All the breeders Koi are in the mudponds now. They usually spend 4 months out in the mudponds ready to be harvested in October when the big rush will be on again. We have quite a few fish in some of the mudponds including Shintaro’s #1 pond and also Matsunosuke’s #1 pond. Cannot wait to see how they turn out. Fingers crossed it will be for the better and we see some good growth. Mudponds do not work miracles on Koi, but they are great for growing smaller Koi to their potential. A 2 year old Koi can easily grow 20cms in a season, sometimes more.
The breeders will be feeding the ponds all the time, some who are lucky enough to have electric where their mudponds are situated can use auto feeders. Breeders who have ponds situated all in one place most have this facilty.
I think many people think more about the Koi in the mudponds rather than the most important thing which is happening around Niigata. The breeding has finished for most farms in Niigata and now they are onto the ‘easy’ job of culling!
We cant go through all the varieties but take Kohaku and Sanke. From when they hatch they are left 40 days in the mudpond. After the 40 days they are culled. 90% will not make the first cull. The remaining 10% are left in the mudponds for a further 40 days and the same thing happens, 90% wont make it.Its pretty brutal.
Out of around 3Million fry which hatch in June, the following April only 3000 will be left which are deemed as saleable. Its not as easy for the breeders as many believe.
A lot of people would probably love to go out there and be doing what the breeders are doing about now but its extremely hard work! Big thanks to the Yagenji brothers for the pictures.
