An Easy Guide to Koi Types and Different Varieties

One of the best ways to becoming a great koi fish keeper is knowing how to identify different koi types, because it helps you to understand information that is specific to your chosen fish and know exactly what it is they require… because all keen koi lovers want healthy fish – right?

Not that koi have completely different needs, as they all eat similar foods and they dwell in the same ecosystem to a fair degree.

But there are distinct looks and traits which can assist you in tracing their heritage, who first bred the fish, how they got their colors and which koi they were cross bred with to be the colors or patterns they are today.

It doesn’t mean that you have to follow your koi’s lineage back three centuries or know every top breeder from way back etc, but through a little insight you will soon be able to understand particular needs some koi types have - which is a good thing… and it will clearly show out when you display your pond bursting with vibrant, healthy koi fish!

Remember this… it’s the little things that count in koi keeping… paying attention to the small details.

So here’s a few of the different koi types and varieties:

Kohaku – the most popular type of koi, white red patterns/markings. Patterns can be red or orange.

Taisho Sanke: mainly red (or hi) with black markings, also called Taisho Sanshoku. The black patterns are sumi.

Straight Hi: the red markings on this koi looks like “meandering islands” of red.

Inazuma:  the red markings on these koi resemble lightning bolts.

Nidan: kohaku koi that has a “two-step pattern,” Ni translates “two”.  Has distinct “islands of red” on the body.

Sandan:  has a “three-step” pattern. San translates “three”. This koi has three detached “islands” of red on the body.

Yondan:  this koi has four islands of red on the body.  Yon means “four.” 

Kuchibeni: subcategorized koi – identified by marking on their heads. Red marking around it’s mouth – like lipstick

Menkaburi: another sub-category of koi – appear to have “a hood on their head”  Markings begin just under the eyes and extend to the fish’s mouth.

Maruten: a distinct red crown mark on its head. A form of kohaku with red on its head, and a little red on its body.

Showa Sanke: can be called Show Sanshoku – black body – red and white markings.  Not to be confused with Taisho Sanke. Showa Sanke has a greater amount of black on the head, pectoral fins and the tail fins.

Tancho: has a distinct mark on it’s head called “Red Sun”.

Bekko – the Turtle Koi: has a solid body with black patterns.  Sometimes mistaken for the utsuri - bekko koi has markings only on their back. 

Utsurimono: a lot like Bekko, but utsurimono is black-bodied with markings in one color.

Koroma similar to kohaku, but also has colors of blue, black, and purple which blend into the red. The koroma has been cross-bred asagi to get these colorings.

Gin Rin:  refers to scale type.  Reflective pearl/silver color. Looks stunning!

Kin Rin: related to gin rin, but rarer.  The scales are a reflective pearl-gold color. Highly prized!

Asagi means “sky color” and on koi it refers to a blue-gray body. Sometimes it has a red pattern midway on both its head and body.

Shusu these koi have large scales along the midline of it’s back or only on it’s sides. At times these scales are found in both places. Can be mistaken for Asagi as they have a similar blue-gray body.

Kawarimono – koi that can’t be categorized. They are neither metallic nor do the fit into any of the groups described here – so they are labelled as kawarimono at koi shows.  

Hikarimuji - single-colored and metallic looking.

Hikarimoyo: this category describes koi with two colors or more. 

Hikari Utsuri:  includes all metallic looking show koi.

Doitsu: these koi have mirror scaling with enlarged rows of scales to the midline of their back or sides.

Butterfly koi: refers to the long fins this koi fish has at the front of their body.

Reckon you know every kind now?

Sorry but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg … there’s still a lot more koi types, but this is a great start point for recognizing them.

Then over time and as your knowledge increases you will obtain a far broader knowledge of the remaining types of koi fish which will further enhance your koi keeping skills.

For more information on koi types click the link below

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It’s true!… Click To Claim Your Free Copy Now – The Koi Fish Center