerns over the electric barriers have raised the issue’s priority.

“We need work to begin on projects to permanently prevent Asian carp from destroying the Great Lakes, and we need it to begin now,” said Senator Debbier Stabenow (D-Michigan) in a statement.

The options the Corps offered in the report took varied approaches. The first and cheapest plan is for the federal government to take no new actions, and simply involve continuing methods of reducing carp numbers such as commercial harvests, electrofishing, and barrier maintenance. Other options include separating the hydrologic connection between the Great Lakes and


Mississippi River basins, a lock system that would work in conjunction with current barriers, and creating a buffer zone. Severing the connections between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River would be the most expensive option, costing an estimated $18,389,000,000. The separation would occur at four physical barriers along the Lake Michigan lakefront and would result in the creation of extensive runoff tunnels and other structures. Construction could take as long as 25 years.

The cost of prevention could be high, but if Asian carp enter the Great Lakes, the results could be disastrous.

“The Army Corps must fully develop its proposals and continue working with Congress so that action can be taken to protect the Great Lakes and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that depend on them,” Stabenow stated.

In addition to being detrimental to the growth of certain plants, Asian carp species such as bighead or silver carp also out-compete native fish. Commercial and sport fishing contribute $5 billion to the Great Lakes regional economy at minimum. Recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, environmentalist groups, and others are banding together to assert that no price is too high to protect the Great Lakes.

“Invasive species do not belong in our lakes; they inflict billions of dollars in damage to the economy and cause permanent damage to the environment,” said Great Lakes Fishery Commission Chairman Dr. Michael Hansen. “The GLMRIS report highlights the fact that the manmade waterway in the Chicago region is a two-way street, allowing the movement of harmful species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. Any action taken in Chicago protects the waters of the entire United States and Canada.”

The Stop Invasive Species Act signed by President Barrack Obama in 2012 expedited the completion of the report, which was originally expected in 2015. The act directed the Corps to bring to Congress a number of fully fleshed-out approaches to stop the spread of Asian carp. However, some are saying that the report submitted on Monday fell short of expectations. Among them is Congressman David Camp (R-Michigan), who helped sponsor the Stop Invasive Species Act.

“While the report released today focused on a number of options to protect the Great Lakes, it failed to fully develop a permanent solution

to prevent Asian carp form destroying the Great Lakes,” said Camp. “I am concerned many of the Corps’ proposed options rely on undeveloped technology and do not adequately account for the region’s transportation needs. More work is needed to completely develop a serious plan to protect the Great Lakes and the jobs and economy they support.”

Legislators and environmental advocates say that following the report, concrete actions must be taken to secure the Great Lakes from Asian carp. The Corps will continue to address the issue in cooperation with other agencies and the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.

“It is my expectation that the GLMRIS Report will provide valuable information for decision-makers, including insights regarding available options to control ANS of concern as well as the identification of potential impacts that alternatives may have on existing uses and users of the waterways,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy. ■

From http://www.outdoorhub.com

Orca Quick Grow

AKA now carries Orca Quick Grow medium koi food (10 kg).

See inside back cover for all members’ supplies.

Never release your koi

Members are reminded of their responsibility never to accidentally or deliberately

release koi into any waterways.

AKA REPORTER14


I came across an old article on the origins of Matsukawabake. There was a story about a strain of koi found amongst some Asagi in a village near a river in Matsukawa. The koi had a pattern that becomes faint or disappears altogether from one season to the next and later returns. But the pattern of one season can be very different from the last. The story is one of the beginnings of Matsukawabake, at first called Bake Asagi, later called Matsukawa’s Bake Asagi. Today, this has become shortened to Matsukawabake.

In Japanese, Matsu means pine, Kawa mean river and Bake refers to change.

Matsukawabake of today show the same feature, where pattern changes can be quite dramatic as one season rolls into another. Commonly, the descriptions of the change are of the advance or retreat of sumi (black). But for me, I see the advance or retreat of the shiro (white) on a black based koi, much like the coming and going of snow along a river. I prefer this interpretation in part because of what I see as the change in the genetic expression of the shiro in the koi. And it alludes back to the river part of it’s history.

It is fun and inspiring to lose yourself in the history, the artistry and the science of nishikigoi. I enjoy exploring the origins of koi, the work Japanese breeders have done to develop the canvas of a desired look and to investigate the science behind what we have in koi today. It leads a journey, helps my appreciation and gives me insight into my own breeding attempts. There are intrinsic elements of artistry, folklore and science within all koi. Matsukawabake so easily lends itself to revealing each.

For those new to this variety, Matsukawabake is a scaled version of Kumonryu. Kumonryu is a doitsu version of the same koi. Each are a black-based fish, wherein the pattern of sumi and shiro comes and goes over the course of its life.

