Notes

2022: How to Raise a Showa Koi Grand Champion

Taking your koi fish to the show level is truly an art form. These koi are bred and raised with discerning attention to detail, and represent the fine craftsmanship of traditional koi breeders.

Outside of these carefully cultivated and protected breeding techniques, you will never find anything quite like a show koi.

With its tri-color patterning and stunning, bold hues, Showa koi, one of the three big species, really showcase this craftsmanship and skill level.

Check out a few Showa Koi Grand Champions that have been showcased at recent events, and learn what it takes to be a Showa Koi Grand Champion.

What is a Showa Koi

Koi fish of the Showa variety, one of the Big Three, are characterized by a set of attributes.

In the early 1900s, around 1927, showa koi were first bred, but their name would not be given until 1965, over thirty years later.

Tomiji Kobayashi created the existing coloration and discovered that Showa had a unique character:

The Showa koi, being one of the most diverse varieties, was created through the breeding of different koi varieties.

Traditionally, Showa koi are black in color with red and white markings.

It's easy to tell them apart from the Sanke variety of the Big Three since the Sanke is white with red and black accents.

A Showa should have vibrant colors and little to no yellowing of the white or brown peeking through the black. The color of a fish indicates its quality, when it is solid and bold.

There should be a clear and crisp marking on Showa koi.

When white meets black or red, it should be defined and not blend in.

best koi fish seem to wrap around the lateral lines of the Kois, and red hues appear mostly on the head and back.

In traditional Showa, black and red are almost evenly distributed, with almost no white showing.

Showa Health and Care

Due to their vibrant colors, Showa koi are more likely to become prey for birds and other animals.

They are less susceptible to predatory animal attacks due to their smaller white bodies; however, you should take precautions to avoid other animals eating your Showa friends.

Take a look at some of your options for keeping your koi safe.

Protecting your Showa against predators can be accomplished in several different ways.

It is common for people to install nets above their ponds when they have a high occurrence of birds, especially in more rural areas since there are fewer humans and machines around.

Furthermore, some people design their ponds with predators in mind to reduce the problem altogether.

Creating a pond deep enough to deter larger animals from standing in it will help you deter creatures like herons from making your fish their meals.

To prevent raccoons and foxes from catching smaller fish within your population, you can make the outer rim of the pond tall enough to prevent them from reaching the fish.

To make sure your koi have plenty of hiding spaces, you can plant the pond heavily.

In terms of health, Showa koi are generally cared for according to the same guidelines as other koi fish.

Because of their stark contrast in hues and patterning, they are somewhat more susceptible to dulling if not properly cared for.

Provide a diversified and balanced diet for your Showa to prevent this.

In addition to increasing your koi's coloration and vibrancy, some foods and supplements can enhance it.

In particular, carotenoids help your koi develop more vibrant colors, especially in their red shades.

However, overfeeding carotenoids can cause a koi's white areas to yellow or cause a sickly green tone.

Fortunately, this discoloration is temporary, and can be reversed by stopping feeding color enhancers.

Spirulina, crayfish, and krill, along with other algae sources and small crustaceans are good sources of carotenoids.

In addition, supplementing with aquatic beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin is recommended.

Choosing koi foods that contain these additives will increase their coloration.

Current High Ranking Showa

In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, a number of koi showcases were canceled, resulting in a lower number of koi champions being crowned.
Read More: https://www.grandkoi.com