hear are some of the koi types
All Koi are developed from the common carp however after years of breeding, the Japanese now recognize thirteen basic classes or Koi types, and these are now accepted throughout the world. These classes are based upon the Koi's markings, colors and/or scale type. Within each of these classes there are a number of sub categories. Koi do not breed true having a pair of expensive show champion's means that out of 20,000 eggs only 10 will grow in to that perfect fish. So With so many Koi being bred today, quite often a totally new combination is found, which may not fit in any of the thirteen categories. As they become more popular, some of these unique Koi will eventually become consistent enough for their features to form a new category. Below are the basic 12 classes to help you recognize some of your own Koi. The 13th and last class is any of the over classes with shiny or sparkling scales these are known as kin (on yellow) gin (on white) rin (shiny Scale) so a Kohaku with sparkling scales would be a gin-rin Kohaku and so on
Japanese terms relating to Koi
| hi | red only in patches | aka | red the whole fish |
| sumi | black only in patches | karasu | Black the whole fish |
| nezu | gray | shiro | white |
| midori | green | ki | yellow |
| cha | brown | orenji | orange |
| beni | dark red | ai | indigo |
| kin | gold (yellow metallic) | gin | silver (white metallic) |
| matsuba | Pine Cone Pattern | Bekko | Black & White |
| Rin | shiny Scale | doitsu | German scale-less or mirror carp |
KOHAKU(co-haku)
Description
The Kohaku is a white Koi on which hi (red) appears in varying patterns. Each of these patterns have been given its own name. The markings of the Kohaku should bright and even all over the body. The markings on the body should not spread down past the lateral line and There should be no Hi (red) in the fin`s or tail.
Variations
| Nidan | This Koi has a two-step Hi pattern. |
| Sandan | This Koi has a three-step Hi pattern. |
| Yondan | This Koi has a four-step Hi pattern. |
| godan | This Koi has a five-step Hi pattern. |
| Inazuma | This Koi has a zig-zag Hi pattern down the length of the body. |
| Kuchibeni | The Koi has Hi (red) on the lips . like lipstick |
| oh moyo | This Koi has a large unbroken pattern from the head to the tail |
| Menkaburi | A Hood that covers the whole head often extending from the gills to the mouth. |
TAISHO SANKE(tie-show-san-kay)
Description
A Taisho is basically a white Koi on which Hi (red) and Sumi (black) patches are scattered about. the Sanke is the second off the big three or ( go Sanke)It is named for the time in which it was developed, the Taisho period in Japanese history, if you take away the black you should have a good looking Kohaku
Variations
| Tsubo-suni | when the black (sumi) is on the white . |
| Kasane-sumi | when the black (sumi) is on the red (hi) . |
| Kuchibeni | when there is red (hi)on the lips . |
| Aka Sanke | when the red (hi) runs from head to tail |
| Doitsu Sanke | this is a scale less variation . |
SHOWA(sho-wa)
Description
A Showa Sanshoku or (Showa) is essentially a black Koi with white and red (hi) markings this variety has changed over the years the first Showa`s had large amounts of black and red but only a small amount of white today large amounts of white has become fashionably which make`s it hard to tell a Showa from a Sanke but a Showa should always have a black pattern on it`s head(manware) but a Sanke never will.
Variations
| Bloke Showa | in this Koi the back is in a netlike pattern . |
| Hi Showa | The Hi Showa has a large hi (red) patch that runs from the head to the tail. |
| Kindai Showa | the Kindai or modern Showa has more white on the body . |
UTSURI MONO(Ut-sue-ree Mon-owe)
Description
the Utsuri means reflections in Japanese, and the pattern of a good Utsuri should be roughly inverted across the fish's back,almost like a checkerboard . most seen are the shiro Utsuri a black Koi with white markings all over the body and head but there is also the hi (red)and ki(yellow) versions
Variations
| Shiro Utsuri | black Koi with a white pattern |
| Ki Utsuri | black Koi with a yellow pattern |
| Hi Utsuri | black Koi with a red pattern |
| Doitsu Utsuri | this is a scale less version off the above |
BEKKO(bay-co)
Description
Unlike a Utsuri which is a color on black (sumi), the Bekko is black(sumi) on another color. the head of the Bekko is always clean with no black(sumi).
Variations
| Aka Bekko | A red (hi) Koi with black patches . |
| shiro Bekko | A white Koi with black patches. |
| Ki Bekko | A yellow (ki) Koi with black patches |
| Doitsu Bekko | This is a scale less version of the above. |
ASAGI-SHUSUI
Description
the Asagi is one of the oldest types of Koi it has a blue back and red (hi) sides the blue scales are edged with white which give`s the appearance of a net. the head should be light blue or white The base of the pectoral fins, tail fin, stomach and gill plates should be orange or red in color . the shusui is a scale less (doitsu) version of the Asagi
Variations
| Konjo Asagi | a dark blue almost black back . |
| Narumi Asagi | a mid blue color to the back . |
| Mizu Asagi | a light blue color to the back . |
| Hana Shusui | where a band of red(hi) runs up to the lateral line . light blue appears up to the dorsal line . |
| Hi Shusui | where the red (hi) spreads up to the dorsal line . |
| ki Shusui | where the red (hi) is replaced by yellow (ki) . |
KOROMO
Description
The Koromo(the Japanese word for robed) is a hybrid between Asagi and the Kohaku, Showa or Snakes.
