Japanese Koi Fish

Posted by: Janine Rose Morley  :  Category: Pets

Koi Fish Guide. Whilst the potential color variations are never ending, breeders have identified and named a number of particular categories. The most trendy group at the moment is Gosanke, which is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties.The common carp is a tough little fish, and koi maintain that durability. Koi are cold-water fish, but benefit from being kept in the 15-25 degrees C (59-77 degrees F) range and do not react well to lengthy cold winters, their immune system switches off under 10 degrees Celsius.

The term ‘koi’ comes from Japanese language, simply meaning “carp.” It includes both the dull grey fish and the brightly coloured varieties. What are acknowledged as ‘koi’ in English are referred to more specifically as ‘nishikigoi’ in Japan (meaning ‘brocaded carp’).

While the potential color variations are practically infinite, breeders have identified and named a number of particular categories. The most trendy group is Gosanke, which is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties.The common carp is a hardy fish, and koi maintain that durability. Koi are cold-water fish, but benefit from being kept in the 15-25 degrees C (59-77 degrees F) range and do not react well to lengthy cold winter temperatures, their immune system ‘turning off’ under 10 degrees Celsius.

In Japanese, ‘koi’ is a homophone for another word that means ‘affection or love’; koi are therefore symbols of love and friendship in Japan. Koi tattoos have also become a fashionable trend in parts of North America.Koi varieties are distinguished by their coloration, patterning, and scalation. A number of the foremost colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, orange and cream.

Koi will churn out thousands of offspring from a single spawning. However, unlike cattle, purebred dogs, or more relevantly, goldfish, the large majority these offspring, even from the finest champion-grade koi, will not be acceptable as nishikigoi (they have no appealing colors) or could even be genetically defective. These unacceptable offspring are culled at various stages of development based on the breeder’s expertise and closely guarded trade techniques. Culled fry are ordinarily destroyed (perhaps fed to other fish), while older culls, within their first year between 3″ to 6″ long (also called “Tosai”), are frequently sold as lower-grade ‘pond-quality’ koi. Koi Fish Information

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One Response to “Japanese Koi Fish”

  1. Koi Varieties | KoiHobbyPage.com Starting A Koi Hobby Guide Says:

    [...] japanese koi fish koi varieties are distinguished by their coloration, patterning, and scalation. a number of the foremost colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, orange and cream. koi will churn out thousands of offspring from a single spawning. … [...]

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