{"id":69770,"date":"2026-04-08T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/koi-academy-microscopy-course-from-unsure-viewing-to-confident-stroking"},"modified":"2026-04-08T11:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:15:26","slug":"koi-academy-microscopy-course-from-unsure-viewing-to-confident-stroking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/koi-academy-microscopy-course-from-unsure-viewing-to-confident-stroking","title":{"rendered":"Koi Academy microscopy course: from unsure viewing to confident stroking"},"content":{"rendered":"

Microscopy course at the Koi Academy: learning to look starts with calmness, focus and the right questions<\/h2>\n

Sometimes the value of a course is not only in what you learn, but especially in the way such a day goes. That was certainly true for the microscopy course<\/a> of Marco Zegers<\/strong> on behalf of the Koi Academy<\/strong>, which this time took place at All-round Fish in Hoevelaken<\/strong>, a beautiful location, with exactly the facilities you need for an intensive and practical course day: enough chairs and tables, a good place for the beamer. An environment in which it was pleasant to work from the very first moment. This article gives you an impression of the most recent microscopy course and how such a day goes and is experienced. <\/p>\n

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Microscopy course Koi Academy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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“I noticed right away that I just had a very inquisitive group that wanted to know about everything.”<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Microscopy course in Hoevelaken<\/h4>\n

Everyone was nicely on time, allowing a direct start at ten o’clock. And that immediately proved to be a promising start. Marco felt from the very first moment that he was dealing with an engaged group. Many questions were asked, participants visibly thought about the information they were given and answers were soon followed by new questions. It was precisely this interaction that made the atmosphere strong. Not a static teaching day, but a small group in which there was room for deepening, exchange and attention to everyone’s learning process. <\/p>\n

First learn to focus on what is stationary<\/h4>\n

In the morning, the course began with an initial piece of theory, after which the group started practicing with stationary specimens. That was a very conscious choice. Marco works from the conviction that you must first be able to focus on something stationary before you can work properly at all with material that moves. That structure sounds logical, but in practice it turns out to be extremely important. First the basics, first learning to look, first getting control over what you see under the microscope. <\/p>\n

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Own microscopes and direct practical insight<\/h4>\n

The group consisted of ten participants, some of whom had brought their own microscopes. Six participants worked with a microscope from the Koi Academy, four with their own microscope. This immediately provided an extra practical learning moment, because it was nicely explained what the differences were between the microscopes that people had brought themselves. Which were suitable for this work and which were not? According to Marco, the four microscopes brought along were suitable, while there was also someone with his own microscope present who ultimately did not suffice and therefore still used one from the Koi Academy. <\/p>\n

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“If you can’t focus on something that is stationary, focusing on something that is moving becomes impossible to do.”<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

From still to moving material<\/h4>\n

After the group practiced the basics of focusing, they moved on to parasites on moving pictures. This is where the real work began to be felt. Because as soon as something moves under the microscope, the way of looking also changes. Then it is no longer just about technique, but also about calmness, concentration and recognition. Precisely because they had practiced on still material first in the morning, participants were able to take that next step with more confidence. <\/p>\n

A lunch that gave the day character<\/h4>\n

After the first intensive part of the day, lunch was enjoyed. Dennis from All-round Fish had fried some frikandells, so there was a frikandel sandwich with mayo ready for those who wanted it. There were also other lunch options. It’s one of those details that may seem small, but it’s moments like these that add color to a course day and make it relatable and enjoyable for participants. <\/p>\n

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Movies, smears and the move to practice<\/h4>\n

After lunch, videos of parasites were viewed first. Then a crucial part was discussed: how do you actually make a good smear, and what exactly should you pay attention to? From that explanation, the translation to practice was made. In the quarantine facility of All-round Fish the group was allowed to smear a few koi, so that everything that had been covered theoretically in the morning and early afternoon could immediately be put into practice. <\/p>\n

With that, the whole process was practiced: taking the smear, making a specimen and then evaluating it under the microscope. It is this combination that makes a microscopy course so valuable. Participants not only see how to do it, but go through all the steps themselves that are necessary to eventually be able to act more confidently at home or in practice. <\/p>\n

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“Especially that dusting, that was always a bit exciting anyway.”<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tension, repetition and confidence<\/h4>\n

For some of the participants, the stroking in particular was still an exciting part. This is understandable, because this is not only about technique, but also about the way you handle the koi. Proper handling is essential, both for safe smearing and for the well-being of the fish. Therefore, it was good that some wanted to practice this part of the microscopy course again. <\/p>\n

In the end, everyone was able to show good handling of the koi to safely take a smear. And that is often precisely where the real benefit of a course day lies: not only in the theory you have heard, but in the moment when you find that you can actually perform it yourself. <\/p>\n

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What do you do after a diagnosis?<\/h4>\n

The day ended with a logical and important follow-up question: what do you actually do after a diagnosis? This was the bridge to the follow-up course on parasites and treatment plans<\/strong><\/a>in which that follow-up course will be further discussed. That also makes the structure of the Koi Academy strong: first learn to look, then learn to recognize, and only then further in-depth towards interpretation and treatment. <\/p>\n

Read also: Deepening Microscopy: Objectives viewed objectively<\/a><\/h4>\n

A course day that sticks around<\/h4>\n

What particularly characterized this microscopy course was the combination of calm, interaction, practice and build-up. From the first piece of theory to practicing with stationary specimens, from moving parasites to smearing koi yourself: everything was about learning to look step by step. And exactly because of that, this day will have remained recognizable for the participants as an instructive, pleasant and practical experience. <\/p>\n

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Marco has been teaching the microscopy course for many years<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With this course, the Koi<\/strong> Academy once again demonstrates the importance of good knowledge sharing within the hobby. Not by being complicated, but by making complex subject matter accessible and applicable. And thanks to the clear, calm and practical approach of Marco Zegers<\/strong> that knowledge took shape in a very tangible way in Hoevelaken. <\/p>\n

Also interested in a microscopy course? Then check the course on Koi Academy<\/a> for dates or send them or us a message and we’ll make sure your eagerness to learn is rewarded!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Microscopy course at the Koi Academy: learning to look starts with calmness, focus and the right questions Sometimes the value of a course is not only in what you learn, but especially in the way such a day goes. That was certainly true for the microscopy course of Marco Zegers on behalf of the Koi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":69716,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6394],"tags":[8140,6468,6466,8141],"series":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-69770","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-courses","8":"tag-hoevelaken","9":"tag-koi-academy-en","10":"tag-marco-zegers-en","11":"tag-microscopy-course"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69770\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69770"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=69770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}