Koi Varieties

Kohaku

(ko-hah-coo)

The classic white koi with a red (hi) pattern.

Tancho Kohaku

(tahn-cho ko-hah-coo)

A white koi with a red (hi) patch on the head.

Taisho Sanke

(tie-show san-key)

Red (hi) and black (sumi) on a white koi.

Tancho Sanke

(tahn-cho san-key)

A Sanke with a red (hi) patch on the head.

Showa Sanshoku

(sho-wa san-show-coo)

A black koi with Hi (red) and white pattern.

Shiro Bekko

(she-roe bay-co)

Black (sumi) on a white koi. There should be no Sumi on the head or below the lateral line.

Ki Utsuri

(key ut-sue-ree)

A black (sumi) koi with yellow (ki) markings. The sumi should be large and extend below the lateral line. The head and pectoral fins should be patterned with Sumi.

Asagi

(ass-ah-gee)

A blue-grey koi with red along the sides, belly and cheeks and in the fins.

Shusui

(shoe-suey)

Doitsu (mirror) type of Asagi. Deep blue mirror scales along both sides of the dorsal fin. Shusui were developed by cross breeding Asagi with mirror carp.

Ai-goromo

(eye-gor-omo)

White koi with blue-black bordered scales on the red (hi) patches. Ai means indigo blue in Japanese. Ai-goromo was developed by cross breeding a male Kohaku and a female Asagi.

Goshiki

(gosh-key)

Goshiki means five colours. Light and dark blue, red, black and white. Goshiki were developed by cross breeding Asagi with Taisho Sanke.

Ochiba-shigure

(oh-chee-ba she-goo-reh)

Ochiba-shigure means autumn leaves on water. Blue-Grey Koi with a brown pattern. Developed from the Chagoi line.

Platinum Ogon

(plat-in-um oh-gone)

Pure white koi with metalic scales.

Yamabuki Ogon

(yam-a-boo-key oh-gone)

Yellow koi with metalic scales.

Orenji Ogon

(or-en-gee oh-gone)

Orange koi with metalic scales.

Kumonryu

(come-on-ree-you)

Black koi with white along the shoulder, dorsal area and along the sides above the lateral line. The pattern is not stable.

Kawarimono

Kawarimono is a koi that cannot be classified into any of the twelve standard koi types.

Ginrin Kohaku

(gin-rin ko-hah-coo)

The classic white koi with a red (hi) pattern but with silver metalic scales.

Kujaku

(coo-ja-coo)

A white metallic koi with a red-orange pattern. Each scale has a black centre giving it a pinecone effect.

Gin Matsuba

(gin mat-soo-ba)

A silver metallic koi. Each scale has a black centre giving it a pinecone effect.

Doitsu

(doytz)

Doitsu koi are mirror carp. They have scales along the dorsal and lateral lines only. Most koi varieties have a doitsu version, the exception being Shusui which is the doitsu version of Asagi. Developed in Germany.

Hariwake

(harry-way-key)

A white metallic koi with a yellow-gold pattern. The doitsu variety is the most popular.