KOI (Nishikogoi)
Koi are colored varieties of the Amur Carp. These beautiful fish are mainly kept in water gardens, Koi ponds and more recently, indoor ponds.
They are a decorative and well loved fish from Niigata in Japan. There are many varieties of Koi that originate from the first breeding seen around the early 19th century.
When China invaded Japan, they brought with them the koi carp. It was initially used as a food source due to their resilient nature.
During the 1820’s the Japanese started to selectively breed them. They brought out the vibrant colours and with it, the name we know now as Japanese Koi Carp.
The world became aware of the Koi in 1914. It was the first year the Niigata Koi was introduced at the Annual Exposition in Japan. The breed was Sanke and the Koi was around 15yrs old. Afterwards, several Koi were placed in Emperor Hirohito’s Imperial Palace moat. Both of these events caught the eyes of the world and Koi would now be world renowned .
The most popular breeds are the Gasanke breeds. Gosanke means the best three families.
The three are Kohaku, Taishu Sanshoku (Sanke) and Showa Sanshoku (Showa). They have a long and respected history for the best size, shape and colours. This has made them award winning breeds.
There are over 100 types of koi. They are split into thirteen general classes. A hardy and intelligent fish. Due to their history with human interaction, you can train them to eat out of your hand.
The average Koi lives 20-50 yrs of age. This is depending on genetics and quality of care among other things.
Hanako (Flower Child) 1751-1977-226yrs old
The oldest recorded Koi is Hanako who lived to 226 yrs old. A beautiful scarlet coloured female Higoi. She was born in the middle of the Tokugawa era in Japan. Dr Komei Koshihara was the last to own Hanako. In 1966 he had two scales removed from different parts and age tested by Professor Masayoshi Hiro at the Laboratory of Animal Science of the Nagoya Women’s college. They analyzed the growth rings for two months. At the time she weighed 7.5kg(17lb) and measured 70cm(28in) in length. What they found was astounding. Her age came back as 215 yrs old. After this, they analyzed the scales of the other Koi in her pond. They were all over 100 yrs old.
GOSANKE (The three best families)
-KOHAKU (amber)
Colours - white/red
They were first bred in 1888 by Kunizo Hiroi. This was when he bred a female red headed koi , with a
male with colorings like cherry blossom. This created the now extinct Gosuke koi. This is the bloodline
that all Kohaku koi are derived from. A solid white body (shiro) but non metallic. Overlayed with an
orange/red pattern. They are the single most popular Koi. The white must be blemish free with the
red/orange overlay being deep and vibrant , to be classed as a top quality Kohaku.
Nidan- a two step pattern. Consists of two patches of red. Normally one is close to the tail whilst the
other patch being at the base of the head or towards it.
Sandan - a three step pattern. Consists of three separate patches of red running from the head to tail
dorsally.
Yondan - four step patterns
Godan - five step patterns
Inazuma - a lightning zig zag pattern over their backs
-Taisho Sanshoku, more commonly known as, Sanke.
Colours - White/Red/Black
The Sanke was developed in the Taisho period of Japanese History 1912-1926, hence the name Taisho.
Sanshoku means 3 colours. The first tri colour koi to be developed, A white based Koi, overlayed with a
Kohaku pattern and a black accent patterning (Sumi) . A Sanke should not come with any Sumi on their
heads, or below their lateral lines.
-Showa Sanshoku, more commonly known as Showa
Colours - Black/Red/White
The Showa has a black (Sumi) body with an overlay of red (Hi) and white (Shiro) markings on the body. It
was developed in the Showa period (1926-1989) by Jukichi Hoshino around 1927. He paired a Kohaku
and Ki-Utsuri. The Showa have Sumi on their heads, fins(motoguro) and below the lateral line.
UTSURIMONO
There are three types of Utsuri Koi.
SHIRO (White) Utsuri (Reflections) - Colours are Black/White
KI (Yellow) Utsuri - Colours are Black/Yellow
HI (Red) Utsuri - Colours are Black/Red
The Utsuri are a black based Koi with either one colour of white, yellow or red overlayed. They were
derived from the Showa. A good quality Utsuri will have hachiware. This is a lightning bolt type of
feature on their heads. . As they don’t grow to show worthy sizes they rarely win any competitions .
