Scale Extrusion

[rainblood]

Can you discuss scale re-growth? I've heard many things but do not know what is true
I've heard that they 1.) grow back smaller, 2.) are never realigned perfectly, ie chagoi, soragoi, etc...3.) GR scales grow back as normal scales

What is your experience?

[Russell Peters]

Can you discuss scale re-growth? I've heard many things but do not know what is true
I've heard that they 1.) grow back smaller, 2.) are never realigned perfectly, ie chagoi, soragoi, etc...3.) GR scales grow back as normal scales

What is your experience?

This is not a simple question to answer as there are many things that affect what happens. The type of damage, how you deal with it and the age of the Koi are a few.

My experiences are varied. I have a Budo Goromo that came out of the mud last year with an infection in several places on the pattern. It soon developed a large hole in its right side right behind the pectoral fin. It took about a week to get rid of the infection and the healing started. The small infection, on the pattern, left very light areas in the color and, after about six months all of the color came back. There was some scar tissue there and all of that eventually went away. You couldn't tell there was ever a problem. The infection that worried me the most was the one on it's side because it was deep and there was a loss of scales. It healed very fast and I kept my eye on it to watch for flare ups. I never pulled it to look at it because I figured it would have disfigured scales. A friend came into the store, last weekend, and saw the Budo. He asked to look at it so we pulled it out. There is absolutely no sign of scaring, all the scales grew back, and it is gorgeous.

Does this always happen? No but, more often than not, in younger Koi, if you treat it early enough and don't damage the area further, the scales should grow back, to their full size, and you won't know there was an issue.
You will always hear varying accounts of what happens and that is to be expected. I believe people get different results based on their level of knowledge, and expertise, and the condition the Koi is in as well as the healing environment. I find Koi heal much better when in a natural environment like a mud pond.