Wakin

[Mudsow]

Are wakin really as friendly and hand feedable as koi?
Reason I ask is that due to a degenerative condition in my back, I'm having a terrible time keeping up with my koi/water situation.

Oh, I'm not getting rid of EVERYONE. I'm going to keep my 2 very favorites, I will be looking for a home for the other 3 this spring when everyone's pond gets opened.

I was thinking of getting 2 wakin to replace the 3 koi leaving. That should be much more do-able in the 850gallons. I have 1 comet now that is only like 7" she's 8 years old, she's staying too. So that would be 1 comet, 2 wakin & 2 koi.

Just trying to make my life easier and still keep my fish healthy. But if they aren't as sweet, then I'll only find homes for 2 koi and I'll keep the 3rd.

Mudsow *:|

[Busy B]

From what I've heard they have great dispositions and are colorful like kohaku's...should be easier on your filters also...

Free to a good home is always the hardest part, tho isn't it?

[Jackie Ramo]

Well I've seen Wakin that are friendly and they certainly are cute.

Mudsow have you considered how you are managing the tank and changing how its done first? I know how mcuh you love those fish. Perhaps folks here could suggest things once they see the setup.

[Mudsow]

Jackie I know my set up could use tweaking. LOTS of tweaking. I know it's not the easiest set up or the best. However, that aside, I knew this day was going to come eventually.

Believe it or not, I had 12 fish in that 850 gal when I began this koi addiction :eek: I've gradually found homes for 3 koi and 4 goldfish.

But the dang things keep GROWING!! !wow!

I haven't bought a new fish in a looong time. I've just been milking it cause I don't wanna give anyone else up. But realistically 5 koi will outgrow 850 gallons.

So I figured I'd keep my 3 SUPER friendly babies. Cheerio(avatar fish), Ochie (ochiba) and my little stubby goldfish that I've had for 8 years. And if I get 2 wakin, theoretically I shouldn't have to get rid of anyone else! Then I could end my misery of worrying about them and get on with my life ;-)

I'd still have the 2 HUGE fish and the goldfish will just give the illusion that they are even BIGGER. And it would cut my water changes and cleaning time down BIG TIME.

Right now it seems to take an entire day to do a good water change. Winter sucks! fill, wait for the water heater, fill, wait for the water heater etc...

It's starting to take it's toll on me. The ol' back just aint what it used to be that's for sure.

It's not spring yet, so I still can change my mind, but I'm trying to prepare my husband too. He doesn't like to admit it, but he's attached to those fish as much as I am.

We'll see. <goes to measure the basement to see just how BIG we can expand> :D

Mudsow

[Terri]

Personal experience... wakin are terrific pets, not shy at all and cute as all H3ll :grin: I broight 2 indoor to my 120 gal aquarium for winter... they pretty much jump at me to get food, will take pellets right out of my fingers. I don't need a net to catch them, I can pick them right up out of the water! LOL

I think you'd be happy with a pair of wakin... they may start a whole other addiction tho ;-)

[Jackie Ramo]

Terri stop feeding my Wakin lust... I still have to build a pond for them.

Mudsow, know you have thought hard about the situation but I also thought you had just expanded the pond. In turth you plan sounds like a good one but....

Suppose you start a thread about your set up and let folks tweak it for you. It doesn't matter if you have to change the water once a week or twice a week if it can be improved then either way life will be easier.

[luke frisbee]

Hmmm,
my thought is one that is off the "title" but actually on topic....

koi are schooling fish, the more the merrier. Each koi wants another koi above, behind, in front of, beside (x2), and below them...except at feeding time....
So I'd go with three koi as a minimum..for their mental health...even in a QT I place three...it lets two of them go off and talk about the other one

[Jackie Ramo]

Do you think they know the other fish are koi or not... doesn't seem so at spawning time :lol:

For stocking personally I like even more than 3 fish but 3 at a minimum. 5 is a school of fish and they seem happiest at that number or higher.

[Terri]

Spoon feeding Jackie :grin:
http://www.backyardpuddle.com/images/koipix/DSCF0011.jpg
Romeo has since lost some red and more white is showing.

I agree with Luke (ACK!) and yes I do believe koi know the difference.. goldfish on the other hand... don't care. If you have one koi and a few goldfish, it might be "happy", but add another koi or two and the first one gets giddy, leaving it's goldfish friends to hang with it's new koi buddies, add a couple more koi and they are over joyed...

[Jackie Ramo]

Interesting that they would know the difference. I had both goldfish and koi and they schooled together, spawned together ate together...Mind there were more than one of each.

