Look for future events at upcoming shows in conjunction with
our top dealers!
We Are Hiring
We are looking for energetic people to assist in
day to day operations at our northwestern farms. Hard work, moderate
pay and lots and lots of koi. Call Joe directly for details 352-217-5518.
New staff brings decades of experience
to Blackwater
There is a lot of difference between raising some
koi and raising a lot of good koi. Surrounding ourselves with
experts has helped us jump up to the next step in production.
Blackwater is proud to have two new experts on staff.
Mr. Atushi Suda of Niigata Japan brings with him
decades of koi production technology from the heart of the koi
world. Mr. Suda produces fish on one of the larger farms in Japan
and is considered one of the forefathers of koi in the area due
to his involvement in helping others start local koi farms. His
specialties include: Gin Rin Showa, Yamabuki, Kin Showa, Hajiro,
Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, and the occasional Koromo. We welcome him
and his family into ours and look forward to great times ahead.
Barak Hefer Comes to us from the second largest
producer of koi in the world - Mag Noy Farms in Israel. Barak
worked as farm manager for one of the five farms. His 20 years
experience has taught him a lot about production and disease control.
Look for Barak at future koi events, be sure to stop by and say
hello. "We are very happy to have Barak on our team as he
really knows his stuff." - Joe P.
Blackwater Closes its doors to outside
fish
9/15/02
In a decision to protect Blackwater Creek Koi Farms
assets, its customers and its broodstock, we have decided to close
our doors to any outside fish. We have been tested for the koi
virus numerous times and results have come back negative. In order
to ensure we stay this way, we have decided not to buy and sell
fish. We feel our imported broodstock, our facilities and our
expert staff will allow the production of fish you expect and
deserve. We are not sure where this disease originated from, but
we are doing all we can to keep it out of our farms.
We've got bugs ! So does EVERY other
fish producer in the world!
We sometimes get the question - Are your fish clean?
If I am face to face with the customer, I smile and say No. Our
fish are grown in large natural and lined ponds exposed to the
natural environments around it. In a pond environment the fish
live with all sorts of organisms in the pond and on the fish.
These "bugs" such as trichodina, Costia, Flukes, and
others live in symbiosis with the fish. This is similar to having
a dog outside, it will have a few fleas on it typically.
This is true for ALL fish farms. The parasites rarely
cause a problem for the fish while they are in an un-crowded pond.
If these fish are brought into a tank or small pond situation
where they are in close proximity to each other, these "bugs"
can multiply and cause problems.( similar to the dog with a few
fleas being put into a crowded kennel). To stop this problem,
we treat the fish when brought into the shipping facility to remove
these bugs. The fish are then quarantined by the retail shop for
a period of at least 10 days to two weeks to be sure they are
rested and not needing any additional treatment.
If anyone tells you their fish are squeaky clean,....they
are not being honest. A few bugs are normal and will not typically
affect the fish unless stressful conditions exist. ( over crowding,
poor water quality, etc) We recommend all buyers (retail and wholesale)
quarantine their new fish for 2 weeks in a separate (isolated)
tank. Have treatments such as rock salt, fluke tabs, and a heater
on hand BEFORE you get the fish. Keep the tank heated to 74 degrees
and salted to 5 ppt ( apx 5 lbs of non iodized salt per 100 gallons
of water). Watch the behavior and after 2 weeks release the fish
to their new home.
Blackwater Creek Gets ready for farm number
four!
November 2002 brought about the acquisition of location
number four. This farm will focus on the production of Gosanke
( kohaku, Sanke, Showa) varieties as well as Major production
of Butterfly Koi. The farm is made up of almost 30 ponds ranging
in size from fractions of an acre to 1.25 acres. A complete shipping
facility with offices, hatchery and laboratory will allow for
a quick start up. The possibility of hand picking of individual
fish by our wholesale customers will help ensure that you find
what you've been looking for the next time you visit your local
pond store.
Large Japanese Koi Farm purchases part of Blackwater Creek Koi
Farms Inc.
A long-standing relationship between many Japanese
koi farms and Blackwater Creek has proven fruitful. In October
2002 Blackwater Creek Koi Farms Inc. Sold and undisclosed amount
of stock to one of the larger Farms in Niigata. Joe Pawlak said--
This union between our two companies will allow us to produce
Japan quality koi here in the United States. The technology of
producing excellent koi generally can only be gained by years
in years and generations of experience.
