The Fish Wrap: August 2006
From The Koi Club of the Air
Conversation was a bit more diverse this last month on the Koi Club of the Air Show. We spoke with two West Coast koi club reps, a prawn farmer, board members of a pond contractors association and the new editor of KOI USA. Here is the run down.
The July 15 Show: included interviews with Claudia McGowan representing the Inland Empire Water Garden & Koi Society discussing their Aug 19-20 Koi Show in Spokane, Washington. And John Hillstrom representing Puget Sound Koi Club discussed their 9th Annual Young Koi Show on Aug. 5-6. Claudia will do water quality at the Puget Sound’s show the first weekend in August and then the Hillstrom’s and other Puget Sound members will be helping with Inland’s show later in the month.
Last year Inland Empire Water Garden and Koi Society members assisted with the cleanup of the Manito Japanese Garden Pond built as part of the 1974 World’s Fair. The pond of over 130,000 gallons had not been cleaned since construction in 1974. Several inches of Mt. St. Helen’s volcanic ash was part of the 8-10 inches of muck that was cleaned out. Over 65 volunteers from that club, boy scouts, high school and university students all worked together in that project. This year the club participated in a followup health check of the koi and other fish in the Manito Japanese Garden Pond. Find out more about Inland Empire Water Garden & Koi Society at http://iewgks.tripod.com. Claudia McGowan can be reached at suziespond@juno.com for more information.
The Puget Sound Club in Tacoma, Washington is one of the oldest clubs in the Northwest and they have been leaders in quality koi shows in the Northwest. Their show is for koi 18” of length and less and especially suited for beginners. Their members have the advantage of good relations with clubs in Portland, Seattle, Spokane, and Boise where they can show and enjoy the larger koi variety. Puget Sound’s website is http://www.pskc.org. John & Cindy Hillstrom the co-chairs for their show can be reached at stainlessjeep@cliffhanger.com for more information.
As an interesting aside from koi in the water garden in July we spoke with Delores Fretesi, owner of Lauren Farms who schooled us on freshwater prawn a healthy addition to the water garden. They are fast growing and fun to watch and taste like lobster! Lauren Farms raise young prawn that are typically for sale and shipment to wholesalers and hobbyists (@ $75/1000) each spring. The prawn are hardy in the same environment that our koi thrive. They won’t be expected in an All Japan Show tank, but they might be on the banquet table! Check them out at www.laurenfarms.com.
The July 19 Show: this show featured Dave Jones and Freddie Combas sharing with us some of the good news for consumers and businesses supporting the koi, goldfish, and water garden hobby provided by the International Professional Pond Contractors Association. They shared with listeners the mission of the organization, who can join and how, and the rigors involved in achieving accreditation. Plus, they shared some of the details of their community outreach activities. IPPCA operates a free pond hobbyist hotline and message board for citizens to ask whatever questions they might have. Theirs is a bold mission, but they believe the payoff in professionalizing the industry to better serve consumers is well worth it. The organization’s website is www.ippca.com.
The July 26 Show: featured Dr. Julius M. Tepper, DVM who joined us in a serious discussion of some specific fish-vet & pond chemistry related issues. Tepper shared with us the theory behind his hydroponic system for maintaining flora in the water garden environment. Plus, as a board member of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Tepper shared with us considerations by some veterinarians who are proposing a new fish vet association. Tepper vows to push for fish to be provided uniform legal protection across the country, as are other animals under the Veterinary Practice Act. Such changes in legislation would have widespread implications as one might imagine. Tepper operates Long Island Fish Hospital along with another exotic species practice there. Tepper can be reached through his website at www.Pondtoons.com and at (631)281-5412.
Steve Childers, the new KOI USA magazine editor joined us to share some of his philosophy and plans for future issues of the magazine. Childers is an active AKCA judge and member of clubs around the country. As far as why he was chosen, Childers attributed the AKCA Directors decision to, “they were looking for a new direction, some added input from sources that they had not been able to tap previously that they believed I would be able to help with. And they wanted to return the magazine to focus on koi and the koi hobby with articles related to those topics.” Childers also believes his central location in Memphis coupled with a good working relationship with hobbyists coast to coast could provide greater credence to the premise that KOI USA indeed represents a national versus regional voice for the koi hobby.
As always Todo and John, cohosts of the Koi Club of the Air and our sponsors www.AZPonds.com, www.Mazuri.com, and Joe Pawlak at www.KoiSale.com thank you for participating in the www.KoiCluboftheAir.org show. Please keep us informed as to how we can further assist in sharing your hobby related news.
Happy ponding!
John & Todo hosts of the Koi Club of the Air
www.KoiCluboftheAir.org