[Cinnamon]

That Waken is an interesting looking fish. I don't think I have ever seen one. What classification are they? Goldfish? or just Waken. Here I go with all the questions again :lol: You know me! Inquiring minds want to know! !rofl

[Jackie Ramo]

Wakin are common Japanese goldfish, like our coments. Very hardy and if you do a search come in nice red and white patterns. They have a cute waddle when they swim because of the tail shape.... I want these fish!!

[BonnieIN]

Jackie, I have 2 wakin but don't have any pix for now but I'll tease you later!

Most of my comets are very tame and will handfeed. Especially Mrs. Piggy!

[Terri]

http://earthbourne.hypermart.net/wakin.3.jpg No these are not mine.. stolen from another web site :grin:


This one is Twiddle-Dee (Twiddle-Dum was avoiding the camera today lol)

[Jackie Ramo]

I pick door number 3 Montey!!! :wave:

[Mudsow]

Very Pretty Terri, I like the more orange/red ones, especially orange/red on their heads, with a bit of orange/red running in their tail.

I saw a few at the last koi/goldfish show here in Illinois. I was tempted but have no room.

All 5 of my koi are nice, but 2 are definitly outstandingly friendly. In my pond it's personality over looks. Looks will get you in the door, but you've got to be able to follow through or you're on the "out" list :frisbee: I have to be that way, I'm limited. Boy it would be nice to win the lottery and build a HUGE indoor atrium with a HUGE deep pond <sigh>

But anyway, I've noticed my little chubby goldfish could use a pal of her own. I can't imagine the koi would notice if there were only 2. Those 2 seem to be only interested in FOOD. :rolleyes:

DARN YOU LUKE! Now I have to think about this through again. I think he just said that to mess with my mind !bonk

Mudsow (this is my chubby little goldfish holding her own)

[Terri]

Luke's like that :twisted:

Look at her go... ! LOL I have a shubunkin that is quite agressive at feeding time... out muscles the koi everytime!

[Jackie Ramo]

Looks like Chubby thinks she a koi.

[Busy B]

Well I can see where she got her name :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

So Mudsow, did you make up your mind yet?

[Mudsow]

It's not spring YET!
I won't be able to do anything until spring. Then I've got to actually attend a koi-club meeting and see if anyone out there wants any larger koi.

So I figure I've got a few months to really make up my mind. But lately with all the blotchiness and scale loss from my ogon, and now some missing scales on my other doitsu fish, I'm thinking I need to head off any disaster before it gets the best of me.

I seem to be just one step ahead of everything, but I fear my time will come if I don't reduce.

So it's more of a matter of how long it takes to find homes for some fish. Boy am I glad my fish aren't outside spawning right and left. I couldn't handle finding homes for all those fish!!! I don't know how you guys do it.

See ya around,
Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

It certainly isn't spring yet, we got snow last night!!!

Maybe its just my charming personality but so far I have had no difficulty finding homes for my fish. People drive over 6 hours to get here... Maybe its GG's charms :D

[BonnieIN]

Okay stupid question but I was told the correct prononuciatin of Wakin is Wa-keen.
Is this correct?

Jackie, yep it's your charming personality! :smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

!strut Thanks Bonnie

Yes, I believe the correct pronounciation is Wakeen and there is no s for the plural. Apparently Japanese don't have plurals of thing.... koi means one or many.

[luke frisbee]

I bought these wakins from Joe Of Blackwater Creek, "5 for $40"...I bought 10 for the wife....they aren't really ugly fish.... just NOT koi.
the one in the middle at the bottom has a very long narrow body and extremely long fins...she reminds me of a ballerina

[Terri]

Very Nice Luke :-) Sandy's a lucky lady

[Busy B]

Joe is pretty well rounded in his selections of what he offers..

They may not be koi, but looks like they would fit the bill for a smaller pond and still have somewhat of the same effect as looking at a koi (coloring).

Glad my daughter can't get her hands on those...it would mean another tank..

[Jackie Ramo]

Five for $40.00!!! Here you are lucky to find one for $40.00 and its ugly!! Cute little guys. Did Joe let you take a pick of the crop?

[luke frisbee]

Jr.,
Nope I got to his booth a couple of hours after he was already selling. I did pick them out of about 50. I picked them using the criteria i use for picking Kohaku, and also getting as much diversity as possible.
and you should see the koi I got...i got 3 for $20....ANYONE could have bought them. Two men were in front of me for picking out of that tank...Ok Ok, another thread.
But I also got some spectacular show quality fish on the last day, there were so many fish vendors but these fish shouldn't have been around on the last day.....another thread? (I hate resizing pics)

[Terri]

(I hate resizing pics)

is that a hint? :grin:

So post... POST! We wanna see...

