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    Thread: What do you look for when picking Kujaku?

    1. #1
      Hirogoi's Avatar
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      Question What do you look for when picking Kujaku?

      So I've heard a lot of the basic rules for picking out a lot of types of koi for development and future prospects. But what are some for kujaku? I don't know much about metallic fish development other than even scalation, good hikari, and good fukurin are all important. So after good body conformation what do you look for in young kujaku? (Cause I can't afford big ones that are already pretty.) I remember Mr. Benbow saying you want small bits of black in each scale and it shouldn't fade when bowled, but what else do you need to look for? Does beni on Kujaku shift around a lot?
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    2. #2
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      Billy

      You started off stating the right ingredients. Basically, body shape/conformation, a metallic fish should have a very thick sheen to the head, fins and dorsal line from the head back. If you're looking at tosai, the "reticulation" or black within each scale will be rather obscure and more of a grayish tint. The beni doesn't move around. It should have a well balanced pattern styled after a Kohaku, but there are allowances for it not being perfect.

      As far as the head area is concerned, the ENTIRE head, including gill plates MUST have Hikari (sheen). It should look as smooth as possible throughout. There is conjecture about whether a sumi mask is acceptable or not. It's pretty hard to find one that doesn't end up having sumi around the nostrils and across the bridge of the nose sooner or later. Afterall, A kujaku is really nothing more than a metallic Goshiki!

      Fins - The fins, especially the pectoral fins, should be bright white. Even a tinge of creaminess is distracting and there really shouldn't be any motoaka (red) either. Some Kujaku develop motoguru on the pecs as the sumi can be quite strong genetically on some, especially when Kuro Goshiki is used in the parent set.

      Although this is not a really high end Kujaku, I got this recently through Russ. It was bred by Hosokai. He is very well known for his Asagi, Goshiki and Kujaku. She is AkeNisai and 14 1/2".
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    3. #3
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      One thing I would add is many kujaku are prone to melanism. If any of the sumi netting is very heavy in some areas...it can indicate a tendency to get dark. Something you definitely dont want.

    4. #4
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      Here is mine from Kaneko. On the left at 17inches. Then development to 21inches.
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      Quote Originally Posted by Brutuscz View Post
      Here is mine from Kaneko. On the left at 17inches. Then development to 21inches.
      This is an example of what you don't want in a Kujaku. So, what is there when it is young to indicate that it would go so dark?
      people like to vehemently defend their purchases and find it incredulous that anything could be better

    6. #6
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      Dick said to took for a tiny dot of color in each scale when they're little. What about the beni? Does it deepen as the fish ages? I don't know much about metallic color develoment.
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      This
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      GO PAC NORTH WEST

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      Quote Originally Posted by Russell Peters View Post
      This is an example of what you don't want in a Kujaku. So, what is there when it is young to indicate that it would go so dark?
      I dunno, Russ, what is there?
      Mary

    9. #9
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      Quote Originally Posted by Matt View Post
      This
      Small head.
      people like to vehemently defend their purchases and find it incredulous that anything could be better

    10. #10
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      Quote Originally Posted by graybird99 View Post
      I dunno, Russ, what is there?
      The scales.
      people like to vehemently defend their purchases and find it incredulous that anything could be better

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    11. #11
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      Quote Originally Posted by Russell Peters View Post
      The scales.
      What should a hobbiest look for in the scales of young Kujaku to decrease the chances of the fish darkening unacceptably with age?
      Mary

    12. #12
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      Quote Originally Posted by graybird99 View Post
      What should a hobbiest look for in the scales of young Kujaku to decrease the chances of the fish darkening unacceptably with age?

      Very light Matsuba.
      people like to vehemently defend their purchases and find it incredulous that anything could be better

    13. #13
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      Quote Originally Posted by Russell Peters View Post
      Very light Matsuba.
      I think we are saying the same thing Russ. When you see a specific dark area...it can indicate it will get even darker.
      Here are two of mine that went awry and have been excommunicated from the herd.
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      Quote Originally Posted by Russell Peters View Post
      Small head.
      No that is a big hand
      GO PAC NORTH WEST

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      Just for references.......
      30bu Best in size except Gosanke and Best in (all Kujyaku) Variety at AJKS last weekend. (Breeder : konishi koi farm/Hiroshima.)
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      Thank you, Junichi-san.
      I am curious, though, at the koi on the left given Russell's remark regarding choosing light matsuba in a young kujaku. Recognizing that these are judged at "the moment", how would you project the development of these two?
      Mary

    17. #17
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      funny.

      I prefer white heads as opposed to colored heads on kujaku...but that's a personal preference. Most fish that rely on scale patterns (kujaki, goshiki, matsuba, goromo, asagi) should be purchased light....so light, only the dealer knows for sure what it will be.
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    18. #18
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      Well, while both of these fish Junichi posted are exemplary examples FOR THEIR AGE. You have a couple things to consider. Basically, a Kujyaku is nothing more than a metallic Goshiki. So, with that in mind, again, the first and foremost important thing in this variety is the Hikari. Then add the attributes of a very high quality Goshiki and you should get something like what's in those photos.

      As to picking with light matsuba or not, Rain I think you mentioned about the one on the left being darker. Well, as most know, sumi USUALLY develops from the back forward. Looking at the back or odome area of this fish, look at how the reticulation is beginning to change and tighten up within each scale as opposed to the rest of the netting! Also, as I mentioned in my first post on this thread, look at the head - both fish are totally "clean" and bright. It doesn't surprise me though that the "han" on the larger fish exhibits Goshiki traits as it is maturing. Now, look at the beni plates, especially the one on the right. Very Goshiki like with very little reticulation present. This goes to the thickness of the beni and represents a VERY HIGH QUALITY skin. No wonder it won Best In Variety at the AJKS! I doubt many of us could now afford that fish!!!

      Mike

    19. #19
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      Quote Originally Posted by graybird View Post
      Thank you, Junichi-san.
      I am curious, though, at the koi on the left given Russell's remark regarding choosing light matsuba in a young kujaku. Recognizing that these are judged at "the moment", how would you project the development of these two?
      You are welcome, Mary-san.
      As you may know, the Judges of AJKS are all professional breeders and dealers. So, they tend to judge koi not only at " the moment" but also include " future potential" compared to armature judges of ZNA, AKCA, etc.

      In generally speaking, as we can see, the left one is, quality-wise (sheen, beni), outstanding for me even though it has a bit dark matuba reticulation. Honestly, I don't have many grow-out experiment of small kujaku. So, I am curious to know how it develops. the right one is an amazing fish, isn't it? it looks to me that just comes into blossom by 70%....still has a lot of space to be a great Kujaku.
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    20. #20
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      Those are offspring of Kujaku, about 30 days old. now, they are ready for 1st culling.....

      So, Which ones are YOU going to keep? .
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