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Hoshikin Koi Farm - 2011 Tosai Kohaku Selection - Koibito Japan. Here you can see Hoshino san selecting through tosai which are about 3 months old or so. He is selecting mainly on the size of the koi, with the bigger ones heading into the far right hand side pond, and the smaller ones heading into the left hand side pond. The blue net is reserved for koi which don't make the cut, (body deformities, skin colouration not good, severe lack of pattern etc...), and will not be kept. These fish will be "retired" from active service on the farm. Hoshino san treats the koi in the large blue bowl with anaesthetic before starting selection to prevent them from jumping out of the bowl themselves. This, he says, enables him to select quicker, and poses little risk to the koi themselves, as only a minimal amount of anaesthetic is used each time.