Matsukawabake, with its inevitable pattern change with the turn of season, gives each a unique atmosphere and look. Photo 1 shows my own bred, young Matsukawabake with an almost Utsuri look over a dusty grey (kage-like) base. Photo 2 shows the same koi, roughly a year later with a completely different appearance. Only hints of the grey remain, the shiro has whitened and the sumi, has now

strengthened. Photo 3, is another year later. After this, there was another transformation, where the fish approached the appearance of an almost completely black koi. By the age of four, this koi turned into an Hijaro, a completely black koi apart from white on the tips of the fins and nose. Without photo 2, it could easily be said, that these were not the same koi. The changes can be so dramatic as to make one season’s look unrecognisable the next.

Such remarkable changes make for a fluid, living artwork. Matsukawabake can, at once, be appreciated for how it looks today, with a unique pattern and later be appreciated for what it can change to or from. Other koi change, albeit gradually. This variety is much more striking and apart from it’s Kumonryu cousin, the changes are unlike any other.

The attraction for me to Matsukawabake is the particular character of the sumi, arranged in its unusual pattern, that redefines the appearance and feel over the course of its life. Sometimes the sumi is hyper-intense, other times subtle and sometimes opaque. The sumi can be completely black, nearer to white and the many variations inbetween. It can can fill the entire scale, part of the scale and degrees inbetween. It adds an ever changing feel to the pond.

The expression of Matsukawabake genetics are all about the on and off switching of their genes, triggered by the environment. The main contributor is water temperature, but I have seen other factors produce change, including stress and variations to daylight length. While others see the advance of the sumi, I see the come and go of the shiro on a black based fish, like the freeze and thaw of snow along a river.

My first breeding Matsukawabake had little to do with the variety at all. I had a female Hijaro I crossed with a male Goshiki to see if I could add a darker base to Goshiki. That did not work. But what did come from that cross were some pretty looking Matsukawabake (photo 4).

The more I looked into the history and development of this variety, the more I learnt about the history of Beni Kumonryu—i.e. a Kumonryu with beni (red) patterns. By the time I finished talking to a number of people who had been trying to breed Beni Kumonryu in Australia

Towards Matsukawabake

AKA REPORTER16

without much success my own interest in the likely difficult production of a Beni Matsukawabake was beginning to form. Was I looking for an impossible challenge?

My first attempts to produce Beni Matsukawabake were with an out-cross to Kohaku. The results were encouraging. At least to a point. It was possible to add red, but with specific results.

Photo 1 Photo 3Photo 2



Most common were those with a red belly. A few had red patterns located dorsally; on top of the koi. These were usually small patches or spots. I was encouraged and thought to myself, “I can build the size of the beni pattern with further crosses back to Kohaku”.

This did not turn out to be the case. With the seasonal ebb and flow of the shiro, the increasing white soon overwhelmed all the red when it was located on top of the fish. Those with red on the belly were not affected in this way. In most cases, the red on the belly increased, in much the same way it does in Asagi.

I could see why the first Matsukawabake were called Bake Asagi. My red bellied versions had the atmosphere and look of both Matsukawabake and Asagi (see Photo 5).

I decided to persist with the cross back to Kohaku for a few generations, using only those Matsukawabake that had some amount of red located on the top area of the koi. I further hoped to improve the stability of the red pattern, by using those Matsukawabake that were slower to change each season. I figured, that if the switch from sumi to shiro gene expression was slowed, it might given an opportunity for the red pattern to hang around longer as well. It didn’t. Again the reds on the belly were common and the dorsal red would eventually disappear or become reduced to tiny red spots of pattern.

But I was determined to continue, as I was seeing improvements in other traits along the way, especially in the shiro (Photo 6). Those, I assumed, was due to the Kohaku and I liked what I saw.

I stopped and reviewed where the breeding line had come. I began thinking more about what was happening to the red and what sort of look in Beni Matsukawabake might be possible. I could decide that the Asagi-type red would suffice or I could accept the red on top of the koi would always be small—that it would be more of an accent, than a pattern. Neither appealed to me.

I still wanted larger red patterns located dorsally. But how to get there?

At the same time I was talking with a few friends about the origins of patterns in koi. Those conversations had me thinking that gene expression on the belly was different to gene expression on the top of the fish. For me, seeing the shiro never manage to overrun the belly red suggested that there was some sort of genetic separation between the bottom and the top of koi. I thought the genes on top of a koi were somehow acting differently to the genes on the belly. There was somehow, a location separation between the top and bottom of the fish.

Understanding that koi had been selected to favour their dorsal patterns had me thinking that the same could be possible in what I was trying to do.


AKA REPORTER18

But adding Kohaku had not achieved this. I had to look for a koi that somehow managed to keep shiro, beni and sumi all in the dorsal location. I considered Sanke as a possible candidate. I had already observed that sumi could come and go in Sanke, without causing the the beni to become overwhelmed. Whether or not that observation meant something, I decided it was worth a try.

Again I selected a female Matsukawabake where the pattern change over time was be slower. Photo 7 shows the female at 2 years and Photo 8 shows the same koi at 5 years. Very little difference.

The results from the first spawn were very interesting. When using a Kohaku, the top located beni patterns would pretty much disappear in the first 12 months. In koi from the sanke spawn, the beni hung around longer. These koi are now 15 months old and the patterns are holding better (Photo 9, 10, 11,12 and Photo 13 show some examples). Are they beni Matsukawabake yet? They certainly hold the promise for what is still possible.