The Japanese are dedicated to improving the quality
of koi produced here in the United States. They did not see this
as competition but yet another chance to fulfill their dreams
of koi. Expect to see Japan quality koi available at highly competitive
prices by July of 2003. We're very excited about these opportunities.
Blackwater Creek's Main office in Lake County, Florida
recently broke ground on a new shipping facility. The 2400 square
foot two story building will allow even more efficient packing
and shipping of its goods. We're always looking for better, faster
andsmarter ways to serve our customers and feel this addition
will greatly help. Many thanks to friends, family (and even customers!)
for their help in getting this project started.
UPDATE - It's finished and has
made us even more effective in getting the best koi to you fast
and in great shape!
Continuous expansion takes place at Blackwater
Creek fish farms
The years 2001 and 2002 have been very busy years
for us here at Blackwater Creek Koi Farms Inc. We have undergone
major expansions throughout the two years. In order to fulfill
the needs of our existing and future customers we have invested
significant time and money into developing our farms to produce
the highest quality fish at the best prices. Winter of 2001 brought
the expansion of our 20 acre farm to incorporate many new mud
ponds designed to produce tosai or 1-year-old fish. This farm
is primarily made up of lined pollens ranging from 20,000 gallons
to over one million gallons each. After culling for color and
pattern, these ponds are stocked with two inch fingerling koi
and grown to 4 to 10 inches in their first year. These ponds allow
us to closely monitor health and control any problems that may
come up.
2001 also brought the addition of a third farm
totaling six acres this farm incorporates one-half to one acre
plots constructed completely of red clay. These ponds are used
for the grow out of high-quality fish as well as some fingerling
production when needed. We have found that certain varieties of
koi grow better in the mud ponds and us we take advantage of these
conditions to aid in producing koi that can rival those from Japan.
2002 began with continuous expansion of our twenty
acre farm to include many large mud ponds. Over 60,000 cubic yards
of sand were removed to allow us to reach the natural water table
needed to maintain water levels in the ponds.
2002 as he continued to be exciting with our recent
acquisition of our largest farm yet. A 50 acre farm consisting
of over 25 clay mud ponds ranging in size from 1/4 acre to five
acres. This farm will allow Blackwater Creek to continue its fast
growth and allow it to supply America would even more quality
koi.
Blackwater Creek adopts a new policy.
10/1/01
Quality of fish and health are of utmost importance
at Blackwater Creek fish farms. Our low prices and quality of
fish have sometimes left us sold out of certain sizes or varieties
of koi and goldfish. Very seldom in the past we would purchase
fish and quarantine them for at least ten days and then resell
these fish to our customers (mainly goldfish). The influx of foreign
fish (fish from other farms) gave a vector for possible transmission
of disease into Blackwater Creek Fish Farm. We have never like
to make excuses, and there's nothing worse than telling your customers
you are sorry for their fish losses and using the excuse that
they were not our fish. We have never had the dreaded virus problem
and therefore Blackwater Creek has adopted a policy of not buying
and reselling fish from other growers in the USA. This policy
may limit availability of certain fish at certain times but will
eliminate the possibility of disease transmission into or out
of our farms. When were out of a certain fish, we are out of a
certain fish until we have a chance to grow more. We feel this
is a very important step in achieving customer satisfaction and
long-term relationships.
UPDATE - As of Oct. 2002 We do
not bring in fish from any outside source.
Continuing education of Nishikigoi continues
to be high priority at Blackwater Creek
Koi farming is as much art as it is science. Things
that may work one year may not work for the next three years.
These fish although close relatives to the common carp, impose
many hurdles that must be overcome each year to ensure quality
fish for our customers. A state of continuous education of farming
practices, culling techniques, health issues and selection of
quality fish for our customers, happens every day at Blackwater
Creek koi farms inc. All employees from the farm manager to the
boy who mows the lawns is Cross trained to recognize potential
problems, quality fish, and dozens of other things needed to produce
quality and healthy fish for our customers. in addition to frequent
trips to Japan in which Joe lives with some of the larger koi
farms. He works hand-in-hand in the production of koi allows unequaled
access to the techniques needed to succeed in producing quality
fish. Joe's comprehension of the Japanese language however minimal
continues to improve with (sometimes) rigorous study (at least
when I'm hungry or have to use the restroom!-joe). Joe says he
hopes one day to speak fluently however realizes that this will
take some time.
