Four Seasons of Koi Breeders

"Koishi" (koi-breeder) are people who make living by producing Nishikigoi
On this page, we show you the four seasons of koi productions and the
works of our "Koishi" at Nishikigoi Niigata Direct.
We aim for healthy, big and beautiful Nishikigoi.
　We, at Nishikigoi Niigata Ditrect, aim to deliver healthy and attractive Nshikigoi to you.

　We do not mix our KHV negative ,virus-free fish with other koi from outer sources.

The three koi farms that constitute Nishikigoi Niigata Direct observe "The National Guidelines for Nishikigoi Export" by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. And take periodical examinations on KHV and SVC- twice a year (every 6 months)

The image on left is the laboratory test results report and shows that the farm is Negative (no SVC and KHV virus found) 

The lab test results are the most recent ones NEW


Spring（March - May）　　　
In spring, we take fish from greenhouses and let them go back into mud ponds for another growing season. Preparation starts when snow starts to melt - the water is way too cold yet. All preparation is done by May, and fish are let into mud ponds receive the blessings from natural environment, so that they can grow and glow naturally.
Nagaoka city in spring - still much snow on the ground in the mountains. time to start preparing mud ponds for the new production season. The snow melts and water stays in mud ponds
Preparing ponds - to bring up water conditions, we add lime and furtilizers The color of water tells the pond is ready for fish to go in.
In May, we let fish into mud ponds. We check the health conditions and the numbers of fish before letting fish go into mud ponds.
Very special attention is paid for our "Azukari"(our customers' fish to grow on) fish.		 After careful checks, fish are brought to mud ponds.
Check -#1
catch fish from greenhouse ponds and check their condition		 check -#2
Identifying fish one by one with photos		 Check -#3
Double checking at mud ponds before letting fish go
↑↑Triple checking when taking fish to mud ponds!!↑↑
Sometimes we have to carry fish by hand - to ponds where we can't drive up to. Carefully acclimating to the pond water before letting them go.
Handling koi very gently... Talking to fish, "grow bigger and stay healthy." letting them go into mud ponds.
In May, spawning starts. Parent koi in spawning net - many expectations for the coming production season...


Summer（June-August）　　　
Summer is the time when fish grow in natural ponds.
It is important for fish grouth to decide when (in what stages) and how much of what kinds of food we give to our fish.
It is our priority job to check fish conditions and water conditions when we visit ponds.
This also is the time for selecting out the fry that hached in spring time.
In summer time, the mountains are filled with green. there are many many ponds in the mouintains of Nagaoka, Niigata. In order to protect fish from predetory birds and animals, we put lines over the ponds, nets around the ponds.
We visit evry ponds everyday, in a tiny little
lightweight four-wheel drive truck.
This lightweight4WD truck comes in handy 
when driving around the mountains. 		It gives us pleasure to see fish swimming freely in mud ponds.
Koi are kept in bid natural ponds for spring and summer, fish are fed generousely for grouth. We set auto-feeders and feed several times a day. Yet we visit every ponds for check-ups everyday. Fish rush up for food, this is a good time for us to observe their conditions.
The first round of selection starts about 40 dyas after hatching. Now setting up a tent for a sun shade. Pulling the fry for selection, with full expectations.
Using the dragnet as a extemporary preserve pond to keep fish in for selection. Clesely checking the health conditions of the fish.
We pull the fry from mud ponds and select in a big tub. Carefully checking the quality of this year's fish. The fish is being selected with a small handle net.Whould this fish be the top fish in the future?
↓↓This is how fry grow during summer time.↓↓
7dyas after hatching, around 1cm. ←Close up photo of the left.
40days after hatcing, around29cm Fry before selection.
60days after hatcing, around 3cm 80days after hatcing, around 9cm

Autumn（Sept. - Nov.）
In Autumn, we harvest koi from mud ponds. Koi at the harvest time show their beauty
the most. It is the time that all the hard work breeders had put is evaluated.
Harvest is the time that the breeders are most nervous, for the expectation 
for their koi, for hope that all koi will be harvested sefely, in good conditions.
When all koi are harvested safely, and in beautiful conditions, we feel much relieved.
And the big smiles on the faces of our customers give us pleasures that would pay for all the hard work during the raising season.
In autumn, there are many koi shows everywhere. These koi shows are where koi breeders are put on the spotlights. This is the busiest season for koi-homeland, with many people from everywhere.
In Yamakoshi, there's so much beauty of nature. This seems like a big pond, but sometimes we can only put few big koi in a pond like this.
↑↑See how big Tosai grew in a few months. ↑↑
Much proud and satisfied with the harvest results. It gives us joy to look at fine koi from mud ponds, however many times we see them.
It's fun and privilage to harvest koi from mud ponds.
Very careful not to hurt koi throughout harvest time. Carefully cheching the conditions of fish before we take them into greenhouse ponds.
It takes the best care and attention - the bigger fish are, the more 
careful we need to be. It takes many years 
of experience to be able to hold fish more 
than 80cm long.		 Guys in full smiles after they had done a good job raising good fish.
Harvest season is the busiest time of the year for koi breeders. We sometimes come and go help each others for mud pond pull. Very carefully carrying koi so as not to put any extra stress on the fish.
Koi came back in a very excellent condition. We keep our fish under close observation after the harvest, in greenhouse ponds.
When introducing koi right from the harvest into greenhouse ponds, we let fish gradually get acclimated with the pond water. Observing closely at the koi we brought in 
from mud ponds, with special attention.
Sometimes we invite koi enthusiasts to join in our mud pond pull.
Koi breeders love koi, too. Holding back the feelings to want to watch koi longe timer, we take them back to greenhouses. The feeling of tension is still there until we let them sefely back into greenhouse ponds. Many koi enthusiasts visit us from around the world. We hope every one finds his/her own special koi.
We have many groups of customers from many countries overseas in autumn time. Selecting Nishikigoi is a very important thing for koi enthusiasts. We try to be helpful when our customers select koi.
It is a pleasure for us to receive prizes at koi shows. It makes us feel want to try harder to raise fine koi. There is no end to raising fine Nishikigoi.

Winter（Dec. - Feb.）
Winter time is time for koi to rest in greenhouse ponds.
It is important to give some time to rest in order for koi to go back to mud ponds in healthy conditions in spring time.
But for Tosai fish, we grow them during winter so we can select fish that are worth going back into mud ponds in spring.
Mountains are all covered with snow, so are all the mud ponds. All koi harvested from mud ponds stay here in the greenhouse for the winter time.
When it snows, it's all white around. But inside the greenhouse ・・・　　　　　⇒⇒⇒⇒⇒ It's warm and nice for koi inside the greenhouse. Our koi swim in heated ponds. We take care of our koi inside the greenhouse for the long winter.
↑Observing for health check.


　
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