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Koi are very popular fish bred and taken care of by hobbyists around the world. Koi is a Japanese word that means "carp" and covers the dull gray wild carp caught in rivers and also lakes for food, as well as the brightly colored varieties. It is the colorful koi fish that are bred for their beauty. Although the proper expression for these "living jewels" is nishikigoi, most people, especially those in the United States, call them simply as koi.

A Very Koi Story

The carp originated from Central Europe and also Asia where it was simply a food fish. It was the Chinese that began propagating selected species of carp until they developed the gold fish more than a thousand years ago. The Chinese first brought koi as food to Japan in 200 AD. Looking at the lovely color mutations, Japanese farmers in Niigata, a prefecture in Honshu, bred them for aesthetic purposes and produced several color patterns. The first variety to be established is the kohaku, the red-and-white koi.

The Niigata koi was first seen by the community in 1914 in the course of the annual exposition in Tokyo. The charming, colorful fish charmed the whole of Japan and some kept koi because they seemed perfect for their water gardens. It did not take long before the rest of the world caught up on the hobby. These days, Niigata continues to be the home of the finest koi breeders though you can buy koi from most pet stores. Then again, you have to go to specialist dealers if you want the higher-quality fish. Prices of koi vary according to the very koi-like feature of the fish.

Koi Attributes

You can find koi with different colors and designs. The usual colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue and cream. Female koi are usually plump while the males are more streamlined with torpedo shapes. A matured koi can grow as long as 36 inches and weigh over 17 pounds. The koi are hardy and tough, and can live for decades based on their genetics and living conditions. The oldest koi ever reported was "Hanako" that reportedly lived up to 226 years.

The Koi are omnivores and eat almost anything including vegetables. It is very koi of the fish to look for food at the bottom of the pond. Although koi fish are really shy and will dash away when disturbed, they often recognize the person routinely feeding your koi fish. It is common to see koi gathering around their keeper during feeding times with some eating directly from the hand.

Varieties of Koi

There are several types of koi that are recognized by the color, pattern and scales. There are a few hybrids like the Ghost koi and Butterfly koi that have also acquired popularity but are not considered as true Nishikigoi. Among the prominent varieties of the true Nishikigoi are the following:

- Kohaku - white koi with big red marks on top

- Taisho Sanshoku - looks like the Kohaku but has more small black markings

- Showa Sanshoku - black koi having red and white markings

- Tancho - any koi with a lone red patch on the head

- Asagi - is colored light blue on top and red beneath

- Utsurimono - black with very koi marks of red, white or yellow

- Bekko - base color of red, white or even yellow with small black markings

- Goshiki - black koi accented with red, white, brown and also blue marks

- Shusui - does not have scales except for a single row of large mirror scales running down the dorsal area, from head to tail

The Key Reason Why Adding A Koi Filter System Is Very Important
Not only does having a koi filter system installed help make your koi pond more attractive, it also does a lot to keep your koi fish healthy. Koi fish are highly sensitive to the pH balance and density of the water they're in compared to other types of fish.

Factors To Take Into Account When Planning To Make A Koi Garden
If you want to experience Mother Nature's beauty everyday right in your own backyard, you can do this by creating a koi garden. If there is already an existing pond in your property, why not add koi?

All About Koi Health
Koi health is of paramount importance if you want to enjoy your fish for a long time. Koi fish are known to live for decades although the average life span is 20 to 30 years. Koi are hardy and durable; however, they can get sick.

All You Need To Know About The Black Koi Fish
Black koi fish are koi fish that have the black koi pattern. Many people prefer the black koi over other koi fish. In general, koi fish, which come from the carp family, are known to live up to 35 years

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