[Mudsow]

It's funny, you look at Luke's wakin in the bag from the side and they look like sarrassa comets.

They have a completly different look from above.

I suppose that's why they make better "pond" fish than tank fish huh. !wow!

Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

Their swimming motion is eye catching when watching them in the pond. I've wanted a couple o fthese for over a year now so I'd better get to work diggin a pond or maybe they'd make do in the horse trough until I got the pond done. I'd be more motivated with them in hand... ;)

[captk]

Very interesting looking gold fish. :) Seems to have a mismatch between the body and its tail. Can't say I have seen many in Australia. I suppose I haven't been looking too hard. ;) Must keep an eye out for them.

[Jackie Ramo]

My Good Capt, they are hard to find here as well but apparently are very common in Japan. More dealers seem to be carrying them now than two years ago. I think they will find a real niche for themselves here in the pond market.

[pondlover]

I have looked allover for these fish and have yet to find one. Anyone in my area have any?? Or know where I can get one or two.......? I guess I could add a third pond. :roll:

[Jackie Ramo]

Why should I be the only one adding a pond for them Jennnifer :wave:

I plan to be looking for a couple later in the spring. If I find a good supplier I'll let you know. Maybe if we get enough of us Terri will carry a few.

[Mudsow]

No Jackie, I need someone here in Illinois that carries them, Not CANADA! :-P

Although I'm sure Terri's would be fabulous.

I think I may have found a home for the wayward 3. A friend of a friend recently bought a house with a spring fed pond on the property and was going to look for some bigger koi to put in. There are a few sterile carp in there now.

Would they get along? That is why she was looking for larger koi.

Just have to wait for the water to warm up for a few months for the transfer. Then I may be able to find some Wakin at the spring trade show.

Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

:lol: Sorry about that. I'm sure you will find a couple of nice ones locally. Great that you found a home for the babies. Spring fed... sounds good to me.

Maybe Terri will just give me her wakin :frisbee:

[Terri]

Fat chance Jackie :-P

Actually I'd like to get a few real nice ones and breed them... at some point, my plate is full at the moment.

Glad you have a "possible" good home for those 3 koi Mudsow :)
I believe Autum Koi is in Glenview, Illinois, they sell wakin. Might want to give them a call, I don't think they keep wakin in stock for very long in the spring.

[Jackie Ramo]

Yes, it does seem as soon as they come in, they are grabbed up quickly. I may try China town for some.

[BonnieIN]

Okay... you all have twisted my arm, I'm gonna have to make a short trip and get a couple more Wakin. :smile:


They won't be $8 each though.. $19.99.

[Mudsow]

Thanks Terri, I've bookmarked their website. It will be a while before I can actually go shopping, but it's nice to know there's a place in the area to start. :smile:

DH is now second guessing the spring fed pond. He's afraid something may happen to them. I explained that something may happen to them wherever they go. And if they stay here they will jeopardize the health of the ones we can't part with.

He's worse than I am about re-homing pets, it's not something we tend to do around here. Once they come..... they stay!

Too bad that I made a poor judgement call when I got all those cute little fishies. :roll:

I now know better. Hey, I haven't gotten a new fish in almost 2 YEARS!

Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

Bonnie, the last ones I saw here were 45.00 each!!! and small ones without good pattern to my eye anyway....

Mudsow, I've given away fish each year I've had a pond. I'm sad to say most of them are dead now... but some are doing just fine and are treasured pets. I have learned to be more careful who I give them to but even then there are accidents. No one has killed them on purpose, that's for sure. Two give away babies died this winter at different houses. Their new owners were as upset as I was, probably more. The other babies are fine, thankfully but yes, its a chance you take. But, who hasn't lost a fish or more... I have.

[Terri]

:-) you're welcome

[BonnieIN]

I've been calling Gerbers in Dayton Ohio asking about their Wakin. Patiently waiting for their new shipment to come in.....
They currently have a few but not they said it's not the best selection.

I currently have 2 and want to get 2-3 more. :smile:
Should I keep these seperate from the others?

Wonder what a Shubunkin and Wakin mix would look like?

[Jackie Ramo]

Bonnie, you haven't finished the big pond and already you are looking for a another one :frisbee:

I've not seen a wakin goldfish or koi mix but I am sure they are out there.

BTW if you meant by keep them separate did you need to Q them, the answer is yes you have to Q them.

[Terri]

Wonder what a Shubunkin and Wakin mix would look like?
Some look like shubukin and some look like shubunkin with a wakin tail :grin:

Yes, QT, don't chance it.. you know the drill - give them a week or two to rest after arrival and then add one of your resident wakin to the QT.

[Jackie Ramo]

Do you have pics Terri? Did yours cross?

