Koi Graffiti

Categories: Culture, Koi, Non-Fishing

Saturday August 9th, 2008 @ 12:23 PM | Clive Mathias | Comments

Koi Shoes

I know a lot of our readers like koi, so here’s something you might like, koi shoes!

via Swell

Categories: Gear, Koi, Non-Fishing

Sunday January 27th, 2008 @ 4:32 PM | Clive Mathias | 2 Comments

Carp Love Sake

It looks like fish alcoholism is really on the rise. First drunk pike, now carp. Lets just hope that those gnarley mako sharks don’t start having a few.

The fish were the drinkers in a strange ceremony dating back to the Edo Period in which lively carp are made to consume a large dose of sake as they symbolically take on people’s calamities. After drinking the sake, the fish are released into a river.

In other news, drunk carp thinks he can fly.

via Mainichi Daily News

Categories: Carp, Interesting, Japan, Koi, News, Non-Fishing, Oddities

Friday January 18th, 2008 @ 7:08 PM | Clive Mathias | 1 Comment

Spielberg Loves Koi

Legendary filmmaker, Steven Spielberg is a very unhappy man after learning that his beloved koi have been eaten by a raccoon. Sources say his three fish were eaten due to the negligence of his assistant, who left a gate open allowing easy access for the raccoon.

“(Spielberg) had these three beautiful koi, worth about 14,000 dollars each. He put them in the pond on the lot, which is surrounded by a special gate so nothing can get to the fish. But an assistant went in to feed them, left the gate open and a raccoon ate the fish. Steven was furious - even worse, it was rumoured that the Emperor of Japan gave them to him”

Uh oh!

via Malaysia Sun

Categories: Culture, Freshwater, Koi, News, Non-Fishing

Thursday January 3rd, 2008 @ 2:35 PM | Clive Mathias | 2 Comments

Former World Record Koi

I haven’t been able to find a photo of the current record koi, if you can, let us know!

Former world record Koi 20lbs 8oz

Random Koi Facts

• There are more then 20 varieties of koi.

• Koi have been accidentally or deliberately released into the wild in every continent except Antarctica.

• Koi can live to be 30 years old. They can reach lengths in excess of 1m and at this length will weigh up to 12 kg. Bigger Koi are rare but not unknown especially in Japan.

• Koi are directly related to carp - they are the same species. Koi are selectively bred carp from a natural anomaly first discovered and developed in Japan, from where all things Koi emanate. The Japanese are the best breeders of Koi in the world by a substantial margin.

• In Japan, you can take classes to become a koi master.

More facts about koi found at Happy Koi.

Categories: Culture, Fishing, Freshwater, Incredible, Interesting, Japan, Koi, News, United Kindom, World Records

Wednesday December 19th, 2007 @ 6:27 PM | Clive Mathias | 1 Comment

Fish Robotics

Newlaunches.com has created a list of the Top 5 Robots of 2006, naming Mitsubishi’s robotic fish as number two. Mounted with a CCD camera, these aquatic robotic creatures will be used in the future to help us uncover the secrets below the surface of the worlds oceans.

“The robot is modeled after a Nishiki koi carp as a form of tribute to Hiroshima Castle (whose nickname Ri-jo means Koi Castle). The 80-cm (31-inch), 12-kg (26-pound) fish has a white body with bright red spots. Though the tail movement is very smooth and lifelike, the remote-controlled koi is capable of moves that a genuine koi is unable to perform, such as swimming in reverse and rotating in place.”

via Pink Tentacle

While impressive, this is not the first time we have seen robotic fish. The London Aquarium featured autonomous robot fish over a year ago as one of their technology exhibits.

If you like robtic fish, check out the videos on YouTube.

Categories: Culture, Incredible, Interesting, Japan, Koi, News, Non-Fishing, Oddities, Videos

Sunday January 7th, 2007 @ 8:23 PM | Clive Mathias | Comments

Cool Fish Tattoos

Shannon posted some cool fish tattoos to modblog last night. The chopped up Koi fish is amazing!

Modblog (NSFW) is a blog dedicated to all types of body modification (tattoos, piercings, and more). You can also check out the nature themed tattoos gallery at BMEzine.

Categories: Culture, Freshwater Species, Interesting, Koi, NSFW, News, Non-Fishing, Sharks, Tattoos

Saturday April 22nd, 2006 @ 5:39 PM | Jonathon Marshall | Comments