Yellow Koi Spawn 04

F4: 9-15-23

Mango's Last Spawn

Mango is starting to get too old to breed, so before retiring him I wanted to have one last spawn, but was met with the issue of limited time.  1) My wedding was to happen in the following weeks, leaving me unavailable to dedicate the time needed for the early part of the fry's life.  2)  If I waited until after the wedding, I risked the temperature dropping too low to easily culture live foods outside.  So I decided to try an experiment that has been in my head all summer - a no-maintenance spawn. 

First Linebreeding

To start, I chose one of the girls from Mango's latest spawn, making this is my first linebred spawn!  Typically line breeding is used to develop traits and can be safely done up to 8 generations before outside genetics are needed for diversification.  I especially wanted to use one of his daughters because they should carry the yellow and marble genes.  With Mango's good form and lineage, this pairing should hopefully correct some of the poor form bettas found with a few of Strawberry's siblings. 

The Experiment

I had a 5g pond-tub that I grew scuds, shrimp, mosquito larvae, and other small critters in, and would occasionally put my late bloomers in there to fatten up a bit.  It was no filter, only lots of plants to keep the water pristine.  I would add in water as it evaporated but otherwise did no maintenance.  I paired Mango and Strawberry together and they immediately spawned.  Mango's heart wasn't in it, so I removed him before the eggs hatched.  I then fed the critters flakes every few days and let the tub be.  Only once did I see a fry in there.  The pond was so heavily planted that it was impossible to find the fry.  

The wedding came and went, I disappeared for 2 weeks for a trip, and when I got back I went to work breaking down all of my ponds for winter.  While dismantling the 5g tub I found 6 fry!  I am impressed with how well they've grown, they are above average for their age and are already eating frozen foods.  I've since moved them inside to their own 6g tank and am enjoying watching them grow. 

The Spawn

Hatched : 9-15-2023

Amount : 5 fry

Deformities :  None

Colors : 1 Red Copper, 2 Yellow Copper, 1 Red Koi, 1 White 

Goals Met : YELLOW!  After a year of drowning in red bettas, I finally have yellow base fry!  The toplines and fins are all perfect, this is my most consistent good form spawn yet. 

Continue : I am super excited to continue this spawn.  I plan to breed 03 or 04 with one of their half siblings.  

Full grown (9-15 months of age in these pics)