Prevention Monitoring and Diagnosis course in Drenthe
From Rozendaal to Drenthe for a course on fish diseases in Koi. A little enthusiast doesn’t turn his hand to it. They join hobbyists from Harlingen, Beilen and from the polder in Wierengerwaard in the course room. Even from Germany, people attend the highest regarded course in the Netherlands on fish diseases.
Tax Office
After Groninger nut cake in Drenthe and decidedly no Hague ”bakkies”, the Hagenees takes the floor and takes the audience through the basic terms and common thread. What are the six disease triggers in Koi? And no, parasites are not in this list?! According to Joop, we need to think from the human perspective. “What are we getting sick of now”. As it turns out, ‘tax authorities’ is not among the right answers either.
Full house in a full box, but first a full bakkie
Pinheads
It is surprising how diverse the field of participants is barring its geographical origin. Some participants have been ponding for 25 years. Others less than a year. “I had no intention of starting with Koi at all, but in an impulsive moment I picked up a hundred baby koi for a few euros; really pinheads. Surely some of those will stay alive I thought? And sure enough; some of them are now this big, the woman indicates by stretching her thumb and index finger as far as she can. She beams and then looks at her husband. “Well and then you’re hooked.
No dog
Another woman says she is a behavioural therapist with traumatised dogs. To this end, she had made a swimming pond at home for the dogs but no dog going in it, according to the North Holland native. She always thought it was just a weird hobby; weird people too who kept Koi, but now she herself belongs to the weirdos and as a professional in the animal world, she understands very well that you have to take responsibility to take care of your Koi. “Surely there must be a filter,” she ends her introduction.
Cocaine and Koi
A lot of knowledge passes the review and the audience is critical. Lovely; that eagerness to learn. Taking a look at some parasites; when is it too much? Are all biologicals harmless? About the latter, the course leader has his reservations; “Cocaine is also organic…”. The atmosphere is buzzing and it is full house in the Groeve at KoiQuestion headquarters. I really enjoy all these people together from all walks of life. Men and women including a young woman aged 20 and a man who has been retired since April. Beginners and advanced but all with the same goal; healthy Koi keeping!
It is 11:18 am. I’m going to pour another round of coffee. If you would also like to attend a course, have a fun and knowledge-rich day with fellow hobbyists; check out our events calendar. Various courses are organised in both the North and South of the country.
