The Incredible Colors Of Koi

The Incredible Colors Of Koi

When you see the amazing color patterns on koi fish, it's easy to see why the Japanese are so proud of their creative ability to choose and breed Koi fish to produce the mesmerizing Koi combinations. That is one of the major reasons koi fish are still so popular and much loved by their owners and caretakers.

When looking for a koi fish, make sure their colors are bright -- red Koi must be vivid red and black Koi must be colored a dark, jet black. Dull black koi or koi with scales, spots or grey markings are not well-kept fish, just like white koi that are not snowy white but yellowing or spattered with specks of grey.

Vivid colors indicate healthy koi and when they are unwell or living in poor water conditions, koi change color and become dull. When buying koi, it is essential to understand how color reflects the health of a koi and this will help you buy a well-kept fish. Koi fish needs special attention and care.

Keep an eye on the color changes; this will help you ensure that you are giving your koi adequate care.

Koi fish come in a whole range of gorgeous colors, the most popular being red, white, black, blue, yellow and off-white. The Japanese established some explicit terms and phrases to describe the various colors and characteristics of koi fish.

Breeders have also identified and named a number of Koi fish categories used to distinguish the different kinds. The most popular category is the Gosanke category, which contains the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoki and Showa Sanshoki species of koi.

The Kohaku koi is white with red markings. When buying a Kohaku koi, look for a snowy white color and vivid red markings that have discrete edges. These red markings should cover 50-70% of the koi's entire body.

Taisho Sanshoki koi (popularly known as Taisho Sanke or just Sanke) are white fish with exuberant red and black markings. Similar to the Kohaku, make sure the fish has a snow white body with beautiful dark red and black markings.

Akin to the Sanke koi, the Showa Sanshoki (or just Showa) koi are also white colored fish with black and red markings. Unlike the Sanke, however, the Showa koi have a black body with red and white markings.

Many other varieties of koi are available, each with their distinct color patterns. Consider the Ogon koi, which exist in a range of colors but are composed of one color only. That is, they have no markings and have an even hue. You can even get Komonryu koi with change color with the seasons!

Good news is that you can improve your koi's health – in this case, the color. Feed them with a diet rich in marigold, shrimps, plankton and blue-green algae (Spirulina). These ingredients are commonly added to commercially prepared foods that are produced specifically for enhancing koi colors.

You can also feed your Koi with frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia. This diet is rich in high carotenoid pigment concentrations, which are predominant skin pigments in Koi.

Travis Taylor is a Koi fish keeper and breeding enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby by sharing information about the different Koi Colors

His newest book,"Koi Care Secrets," teaches Koi Fish owners everything they need to know about and caring for their pets. http://www.koicareguide.com

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