Can any of you koi folks identify what kind/type my Fred may be?

[LuLu]

I'm in the process of finding him a new home, and want to have my facts straight when I hype his wonderfulness to potential new parents.

... and if he's 6 or so inches long, probably 8" or a lil' under including his tail... he's what? Approximately 2 years old?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[fishin4cars]

LuLu, I believe it would be classified as a Sanke, It appears to be a butterfly sanke to be corrct however the butterfly or long fin isn't real pronounced. it is still longer fins than what would be considered standard. Also just to note the markings that appear to be dark gray right now will probably turn jet black later in the season once the temps start changing.

 

[LuLu]

He's been growing RAPIDLY since I unknowingly rescued him from the LFS's fancy goldfish tank. He was VERY thin (like a skinny comet) this spring, but the lil' piglet's filling out nicely I think. And his fins/tail... they just keep getting longer and longer. He didn't even have many dark gray coloring when I got him really, nothing more than a couple "freckles," but over the last month or so they've grown/darkened... & he's also developed a couple dark gray streaks of color on his tail, and one across his dorsal fin.

A BUTTERFLY?! omgoodness! It's a shame he's missing a pectoral fin. I bet he's gonna be BEAUTIFUL someday... and even more of a shame that I can't keep him. *sniffle*

Another riddle I've been pondering: If he has most of the main spine of his missing pectoral fin, but is missing the rays, and even uses that spine to maneuver himself at times... In your koi-ly educated opinion...
Do you think it was a congenital defect? Or something that may have happened while he was very small? Like... he was the victim of a nipping, or... maybe an infection/finrot? *trying to find a clear photo of his nub*

Thanks for your input, Larkin!

 

[LuLu]

The first photo is of his nub. He normally only uses it when making left turns or when he slams on the brakes, but it's definitely not clamped and/or non-functioning.

And the second photo is one I found of his fins/tail while searching through photos It's shows the few streaks of color that have developed at the end of his tail. It also shows how "flowy" he is and why I also thought his fins/tail looked longer than photos I've seen online and on the few koi I've seen IRL, but I've never had a koi before... so what do *I* know? :dunno:

Thanks again, Larkin.

 

[LuLu]

Went looking for photos of small butterfly sanke. Found this photo of a 6" one at livekoiforsale.com: http://www.livekoiforsale.com/media/Week115-29-11BUT/6 in Sanke Butterfly b5.JPG

Looks almost exactly like my Fred!! YOU ROCK!! :bowdown:

 

[fishin4cars]

Very hard to say if it was inherited or Damged when younger. But he'll still make someone a nice pet, I wouldn't recommend trying to breed it but other than that he's still a nice enough fish that he should have a good home. Really need to find him one before winter. He's going to continue to grow all winter and he'll need a deep pond or a inside tank to survive through the cold.

 

[addy1]

Very pretty lulu, someone will love having fred, even with the nub! makes it even more precious.