The third Koi expertise lesson is about “Physique”. When people who do not know much about Koi decide whether a Koi is good or bad, they often look only at the beauty of the patterns and the size of the Koi. Of course, size and beautiful patterns are very noteworthy points in viewing Koi. However, we also need to look at its future in order to create or obtain better Koies. So what kind of Koi has a good physique? Let me explain.
Thick body and tail tube.
Size and impression are very important points to distinguish between good and bad Koi, and a Koi with a large body and a thick tail tube gives a powerful and impressive impression.
High body height
The height of a koi is difficult for the ordinary person to understand, but it is a very important part of the koi’s future potential. Koi with high body height tend to have thicker bodies that easily gain volume as they grow. On the other hand, Koi with high body height at a young age also have a strong tendency to have difficulty growing in length.
Large head
Generally speaking, Koi with large head have a strong tendency to grow into large and excellent Koi in the future. It is a type of Koi that shows its full potential when it is made into “Tate-Koi”, and at first glance, it looks unbalanced when it is young. It will definitely be a Koi that you can look forward to seeing grow up in a wild pond.Furthermore, stiffness of the body also affects growth. The softer the body, the more straightforward physical growth can be expected.
Stiffness of the body
Thick, large koi have stiff bodies and swim awkwardly. The elegance of swimming is also very important in viewing Koi. The soft-bodied Koi swim gracefully and look powerful. Furthermore, stiffness of the body also affects growth. The softer the body, the more straightforward physical growth can be expected.
Balanced and even body
Body symmetry and other aspects of balance are very important in evaluating the quality of Koi. If the body is crooked or the fins are crooked, it will not feel beautiful. Balance in Koi is not only about symmetry. The points of good Koi as explained above can also affect your evaluation badly if they are not balanced. For example, Koi with a large body but too big belly will be evaluated poorly, and Koi with a large head but unbalanced with the body will not look attractive.
In evaluating Koi, it is important to find a balance between various factors in order to obtain the best Koi. We hope that by coming into contact with more Koi, you will develop a “connoisseur’s eye” for good Koi.
