Selecting Tategoi Asagi
How to Select Tategoi Asagi
By Chai Taevanitcharoen
Guidelines for Selecting Tategoi Narumi Asagi Tosai:
1. Has to be female. A male will get too dark and the head will turn yellow and/or cloudy as it grows older.
2. Select the lightest blue possible, without dark net-like scales. There is a chance it will be female and it will develop net like scales in 2 to 3 years.
3. Both pectoral fins must have at least full 3/4 red fins. If the pectoral fins are completely red, it is better. The color will retract as the fish grows. It should have red dorsal, anal, and tail fins for the perfect Asagi.
4. Both cheeks and eyes should be red and should not pass the eyes onto the head.
5. A red stomach and throat is better because as the fish grows larger the red will grow upward. Make sure the fish has good red on the pectoral fins and cheeks. The fish that has red up to the lateral line is acceptable. The red that passes the lateral line is not desirable at this age.
6. Dark red fins are harder to find but, they are usually male. The “burning red” will do just fine.
Note. Male fish show its beauty early – 95% of the time.
7. Make sure the fish’s scales line up nicely and are equal in size on both sides of the fish. Symmetrical scales will be perfect but impossible to find. Most deformed scales will be on top of the neck where the scales start and at the tail section. It is harder to see when they are small.
8. A clear white mouth and nose is better than a cloudy mouth and nose. The white in these areas should be clearer than the head.
Remember, these are guidelines to selecting Tategoi Asagi. By following these guidelines, I have had much success. I hope this will help you select Tategoi Asagi.
Following are some photographs to help you identify top quality Asagi tosai.
