Koi Spawn
May 2000
 This was our first year to do some serious koi spawning.
The following is a series of photos & description of the process.
I want to thank Brett Rowley for his invaluable knowledge and assistance.
THE PARENT FISH
FEMALES
MALE - 1
MALE - 2

Dianichi

Brett Rowley

Nigata

Kaz Takeda

Ogata
Oops, need a photo
of the male showa
I borrowed from
Don Bayer.
FERTILIZING

Collecting eggs

Bowl of fresh eggs

Collecting sperm

Incubating in flow through system
HATCHING & TRANSFERING FRY

Fry 5 days old in
Incubation tank

Bagged & headed to pond

New home for fry for the summer
CATCHING & CULLING

First seine July 1, 2000
2 months old

Water snakes eat large
numbers of baby koi

7/1/00 - An interesting baby.

9/2/00 - Ginrin Kohaku

I'll try to post more pictures as I take them.  It is almost the end of August
right now & we need to cull again. We've fought snakes, birds, oxygen problems,
temperature swings, and more. It is very easy to understand why a good
quality koi is so expensive. Most of the babies end up as fertilizer for the fields.
Only a small percentage have the coloring and markings that are considered
valuable.  Even with the work & expense, watching the tategoi grow is a thrill!!

..................... John Howell