Types of Koi

Types of Koi

The term “Gosanke” in the koi world refers to the three main varieties: Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) and Showa Sanshoku (Showa). Although there are more than 100 varieties of koi, these three varieties stand apart from the others for their excellence, perfection and popularity.

What is the rarest koi?

1. Ki Utsuri. Ki Utsuri are a variety of black koi fish with yellow splotches all over their bodies. They are members of the Utsurimono family and are considered among the rarest of koi varieties.

What is the most popular type of koi?

1. Kohaku
Top quality Kohaku should have a red spot on the head. Thought to originate in 1888 and is still one of the most popular types of Koi Fish in Japan.

What color koi is most expensive?

What color koi fish is most expensive? Kohaku Koi, the red and white carp is the most expensive Koi in the world which was sold for around $2.2 million US dollars in China.

What is a ghost koi?

Ghost Koi are a mix between a mirror carp and a metallic Ogon Koi. Ghost Koi grow faster than standard koi and will have either a metallic shine, yellow scales or a ghost white appearance. Koi thrive in a stable environment.

What is an all white koi called?

Platinum Ogon, also known as Purachina Ogon, are solid, metallic-white koi. A clear white head and unblemished white body are crucial to the quality of a Platinum Ogon.

What is a blue koi called?

Shusui are non-metallic blue colored koi with hi accents much like Asagi. Shusui were developed in the early 1900’s by breeding Asagi with Doitsugoi, German scaled carp.

What are black koi called?

Description. Black Koi Fish also called the Karasu Koi Fish (Karasu meaning “crow” in Japanese), has a black body and fins, and can have either an orange or white stomach. It is one of the older species of Koi Fish.

Why is my black koi orange?

Can black Koi turn orange? Orange and black Koi fish are born with the pigmentation that decides their color. While solid black Koi often have orange bellies, a change in black pigmentation can be for many reasons. Black Koi can lighten to orange from lack of sun or change in health or diet.

Is there a blue koi fish?

Asagi Koi

The Asagi koi is blue-grey fish with dark blue lines running along the edges of its scales to form a spectacular net-like pattern.

Do koi change colors?

Their scales can change color depending on their exposure to that bright orb in the sky. They won’t turn an Oompa-Loompa orange during the summer (though that may not be a bad thing to some koi keepers!), but you may notice a color change in some of your fish after their winter slumber.

What are the prettiest koi fish?

The 8 Best Koi Fish For Ponds (2022 Update)
Gosanke is the tremendous trio of Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa, which are the most popular types of Koi fish. Utsurimono is one of the most graceful and majestic Koi found to date because of its unusual color patterns and the striking base color.

What is the most beautiful koi fish?

Koromo or Goromo is one of the most stunning types of koi fish. It is a hybrid of a Kohaku and an Asagi ki fish. It has the characteristic colors of a Kohaku (white and red) and the characteristic net pattern of the Asagi koi fish.

What makes koi expensive?

Since the quality Koi are the ones that make it to the market, they become expensive due to the low supply and high demand principle. According to Cool Fish Network, Koi lays a million eggs. Out of the million eggs, only 60% hatch and that is not a reason for a fish farmer to celebrate.

Are there black koi?

Karasu, or Karasugoi, are the only true black colored koi, and Japanese breeders have produced them for quite some time. However they were largely unknown in the West in recently. Some say that the Japanese developed them just after the Second World War, while others claim that their breeding predates it.

Why are my baby koi black?

Some varieties of koi are bred to be all black, but unless you stock all black koi in your pond, it’s very unlikely to have all-black babies. Again, the color of koi will depend on their age and will change and develop over time, but only in certain circumstances will they be all black like a baby goldfish.

James H. Sterling
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James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.