[BonnieIN]

Oh no Jackie, not thinking of another pond. After this one is done we're building a small lilypond but that's it! The lily pond will be nothing to look at, just a rectangular pond built out of 4x4's. Something easy to build.


OH yes I definately will quarantine! What I was meaning was should I have the Wakin in a pond of their own or should I add them with the other Goldies?

I'm drastically reducing my Goldies. A local Greenhouse will take as many as I give them. As far as standard Goldies I'm only going to keep a few because we that in a few years again I'll have a bunch!

Terri interesting..... I'd like to see the Shub with the Wakin tail!

[Jackie Ramo]

With goldies, one doesn't have to wait a few years... a few months is more like it :grin:

I saw a raised bed kit in Lee Valley Tools catelogue and I was thinking it would make a nice raised pond. It is just the corner joiners and rails, you add wood and then the rails hold patio stones so it looks like a stone planter, there is even an hinged top as an option.

[BonnieIN]

With goldies, one doesn't have to wait a few years... a few months is more like it :grin:

I saw a raised bed kit in Lee Valley Tools catelogue and I was thinking it would make a nice raised pond. It is just the corner joiners and rails, you add wood and then the rails hold patio stones so it looks like a stone planter, there is even an hinged top as an option.


Yep you said it Jackie! Horny little guys and gals! :-?

Oh I'd love to see a pix of that raised pond, gotta scanner? :smile:

[Terri]

Do you have pics Terri? Did yours cross?
No and Yes. The shubunkin I have is male, he's always looking for action... I have 2 female wakin, only one spawned last year as the other was very young. The wakin tail didn't carry over to many, and those that it did had other issues so went to the composter. I have 6 babies left over and all look like shubbies - they have very little "blue", mostly red, black and white (like a sanke :wink: )

I have one male wakin and two "ripe" females, ... guess who's going into the watergarden first this year :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Oh goody, you know I'm in line for babies!!!

[Jackie Ramo]

Here you go Bonnie, but fair warning, Lee Valley is addictive and one should hide the credit cards before viewing.

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&cat=2,44664&p=47455

[marla]

Mudsow, if those koi want to make the trip to Packer country, I'm wanting to replace the ones that died on us this Spring. I'm left with just the goldies and one shubunkin. :wink:

[Mudsow]

Marla, thanks for the interest but I did find a home for 2 of them. Just waiting for the weather to stay warm so they can go to their new digs.

They've been basking in 70* water their whole life, gotta wait till the new water is consistantly in the 60's.

Fingers crossed it will be there soon!

Mudsow

[Mudsow]

Oh yeah... I'm gonna be heading out to the MWPKS trade show tomorrow.
I'll be WAKIN hunting!!!!!!! !strut

Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

Don't forget to take the camera for those of us who can't go!!!

[Mudsow]

:cry: there were only 3 wakin there tonight. And I thought I'd find more. Of the 3 only 1 was darn cute but he had a large circular scaleless spot on one side. Looked to me like an ulcer waiting to happen. I just didn't feel comfortable buying it. It could have healed up fine but then it would have been a big white blotch in an otherwise red area. I don't know, it just made me nervous.

:cry: I'll have to keep searching.

I'm going to give Autumn Koi a call and see if they have any. I think it's time to take a drive :wink:

Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

Always best to wait for the right fish. Too bad there wasn't a better variety of them there. Still did you see some nice koi???

[luke frisbee]

here's a Blackwater wakin...I bought it out of the $5 tank at the CFKS last year. then it was the size of a quarter.
This fish is cuter in person

[Terri]

Well done Luke, nice size and great colour. Have some BC wakin here the size of quarters..... :grin: hope they do half as well up here.

[Jackie Ramo]

He's cute in the pic as well Luke.

Terri pick out 3 of those quarters for me will you. I need motivation to get that second pond built this year.

[Terri]

ok, send ya some pics... :grin: get diggin'

[marla]

Do wakin reproduce as rapidly as goldfish???

[luke frisbee]

Do wakin reproduce as rapidly as goldfish???
"wa" to the japanese means "Japanese"
"kin" means "goldfish"

Does that answer your question? :-P

[Elizardbreath]

here's a Blackwater wakin...I bought it out of the $5 tank at the CFKS last year. then it was the size of a quarter.
This fish is cuter in person
Holy Cow Luke your fish grow like crazy. There is something to be said for a big ass pond and warm water year round.
I must admit I am jealous. That is a really nice Wakin.
LB

[Jackie Ramo]

Where are my wakin pictures. Stop slacking off Terri :frisbee:

Beth I find that my fish grow over the winter. I've kept babies inside and outside and by the end of summer the outside ones are always bigger than the ones that spent the winter inside.