Koi Types

 

There are many different types of Koi, and since all the names are in Japanese keeping them all straight can be very difficult.� Using information from the website of "Koi And Water Garden Society Of Central New York" I will try to run through the basic categories and types of Koi fish.� This is an extensive list but by no means complete.

Basically there are thirteen classifications of Koi, each classification with one or more different types.

1.� Kohaku�

Red (hi, pronounced "he") markings on a white background.� One of the most common varieties, they should be a deep red with well defined edges (kiwa) the white should be pure and bright.

Tancho Kohaku: White with a red spot on the head.

Inazuma Kohaku: Has a continuous red marking from head to tail, with variation (inazuma means "lightning strike").

Nidan (two) Kohaku: With two red markings.

Sandan (three) Kohaku: This has three red markings.

Yondan (four) Kohaku: Four red markings.

2.� Taisho Sanke (known as Sanke)

Hi (red)and sumi (black) on a white background.

Maruten Sanke: Separated red spot on the head and normal markings on body.

Tancho Sanke: With a red spot on the head with a white body with black markings.

3.� Showa

Red and white markings on a black background.

Hi Showa: Is a mostly red Showa.

Kindai Showa: With a mostly white pattern.

Tancho Showa: With a red spot on the head, and a black body with white markings.

4.� Bekko

White red or yellow Koi with black (sumi) markings.

Aka Bekko: A red Koi with balck markings.

Shiro bekko: White Koi with black markings.

Ki bekko: Yellow Koi with black markings (very rare).

5.� Utsurimono

Frequently mistaken for bekko but are mostly black with red, white or yellow markings.

Shiro utsuri: Is black with white markings .

Hi utsuri: Black with red markings.

Ki utsuri: Black with yellow markings (very rare).

6. Asagi

Blue-grey Koi with red along the sides and belly and in the fins.

7.� Shusui

These are doitsu Koi (Koi with scales along dorsal and lateral lines only).� They are blue-grey with dark blue scales along the dorsal and lateral lines and red on the sides of the fins.

8.� Koromo

Koromo means 'robed'. This describes the hi (red) pattern, outlined in a darker color which varies with the variety.

Ai goromo: This is a kohaku whose scales have blue borders.

Sumi goromo: Solid black on the hi markings.

Budo goromo: Have sumi overlaying the hi giving it a purple/maroon color.

9.� Kawarimono

Kawarimono accomodates all non-metallic Koi that do not fall into the above groups.

Hajiro: Black Koi with white or orange belly.

Hageshiro: Black with white tips to fins and white head and nose.

Kumonryu: Is a Doitsu Koi which is black with white markings on its head fins and body.

Shiro Matsuba: As above but white.

Kigoi: Is a yellow Koi.

Chagoi: Is a light brown/olive Koi.

Soragoi: Is a blue-grey Koi.

Midorigoi: Is a green Koi.

Benigoi: Is a deep red Koi.

Shiro Muji: Is a white Koi, Aka Muji is a red Koi.

Ochiba Shigure: Is a blue-grey with a brown pattern.

10.� Hikarimono

Hikarimono are single colored metallic Koi.

Platinum ogon: Is metallic white.

Nezu ogon: Metallic silver-grey.

Yamabuki ogon: Yellow-gold metallic.

Orenji ogon: Deep metallic orange Koi.

Aka matsuba: Is a red Koi with black centers to is scales, creating a pine cone effect .

Ki matsuba: Is above but yellow.

Kin matsubsa: Metallic gold or orange Koi whose scales have black centers.

Gin matsuba: Is the silver version of the Kin matsuba.

11.� Hikari-Utsurimono

These are metallic showa and utsuri.

Kin showa: Have a golden lustre while Gin showa have a silver lustre.

Gin shiro: Is a metallic shiro utsuri.

Kin ki Utsuri: Is a metallic yellow utsuri.

Kin hi utsure: Is a metallic red utsuri.

12.� Hikarimono-Mono

Metallic Koi that have more than one color but aren't showa or utsuri.

Yamato-nishiki: Is a metallic sanke.

Kujaku Are platinum Koi with red markings.� The scales are overlaid with a matsuba pattern.

Platinum Kohaku: Is a metallic kohaku.

Kikisui: Is a doitsu platinum kohaku.

Gin bekko: Is a metallic shiro bekko.

Kinsui and Ginsui: These are the metallic varieties of the shusui.

Hariwake: Are platinum with orange or yellow markings. They can have regular scaled doitsu or doitsu matsuba.

13.� Tancho

These are named after the national bird of Japan, the tancho crane, which has a red spot on the head.� There are tancho kohaku, tancho Sanke and tancho showa.

14.� Kinginrin

Means 'golden silver scales' describing the sparkling scales of the kinginrin Koi.� All varieties of Koi can have kinginrin scales.� They must have more than 20 to be classified as kinginrin. Koi with silver sparkling scales are ginrin.�� Koi with golden sparkling scales are kinrin.�� Koi with both are kinginrin.

CREDITS:� Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York Visit them at:� www.cnykoi.com

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Mark Justice is a koi fish enthusiast. For more information on koi types, visit http://www.raisingkoifish.com

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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