Progression Of A Purdin Sanke - First Two Years

#1 gardankoi

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 02:51 AM

Here are three pics of a Purdin Koi Farm (www.purdinkoi.com) sanke of mine currently growing out at PKF in Louisiana. First pic is 12" tosai, second pic is October 2008 at 20" when she won Best in Size 5 at the Carolina Classic Young Koi Show (www.carolinaclassickoishow.com) and third pic is March 2009 (24 months old) at 22" (after having grown 2" over Winter in Purdin concrete pond).

She is coming along nicely. Body is beginning to fill out as you would expect at this size. No surprises so far. Sumi coming together. Quality is there. A joy to see in fish :) Looking forward to Fall 2009 ikeage!!! Anticipation of the future is one of the aspects of koi keeping that makes it a lot of fun as we all know!

Bill & Maureen McGurk have been busy spawning down at Purdin koi farm for the past few weeks, not sure how they find time to raise all those great koi! :) Seriously, they along with Scott Purdin are working hard to create and deliver many more great koi for us all to enjoy. Can't wait until my next trip to PKF, when The River should be in full operation!

tosai082.jpg (173.23K)
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BS5.jpg (73.37K)
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SankeFemale56cm.jpg (221.54K)
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koi kichi,

Dan Phillips

#2 kntry

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 06:58 AM

Wow, she sure is beautiful.

I can't wait for the Fall Ikeage either. It's going to be so much fun to see how my Kindai Showa is developing. I'm planning a trip in the next couple of weeks. Seems I feel this illness coming on that will last 1 day. :whistle:

I'm glad you're coming down, Dan.

#3 schildkoi

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 08:02 AM

Great progression study Dan. Keep up the documentation (in high res pictures). It will make for a great article in the future. One of the hardest type of articles for koi magazines are history photos of a koi's progression and these can be one of the greatest learning tools.

Steve

#4 mstrseed

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Posted 18 April 2009 - 09:33 PM

Great looking Sanke, I am very hopeful as Sandy is with my Kohaku in Purdin's pond.....................

#5 gardankoi

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 05:50 AM

Will do Steve. Will beinteresting when can see all pics tosai thru gosai (30") for example! :) Maureen has like a 21GB camera so hi res pics for sure!

koi kichi,

Dan

#6 Ruth

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 05:37 PM

Dan you have have some very pretty fish-this one is impressive!
I really like the progression articles.

#7 Mtn Ponder

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Posted 19 April 2009 - 06:13 PM

Purdin has done a very good Job. In the first picture I just thought that it was ok. The last picture I really like the fish. It goes to show what size will do for some fish.

#8 gardankoi

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Posted 20 April 2009 - 03:30 AM

Mtn Ponder, on Apr 19 2009, 09:13 PM, said:

Purdin has done a very good Job. In the first picture I just thought that it was ok. The last picture I really like the fish. It goes to show what size will do for some fish.

Agreed Bruce. Not sure I would have selected this sanke when tosai. I bought just after Fall harvest at 1.5 years old (2nd pic) and 20". And now by 3rd pic like even more!!!

less work more koi,

Dan

#9 gardankoi

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Posted 20 April 2009 - 04:51 AM

This topic has been discussed (hotly debated) many times before, but I would like to cover once more.

This sanke is classic example of why tosai asking prices can be what they are these days, $1,000, $2,000 or more. In general, at tosai, breeder is unsure if male or female. If they see the qualities they are breeding/aiming for in their bloodlines, they cannot afford to "give away" these level of tosai for $100, $300, or even $500. They could be "selling the future of the farm"! AT nisai, one of these these koi could be worth 10X tosai price, so merely prudent of them as good business persons. On the same accord, tosai may go downhill and/or fall apart or not make it through mud pond season, so a gamble for breeder to hold onto the koi for another year vs. sell. He may get nothing for the koi, ever, except the expense of raising it until it became worthless or worth much less.

If customers continue to demand high quality (JUMBO) tosai then they are going to have to pay for them. Some of these tosai will not pan out as hoped for by breeder or owner come nisai or sansai. This is one reason tosai are more of a gamble for every party involved. One can spend same amount ($2,000) for a nisai with guaranteed sex and less of a gamble on how koi will turn out. So all depends on where you are comfortable playing/shopping/collecting/gambling as a koi hobbyist. Neither choice is right or wrong! Enjoy :)

less work more koi,

Dan