Although breeders can breed real eye catching Utsuri’s. Originating around the start of the 20 th Century.
The Ki Utsuri is the oldest of the three. Although the Ki Utsuri was not fully developed until around 1920
and the other two coming around 4 years later. The Ki Utsuri is the rarest of the three.
MUJIMONO- Muji means plain single coloured non-metallic Koi.
A very friendly Koi with a reputation of having a soothing influence for the other fish. The easiest Koi to
tame and this in turn, usually helps to tame the other fish in the pond . They have a very healthy
appetite from a young age which helps them to grow big and stocky.
Chagoi (tea Koi)
Colours are normally brown, beige, copper, a reddish brown and occasionally a shade of green.
They were bred in the Taisho period 1912-1926. In winter they may become lighter and paler in their
appearance. Although in summer when exposed to more sunlight they can be a more vibrant and darker
colour. The Chagoi will have no splits in their dorsal or pectoral fins. Some Chagoi have a recticulation
pattern. This is called Fukurin, which is a darker border around each scale.
Soragoi (sora means sky) are a silver or solid grey or a grey/blue combined with a subtle reticulation
pattern (fukurin).
They were bred in the Showa period of Japanese history 1926-1989. The fukurin on the Soragoi tends to
be more prominent than in the Chagoi.
Both make excellent additions to your pond and get tamer as they both get older.
HIKARIMONO Hikari means metallic
Hikari moyo
A metallic based koi with a pattern such like a Kujaku. Due to the bright sheen of the white base, it
brings out the colour which makes this a very attractive koi for the pond. You will find a koi in the
Hikarimoyo category when a metallic koi doesn’t fit into the Hikariutsuri or Hikarimuji categories. All will
have at least one complimentary colour. Others will have two, three and even four colours. The colours
are often muted due to the strong metallic body beneath it.
Hikari utsuri
A multi coloured , metallic bodied koi. Normally fully scaled but can be found in Doitsu as well as
butterfly(long beautiful fins). Metallic Showa and Utsuri are in this group although not ginrin scales. The
appreciation of this group is the intensity of the Hikari.
Hikari Muji
A single colour, shiney bodied koi. They don’t have any markings.The condition of the body and luster
are the main points of appreciation of this group.
Yamabuki Ogan- yellow metallic sheen over the entire body
Platinum Ogan- Shining platinum colour
Orange Ogan- An Orange sheen
Kin Matsuba- golden pine needles. The scales that glitter and appear like raised markings.
Gin Matsuba- Silvery pine needles, The scales also glitter and appear like raised markings.
DOITSU (Deutshe)
Originating from Germany, the scaleless carp was developed as a food source. Iyt was first imported to
Japan in 1904. Doitsu are not always scaleless. When they have scales in a line or lines down their back
and lateral line , this is called Kagami-goi (mirror carp). Kawas-goi (leather carp)is scaleless or will have a
single line of scales running along the dorsal fin.
Butterfly Koi
Butterfly Koi are a cross between a long-finned carp and a traditional Koi. They originate from Indonesia.
A common brown and grey carp with long fins were found, in the canals and ditches in the 1980’s. These were then bred with the standard koi, with amazing results.
Due to their long fins and barbels, it gives them an Asian Dragonesque appearance, when gracefully swimming. A beautiful fish that will enhance any pond they are put into.
Sturgeon
Once a common sight in UK rivers. However they are now considered to be the most critically endangered species on the planet. Even more than the Black Rhino.
The European and the Atlantic Sturgeon are the two types that are present in the UK.
Sturgeon is the commonly known name for around 27 species belonging to the Acipenseridae family. They can be traced back to the middle Jurassic period (174 million to 163.5 million years ago). Sturgeon have an elongated spindle like body. It is smooth skinned, scaleless and armoured with bony plates called Scutes, in five lateral rows.
The largest Sturgeon was caught in Volga Delta in 1827. A female Beluga weighing 3463Ib and measuring 7.2m.