How many Fry?

Just a quickie (wasnt sure where to post this one) - I was hoping to order some 6-8wk old fry to grow on before the season is out (and before it gets too late in the season for growing on).

I was just trying to work out what would be the best number to order to go into a 1600litre quarantine tank, for approx 6-8wks, until I get the pond up, then they can go in there.

Thanks, Anthony

HI mate I dont get the whole growing fry on thing, from what I have seen is all You get sent out is the real no hope`ers from there first cull, loads of work to end up with a tank full chags or even worse a couple of big monsters where they munch there way threw there tank mates.
For Me I would say put Your money towards 3 or 4 better quality tosai to grow on and then add to Your nice new pond.
You will get far better results and much more satisfaction.
Justin

I ,too have tried this and Justin is right.You get the runt of the litter for high running costs.Ok 1 or 2 will be ok but most will be very average.

The good ones will have been kept and they will be growing them on themselves.

How do they pick the poorer fish at 6-8wk?

Oh its so easy, to pick a crap baby over a good one. When I built Mark & Lisa Davies house up at Cuttlebrook I was lucky enough to help with culls on several occasions. so if we are culling Showa for instance, there is a certain shade of sumi(black) that is required, a depth of beni(red) to look for, good skin and a milky white. Some will even have no beni, just look like little Shiro these have a much higher chance of developing secondary Hi as they grow. Where have You been looking to purchase fry from? the chances are all You will get sent out is chags,mags and dirty looking things in any case.
At only 6 weeks old anything that looks like it may be worth something will be kept and grown on until the next cull or end of summer. Its perfect business sense to keep something that at the time of cull You will only get a couple of quid for when if You sit on it until harvest the least You will get is £30, these guys have to pay the bills.
At Harvest I know both Maurice and Mark will keep anything with promise so it can be harvested at Nissai in the hope it will of improved and warrant a higher price tag, and be a great example of what can be produced on there farms.
If You are interestd in growing stuff on for little money its well worth a visit to a KOiquest day at Cuttlebrook where they have a pic and mix of the years harvested tosai, these again are Koi that are underpar, but atleast You stand a chance and can see what Your getting.
Hope this helps
Justin

how many fry do you go through in the first cull and how long do it take


Dermot

Thanks for the tip...

What sort of price do they go for out of curiosity?