My Koi have always been born brown. Around 10 - 18 months, they all change color to orange, whites sometimes with varying shades of yellow. A few have stayed orange, but most are multicolored. Originally I didn't know anything about raising Fry, but first I learned that they are born brownish and turn as they age. I had no idea until I looked in my pond and saw what looked like "guppies" swimming around. I had no idea that Koi fry are generally brown. BUT recently I have read that only goldfish stay brown until a year or so old. Does this mean when I originally bought my first Koi, they were Goldfish and not Koi? I've had hundreds over the years and none have changed color at less than 6 months of age. But all have changed by the time they are about 14 months. They have all matured to the bright orange and white, typically seen as Koi. None have ever looked like goldfish. They are kept in outdoor ponds, not warmed during the winter. But there is always an antifreeze unit during the winter so the water will not freeze. I have several aerators in each pond, and two waterfalls. I have only lost a couple of the Fry when they have gotten into the filters. I have lots of areas that have hiding places in the ponds and spawning areas. I had 6 adult Koi but I don't know their sex other than "Big Daddy". He is the first that lets me know breeding season has started. He's about 20 inches. The other adults range in size from 6-10 inches and are 2-5 years old. My present hatch of 200 or so are all 9-10 months old and starting to get their orange colors now. I separate babies to their own pond when I first see them, usually 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. I read some remarks that other folks have a low survival rate of 20% or so. I have had nearly 100% survival other than the two that were caught in the filter. Why is that? Is there a type of Koi that is more hardy than others?

Can you tell me more about the scent trail? I didn't know about that. Of course, the baby bunnies I found our by our raised bed which I visit everyday anyways, so the scent trail is always there. I've seen the bunny hopping around the bed...almost stepped on it one day before it ran off (they hide well).. Today it rained and I saw it out there all soaked and shivering. I came close and it didn't hop away, and then I noticed a snail crawling on it (not kidding)--which gave me a big clue something was wrong. I decided to removed the snail and it still didn't hop away, and I noticed ants by it. I thought maybe it would help to get him somewhere dry and warm but since I know his mom is around and don't know where his nest is, I didn't want to take him where she couldn't find him. I remember finding some bunnies his size in shoes my kids left outside on one cold day, and my youngest just outgrew a pair, so I put the shoe next to him and sort of nudged him into it. As I did I notice his bottom had blood on it. So ang...something may have already gotten to him. I took the shoe about 5 feet away to the other side of the raised bed, away from the ants--and also put something over it to shield the rain (not directly over it so he couldn't get out...but leaning on our raised bed like a lean-to with enough room for the mom to get in.) So, any advice on what to do now would be appreciated, or what to do differently next time. Cause, bunnies often make nests in our yard so there probably will be a next time.

Cathy. . .well, the best time to come to the northern California coast would be ***right now***, but plan for just about *any* weather. Currently, we're in the middle of a heatwave. That's due to change come Thursday. Some mild showers are expected for Friday and Saturday. . .for the **best** in terms of the warmest weather? Believe it or not, typically, *October* is warmest. :) EVERYONE: thank you for your kind comments and posts. I am happy to have brought smiles. . .this series is the shortened version of one I am compiling into a coffee table book. . .details to come soon if you're interested. :)

Oh gee, bogturtle .... such a loss to change the name to Pickerel in my online gallery. :-) Oh well ... I especially want to have the correct names on things. I will now search my blog to see what I can update there. Probably did a post on it. Danetherton, I try not to pick up frogs and toads because of the thinness of their skin and organisms that might be on my hands. It's very hard not to but I succeed except for the occasional baby tree frog which I will put my hand up to allowing it to walk on it. My natural tendency would be to hug everything I see. I give the bees a back rub while they feed on our flowers and so far they all love it. I know they can sense fear and react to it, so that's the key. I'm in the Piedmont actually. Mountains are 45 minutes away. Bogturtle ... biology wasn't my subject when I was in high school. We had a teacher that walked around with a huge snake on his neck. Growing up in the city I was terrified of snakes and also bugs which I got from my mom screaming every time a moth flew around or a bug crawled by. Fortunately I got gradually delivered of both fears when we moved to the woods 23 years ago. Now I love all of God's Creation and it so fascinates me. I was a good student but 3rd grading period we had to do a bug collection and I was petrified and told the teacher and he told me if I didn't do it I'd fail that period. So, I failed it because there was no way ... parents understood but it left a bad taste in my mouth for biology for a long time. LOL Thank you both for the confirmation.