Variations
| Ai goromo | This Koi is the Asagi crossed with the Kohaku its red (hi) scales have distinctive blue borders . |
| Koromo-Sanke | this is a cross between a Sanke and a ai-goromo this Koi has blue shadows overlaying the red (hi) scales |
| Budo Sanke | with blue/purple marking`s on the red (hi) . |
KAWARIMONO
Description
the last of the non metallic classes this class contains all the varieties that do not fit in any of the over classes
Variations
| Karasu | This is a black Koi with a red belly . |
| Hajiro | This is a black Koi with white tips to the tail, dorsal and pectoral fins. |
| cage shiro | This Koi has the basic black and white patterning of the Shiro Utsuri, with the kage patterning (shadowy, reticulated) on the white. . |
| ochiba shigure | the name means autumn leaves falling on water light blue to gray body with a pattern of yellow through to orange or brown . |
| kumonryu | the Kumonryu(dragon fish) is a black and white Koi that can change it`s pattern with the seasons . |
| Goshiki | this is a five color Koi red, white, black, blue and purple . |
| aka Hajiro (benigoi) |
(beni=dark red goi=fish) A red non-metallic Koi with white or clear tips to the pectoral, caudal and tail fins. |
| Midorigoi | (midori=green goi=fish)A green non-metallic Koi. These are usually doitsu Koi, that is scales only along the dorsal and lateral lines. . |
| Kigoi | (ki=yellow goi=fish)this is a yellow non metallic Koi, the good one`s have red eyes . |
| Chagoi | (cha=brown goi=fish)this is a brownish-buff to a dark tea non metallic Koi . |
| Soragoi | (Sora=blue-gray goi=fish)This is a blue-grey non metallic koi. |
HIKARI MUJI-MONO or OGON(He-car-ee Ut-sue-ree Mon-owe)
Description
Hikari means metallic or shine, muji means single color and mono means ones. because these Koi are one color, body shape,color and clarity of the head are the things to look for in this class
Variations
| nezu | this is a silver gray metallic Koi . |
| Platinum | this is a white (platinum) metallic Koi . |
| Yamabuki | this is a yellow metallic Koi . |
| (Mizhuo Ogon) | this is a Doitsu Kin Matsuba yellow metallic Koi . |
| orenji | this is a orange metallic Koi . |
| aka matsuba or hi matsuba |
this is a red metallic Koi with a matsuba (pine cone) pattern along the back in a darker color . |
| gin matsuba | this is a silver metallic Koi with a matsuba (pine cone) pattern along the back in a darker color . |
| Kin Matsuba | this is a yellow metallic Koi with a matsuba (pine cone) pattern along the back in a darker color . |
| Doitsu Ogon | this is a scale less variation of the above . |
HIKARI MOYO-MONO(He-car-ee mo-yo Mon-owe)
Description
this group contains all metallic Koi not in any over class with two or more colors
Variations
| Hariwake | A white metallic Koi with orange (orenji Hariwake) or yellow (Yamabuki Hariwake)markings. They can be normally scaled . but The doitsu variety tends to be the most popular. |
| kikokuru | This variety are metallic Kumonryu. usually black and silver but can be red or yellow on silver . |
| Yamato-nishiki | this is a metallic Sanke usually doitsu . |
| Kikusui | this is a metallic doitsu (scale less) Kohaku . |
| Platinum Kohaku | this is a metallic Kohaku . |
| Kujaka | This is a white metallic Koi with red/orange pattern. The scales have the matsuba (pinecone effect)with a nice clean head .if the pattern is on the head there should be no black markings just the red/orange color |
| Gin Bekko | this is a metallic shiro Bekko. |
| Kinsui and ginsui | these are the metallic varieties of shusui. |
HIKARI UTSURI(He-car-ee Ut-sue-ree Mon-owe)
Description
these are a cross between Utsuri and Ogon`s or Showa and Ogon`s
these Koi can suffer from staining where black dot`s appear over the base color
instead of nice clean lines to the edge of the sumi
Variations
| Kin & Gin Shows | this is a metallic variation of the Showa`s . |
| Gin Shiro | this is a metallic variation of the shiro Utsuri . |
| Kin Ki Utsuri | this is a metallic variation of the ki Utsuri . |
TANCHO
Description
the name of this Koi is taken from Tancho crane that has a single red (hi)spot on the top of it`s head this is the last of the 13 classes and is made up of the Kohaku Sanke and Showa varieties where the only red (hi)on the Koi is a well-placed spot on the head
Variations
| Tancho ochiba shigure | this is not a true tancho as it has a rust (yellow) spot raver then a red spot . |
| Tancho Goshiki | the same coloration of the Goshiki but with a red patch on the head. |
| Tancho Kohaku | a white Koi with one red patch on head. |
| Tancho Sanke | a white Koi with a red patch on the head and black patterns on the body . |
| Tancho Showa | a black Koi with a red patch on the head and white patterns on the body . |