What Is "Fukurin"? Options

[CP]

I have a friend who does not receive much education,but a fish hobbyist nonetheless and owns prize winning kois.I have learnt much from him in terms of fish appreciation.

He always stresses on the importance of "pookoolink".That is what made the scales of the fish shine.Be it koi,discus,arowana or goldfish,"pookoolink" is a must before the fish can be a prize winner.

At Aquarama 2003,he has shown me many examples of prize winning discus and all these discus are rich in "pookoolink".

So I asked him WTF is "pookoolink"? Is it an English word,Japanese or Hokkien?
He doesn't know.All he knew is that it has something to do with calcium,and its like 'match flint'.

I suspect that it may be an English term.Any members heard of it before?

[goldrush]

Hi CP

I think the closest phonectic equivalent would be from the japanese word

FUKURIN,and it is a word which little can be described in words but enormous in true appreciation.I will try to explain it as the border of the scales literally stands out emcompassing the inner scalation.If you see high class koi or goldfish you will see this feature bred into the skin It literally stands out.The best fish to see this effect is to appreciate the Hikarimono class that is Platinum/Yamabuki ogon in koi.It gives that embossing effect if you know what I mean.
In goldfish however the scalation that shows fukurin effect are not uniform but rather confine more towards the headgrowth area(I'm not too sure at this moment this feature are bred to cover every scalation as yet ).Look at the picture of the Ranchu featured on the Hikari Lionhead pellet packet.Do you notice the scalaltion nearer to the head and back with a typical Fukurin effect though not continuous.A good fish showing this feature must manifest it throughout to stand out and probably why this skin feature is so highly regarded .It literally shines if you know what I mean.So inevitably such a fish whether a koi,goldfish or arowana will clinch the coveted prize.It is a Distinction attribute for such a Distinguish fish.


regards

goldrush

[CP]

Aaaah.........so its Japanese.Many thanks.

I have yet to see a goldfish fully covered with fukurin.I think it is almost impossible.The most that I have seen from my collection are less than ten scales,and these are normally concentrated at the backs of the goldfish,and more prominent when viewed from pond under sunlight.

I wonder what are the requirements to groom a fish rich in fukurin.I think the genetics (bloodline) is the most important,then water quality,diet and maybe sunlight.Diet rich in calcium is essential,I was told.

I would very much like to show the forum how a fukurin effect looks like,but I dont think this can be captured in pics.So members,next time take a closer look at the backs of your fish,preferably under sunlight,see the few shiny scales and that is fukurin (Or "pookoolink" if you prefer).

[goldrush]

Look at the pic of this prize winning showa showing the classic fukurin effects of its scalation.The base white looks embossed and armoured if you know what I mean

regard goldrush

[goldrush]

Please refer to this thread to further appreciate the beauty of fukurin with the pics enclosed.


http://www.akca.org/library/fukurin2.htm

Enjoy

goldrush

[CP]

Thanks for the article.

Quote from it:
"It is all but impossible to see fukurin on small fish and can be subtle and easily missed even on larger fish if one is not specifically looking for it, especially Type 2. Fukurin is easier to see on fish older than three years and larger than 60 cm."

So I guess the few shiny scales on my goldfish's back may not be Fukurin after all.And I think that not many can recognise a Fukurin.This subject is not as simple as I thought.When my friend is at my place he can point to me which fishes are developing the Fukurin.So he can be either not very sure himself or maybe he can recognise things that I cant.

p/s The prize winning koi belonging to my friend,a red tancho,had the type 1 fukurin giving the scale the "net" like looking effect.

[The Matrix]

talking koi or talking goldfish har ?

[goldrush]

talking koi or talking goldfish har ?

Bo tai chi cho every dun thing also talk lah.

goldrush

[desireless]

Goldfish also have pookoolink mah
(but I have not seen one in real life)

But if you consider sakura ranchu, maybe you can spot this pookoolink too

[desireless]

...
...
So I guess the few shiny scales on my goldfish's back may not be Fukurin after all.And I think that not many can recognise a Fukurin.This subject is not as simple as I thought.When my friend is at my place he can point to me which fishes are developing the Fukurin.So he can be either not very sure himself or maybe he can recognise things that I cant.
...

Eh CP, can you take photo of your fishes that he spotted got fukurin one?

I cannot differentiate type 1 and 2 leh

[CP]

talking koi or talking goldfish har ?

Talking "pookoolink" (Fukurin) on fishes,be it koi,goldfish,discus or aro.

Now we know Fukurin is much sought after in kois,so I wonder how is it that we can groom our goldfish to be rich in fukurins.But we must first learn to spot the fukurin on the goldfish.

From the article posted by Goldrush,it takes a trained eye to recognise fukurin.And according to my friend,fukurin play a very important part of a fish in the beauty of a fish.As I have mentioned earlier,2003 aquarama discus winners are covered with fukurins.And we,goldfish lovers should try to groom our fishes rich in fukurins.

[CP]

Eh CP, can you take photo of your fishes that he spotted got fukurin one?

I dont think we can tell from the pics,to this day I am still wondering how to see fukurin.Its supposed to be an extra layer covering the scales,and more shiny.

Friend:"Nah,Ah Lau, lu chi chiak wu pookoolink lor"
Me : "To lok? To Lok?"
Friend:"Nah beh,kar lu ann ni choi pai lu ko beh hiow.!!See peh gong ah!!"

That why I started this thread.

[CP]

I cannot differentiate type 1 and 2 leh 

I think that is more applicable to kois.Type 1 has it on the edges of the scales giving them the "net" effect.

[goldrush]

I have seen those pronounced reticulated scalation on huge Oranda but not in Ranchu here.The Scales appear more pronounced and rough(3-D effect with depth in each scale)But that was quite sometime ago liao

Yo CP

Now that this thread is out every body scrambling to see all their fish got Fukurin or not?It is not easy as it take a few years to mature and manifest and to spot one young fish to show such a potential lagi chum.Ultimately it boils down to luck.How often we can keep a goldfish in tip top condition consistently for many years.Far too often our fish(usually our favorite ones)succumb to disease ,mismanagement etc before he even turn two.What is left for more than 5 years on are usually distorted ,underfed and stunted pieces.I hope I'm not alone in this plight.?????????

regrds

goldrush

[goldrush]

in our local weather.. i doubt the goldfish can last 5 years..

Hmmmm give me an idea to write on my next controversial topic

Title should be: LIfespan or life spend
Sounds interesting?
Maybe should start a poll to honestly feedback some info of how long bros can keep their goldfish 1)alive even though with gross inadequacies
2)alive and still maintain good features and color

Come to think of it some of us have kept for many years but how many of our fishes are still with us

Answer: NONE (am I alone?)

Got to go now and let me sleep over and contemplate on my next topic to write

Cheers and Good nite
goldrush