Carp Fish Colors And Info

It is clear that the Japanese took a lot of pride in selectively breeding koi fish to produce the different gorgeous color patterns we see today. Koi are cherished for their dramatic coloring and amazing patterns and explains why they are still adored in modern times.

Brilliance in color is a main characteristic of koi fish. A black koi should be a strong onyx and a red koi should be exceptionally vivid. A dull black or a fish containing scales or spots that are slightly graying does not reflect well on the fish. Just like a white koi that has dark speckles instead of being an unblemished ivory. Color is an indicator of good health. With koi, if they are in poor health or are exposed to poor water conditions, they will change color[]. Their coloring will become muted and no longer vivid. If you are looking to buy koi fish understanding how a koi’s color is supposed to look can help you in picking out a health fish. In turn, while caring for koi of your own, keeping a close watch on the color of your koi will determine if you are giving them the best care possible. Click to learn more about koi pond info.

Koi fish come in many different colors. Some of the major and most seen colors are red, white, black, yellow, blue and cream. Specific categories have been named to convey the various characteristics and colorings of koi fish. Breeders of koi fish have established and labeled a great number of classifications. The most popular category is the Gosanke category which includes Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoki and Showa Sanshoki varieties of koi. The Kohaku koi variety are white with red markings. The pure white background on this type of koi should be pristine and the crimson should be sharply delineated from the white, covering any where from 50 - 70% of the fish.

The ivory koi fish that have crimson and onyx markings are called the Taisho Sanshoki, Taisho Sanke or merely Sanke for short. Like most white coloring on koi, the white coloring should be pure snowy white while the red and black colors are deep in hue with distinct edges. Similar to the Sanke variety of koi, the Showa Sanshoki, or just Showa variety of koi are also white, black and red in color. The difference between the two is that the Showa koi is predominantly black with red and white markings. Different colorings of koi put them into different categories. The koi fish that are a single color, even if they aren’t the same color as another is labeled under the Ogon category. The koi should be plain - no markings - and it’s coloring should be uniform. Check out this fish koi information.

It is possible to enhance their koi’s colors by feeding them a rich diet. Shrimp, marigold, plankton and blue-green algae known as Spirulina are examples of types of food that have been added to commercially prepared foods specifically geared to enhance the color in koi fish. Intensifying a koi’s coloring is possible when they are fed daphnia and brine shrimp that have been frozen or freeze dried. Large amounts of carotenoid colorants can be found in each of the above named foods. Carotenoid pigments are the major pigments of the koi’s skin.