Types Of Koi Fish

Koi Varieties

Koi have many different colors. Some of the major colors are: white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. Koi can also have a metallic sheen to the scales called Gin Rin.

While possible variations are limitless, breeders have identified and named a number of specific categories. The most popular category is Gosanke. The Gosanke category is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties. The Japanese breeders have many generations of knowledge and experience when it comes to breeding and raising Nishikigoi. They know which ones will be worth a couple hundred dollars and which ones will be a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Six koi (and one goldfish)

Chart Of Koi Varieties (click to enlarge)

The major named varieties include:

• Kohaku - a white-skinned Koi, with a red pattern
• Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) - a white-skinned Koi with a red and black pattern
• Showa Sanshoku (Showa) - a black-skinned Koi with a red and white pattern
• Asagi - a Koi with light blue scales on its top and red scales on its bottom
• Shusui - the partially scaled version of an Asagi
• Bekko - a white, red, or yellow-skinned Koi with a black pattern
• Utsurimono - a black Koi with a red, white, or yellow pattern
• Goshiki - a mostly black Koi with red, white, brown, and blue accents
• Ogon - a Koi that is one solid color, can be regular or metallic; known colors - red, orange, platinum, yellow and cream
• KinGinRin - Koi with shiny scales "Gold Silver Scales"
• Kawarimono - miscellaneous types of Koi
• Doitsu-goi - German Carp
• Koromo - Koi with areas of blue-edged scales (align neatly)
• Hikari-Moyomono - Koi with coloured patterns over a metallic base, and koi in two metallic colours
• Tancho - White koi with Red single patch on head

Thanks to www.wikipedia.org for this information!