Koi Fish: What You Should Know About Their History And The Different Types Of Koi

Koi Fish: What You Should Know About Their History And The Different Types Of Koi

Koi are extremely popular fish bred and cared for by hobbyists around the world. Koi is a Japanese word which means "carp" and includes the dull gray wild carp found in rivers and also lakes for food, along with the brightly colored varieties. It is the vibrant koi fish that are bred for their magnificence. Although the proper term for these "living jewels" is nishikigoi, most people, particularly those in the United States, refer to them simply as koi.

A Very Koi Story

The carp came from Central Europe and also Asia where it was merely a food fish. It was the Chinese who started to propagate selected species of carp until they developed the gold fish over a thousand years ago. The Chinese first introduced koi as food to Japan in 200 AD. Looking at the wonderful color mutations, Japanese farmers in Niigata, a prefecture in Honshu, bred them for ornamental applications and produced several color designs. The first kind to be established is the kohaku, the red-and-white koi.

The Niigata koi was first exposed to the public in 1914 in the course of the annual exposition in Tokyo. The beautiful, colorful fish captivated all of Japan and some kept koi because they looked great for their water gardens. It did not take long before the entire world caught up on the hobby. Today, Niigata continues to be the home of the best koi breeders although you can buy koi from almost all pet stores. Then again, you have to go to specialized dealers if you prefer the higher-quality fish. Prices of koi vary based on the very koi-like quality of the fish.

Koi Attributes

You can find koi with various colors and patterns. The typical colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue and cream. Female koi are usually plump while the males are a lot more sleek with torpedo shapes. A matured koi can grow as much as 36 inches and weigh more than 17 pounds. The koi are hardy and tough, and can live for many years depending on their genetics and also living conditions. The oldest koi ever reported was "Hanako" that supposedly lived around 226 years.

The Koi are omnivores and eat almost almost everything including vegetables. It is very koi of the fish to forage at the bottom of the pond for food. Although koi fish are really shy and will run away when disturbed, they usually know the person routinely feeding your koi fish. It is ordinary to see koi gathering close to their keeper during feeding times with some eating straight from the hand.

Varieties of Koi

There are several varieties of koi that are recognized by the color, pattern and also scales. There are some hybrids like the Ghost koi or the Butterfly koi that have also acquired popularity but are not regarded as true Nishikigoi. One of the prominent varieties of the true Nishikigoi include the following:

- Kohaku - white koi with large red marks on top

- Taisho Sanshoku - resembles the Kohaku but has additional small black marks

- Showa Sanshoku - black koi having red and white marks

- Tancho - virtually any koi with a lone red patch on the head

- Asagi - is coloured light blue on top and red below

- Utsurimono - black with very koi marks of red, white or yellow

- Bekko - base colour of red, white or yellow with small black marks

- Goshiki - black koi accented with red, white, brown and also blue markings

- Shusui - doesn't have scales except for a single row of big mirror scales running along the dorsal area, from head to tail

Koi Fish: What You Should Know About Their History And The Different Types Of Koi
Koi are very popular fish bred and cared for by hobbyists the world over. Koi is a Japanese word that means "carp" and includes the dull gray wild carp caught in rivers and lakes for food, as well as the brightly colored varieties.

Building A Koi Garden
If you want to experience Mother Nature's beauty everyday right in your own backyard, you can do this by creating a koi garden. If there is already an existing pond in your property, why not add koi?

The Black Koi Fish
Black koi fish are koi fish that have the black koi pattern. Many people prefer the black koi over other koi fish. In general, koi fish, which come from the carp family, are known to live up to 35 years

All About Koi Health
Koi health is of paramount importance if you want to enjoy your fish for a long time. Koi fish are known to live for decades although the average life span is 20 to 30 years. Koi are hardy and durable; however, they can get sick.

Salt Water Aquariums - Nitrogen Levels
With salt water aquariums it is very important to keep the nitrogen levels down or else the fish will die. Fish are living creatures and like humans they will eat food and release waste.

Setting Up Your Custom Aquarium Tank - Important Tips
When setting up your custom aquarium you need to follow some golden rules. It is extremely easy to destroy your own hard work by trying to take short cuts.

How Many Fish Is Just Too Many In A Salt Water Aquarium
The number one mistake people make when buying salt water fish tanks is to buy one that is too small. Marine fish are used to a lot of space and deep water so you need to buy as large a tank as possible.

Bearing In Mind The Bulk Of An Aquarium And The Requirements It Puts Forth
When looking at salt water fish tanks you need to be aware that the size of the marine aquarium needs to be a lot bigger than that for freshwater fish.

How Keeping Fish Tanks In The Home Has Developed Over The Centuries
When you buy your first custom fish tank you may be interested to know that centuries ago families kept these in their homes as a source of fresh fish.