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

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