Photo 10 at a glance may look for like an Aka-Bekko. Six months earlier, this koi had an orange body with white fin tips. The only hint of its sumi nature was the shadow of a dark brain. Whether or not the sumi pattern continues to change in the same fashion as true Matsukawabake do, time will tell. It will be worth waiting to see.

Chasing after a variation on a variety has had me thinking of the excitement that must have

been in those early Japanese breeders’ experiments as they tried to create a new variety. Trying to develop something new and unique may be as elusive as breeding a Grand Champion, although I’ve not yet tried that path. But there is the challenge, the hope for success, the inspiration, the imagination and all the frustration.

And my journey to Beni Matsukawabake has only just begun. ■

Bradley Bradley


Photo 13


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The answer lies in the diet preference of the various strains of bacteria. While decaying organic waste matter and foul gasses such as ammonia can create problems for fish, they are an attractive menu to CLEAR-POND bacteria.

By using CLEAR-POND fish stress and mortality will be noticeably reduced. The growth rate of your fish in CLEAR-POND treated water...WILL SHOW IMPROVEMENT.

All of our formulations contain naturally occurring bacteria and are safe, non-toxic, non-pathogenic, non-chemical and are beneficial for effluent use.

Overdoses pose NO DANGER to fish.

FOR MORE INFORMATION RING RON OR MAX ON (02) 9533 2546.

AKA REPORTER20

Table show results

January

January saw the entry of only one koi in our Table Show and as a result was clearly the winner. This is an excellent young showa bred by Graham and Lee Fameli and promises to be a potential future champion as the quality is noticeably present, including superb motoguru in the pectoral fins. ■

Supplies available to AKA members

Contact Ron and Max Farrugia for all supplies listed on (02) 9533 2546 or 0403 029 532Hours: Mon to Fri 8.00 am - 8.00 pm Sat and Sun 8.00 am - 11.00 am

FOOD Flake-Tropical 1 kg $35.00Flake 200 mg $8.00Fry Food 1 kg $20.00AKA Growth Food 5 kg $35.00No.1 High Protein Crumble 1kg $19.00No.2 High Protein Crumble 1kg $19.00No.3 High Protein Crumble 1kg $19.00 Baby Koi Pellets 1kg $8.00Pond Sticks 4 kg $35.00AKA Premium Growth Food 5 kg $40.00AKA Growth Food (small pellet) 5kg $35 Orca Quick Grow medium koi food 10 kg $75.00

MEDICINEMalachite Green 20 gms $25.00Methylene Blue 18 gms $25.00Phenoxotol - fin and tail rot $25.00Clean Fish CF 50 1litre $40.00Condy’s Crystals 200 gms $25.00Oil of Cloves 100 ml $25.00

AIRAir Stones small $1.00Air Stones 50 mm $6.00Air Tube per metre $2.00Green plastic air tube Roll $50.00

PUMPSXF 171 Davey Pump P.O.A.HIBLOW 20 litre/hour $215.00HIBLOW 40 litre/hour $230.00HIBLOW 60 litre/hour $240.00HIBLOW 80 litre/hour $270.00Aquarium Air Pump $25.00

SUBMERSIBLESKing 3 2400 litres/hour $120.00King 4 4800 litres/hour $160.00King 5 6500 litres/hour $180.00King 6 8000 litres/hour $220.00

WATERSodium Thiosulphate 1 kg $15.00Tri Start 250 ml $15.00Extra Water Purifier 1 Litre $20.00Extra Water Purifier 20 Litres $180.00

MISCELLANEOUSLarge Plastic Bags $1.50Carbonate hardness raising 2 kg $6.00Clear Pond 200 mg $30.00Slurpy Pump — fitted for use $180.00Algae Fix 500 ml $25.00Clear plastic Table Show tanks $20.00“Virkon S” broad spectrum disinfectant 250g $25.00

NETS6” Nets $3.0010” Nets $5.00

TEST KITSAmmonia Test Kit $20.00pH Test Kit $20.00Carbon Hardness Test Kit $20.00

Please Note: Members’ orders for supplies for delivery at the monthly meetings are to be in the Tuesday prior to the meeting.

Members ordering supplies for postal delivery should send money order or cheque payable to Australian Koi Association to 32 Hardy Ave, Riverwood 2210. Please ensure cost of return postage is included.

Australian Koi Association

33rd Annual Koi Show Sunday 6 April 2014Chang Lai Yuan Chinese GardensNurragingy ReserveKnox RoadDoonside

Invited International Guest Mr Willem Daffue, ZNA Local Certified Judge from South Africa & Mr Allan Bennett, ZNA Local Certified Judge from Western Australia

More information www.akakoi.com.au

PRIZES GC $250; GC B $200; Reserve $15017 x BIV prizes of $20 Bunnings Vouchers All first in class win a $10 AKA Voucher

february – march 2014 aka reporter reporter feb-mar 2014.pdf · 2 the australian koi association...

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