While the Warnell School’s student body has outgrown the age when aquariums full of fish provided hours of fascination, the School’s fisheries faculty are helping many adults re-live this youthful pleasure. From June 9-11, Dr. Jay Shelton, Associate Professor of Fisheries, along with faculty and staff from UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine, hosted a Koi breeding and reproduction seminar at the Warnell School, and on site at Flinchum’s in Whitehall Forest.

Koi, bright, multi-colored carp (Cyprinus carpio) indigenous to Japan and eastern Asia, is a popular aquarium and ornamental pond fish in the United States. They are frequently misidentified as oversized goldfish, but retailers can sell select mature koi for more than $1,000 each.

“The popularity of koi has risen dramatically over the past decade as residential and commercial landscaping has increased the use of ponds to add aesthetic water elements to overall designs,” according to Dr. Shelton.

In an effort to service this growing demand, Dr. Shelton designed this outreach seminar for “koi farm owners, as well as anyone that spends a moderate amount of money on decent koi, and wonders if the offspring from those fish will be worth enough to at least offset their habit.” The class provided information to enthusiasts and commercial breeders who serve koi hobbyists about how to pair up fish, cull and grade them.

Speakers and presenters at the seminar included:

• Carl Forss of Keirin Koi, a well-respected koi importer and dealer, known for his ability to choose high-quality koi, and whose fish have consistently won top prizes at major shows including the All-Japan show;
• Vicki Vaughan, Director of Aquatic Services for UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine;
• Dr David Martinez, DVM, a board certified endoscopist;
• Dr. Gary Burtle, UGA Tifton, aquaculture expert;
• Dr. Helen Roberts, DVM, Chairperson, Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee for America Veterinary Medical Association;
• Dr. Eric Johnson, DVM, one of the world leading experts on fish health;
• And, Dr. Jay Shelton.

In return for the $1,000 registration fee, participants received a notebook full of reference materials, a wealth of first-hand knowledge and lots of hands-on experience. They also received the opportunity to select 10 young fish produced from the broodstock spawned during the course.

Hung Huang, president of SeaGate Biofilters, Inc. raved about the seminar telling Dr. Shelton, “"Koi Breeding and Reproduction offered expert advice, interactive lectures, hands-on lab work, and solid reference materials. The presentations were current, and entertaining. FIRST RATE! I enjoyed meeting you and the faculty and would not hesitate to recommend you or your program with the highest regard."

Dr. Shelton will conduct additional koi seminars in the future for interested parties. To learn more about this event, and listings for future koi seminars, visit the koi seminar website at http://www.koiclass.com/breedingcourse.html.