27/09/2022
We tend to associate Koi with Japan, where they have been popular for centuries but actually Koi originated in China. Around 2,000 years ago the Ancient Chinese developed ways to breed colourful versions of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio).
The modern fish we know as ‘Koi’ (from the Japanese word for ‘carp’) and are known in their homeland as ‘nishikigoi’ owe their existence to fish breeders based in the Nigata region of Nineteenth Century Japan, who began the selective breeding programmes that produced today’s colourful varieties.
The first types were the red and white fish, known today as Kohaku, with the red/white/black Sanke and Showa being created next.
Now a whole range of distinctive types have been created over the years, distinguished by their colouration, body patterns and scales, including the likes of:
🐟Asagi Koi – an old and very popular variety, with a white head and a body pattern of pale blue scales.
🐟Ogon Koi – a metallic looking single coloured Koi, gold and platinum being particularly popular
🐟Shusui Koi – a striking fish having only a few large ‘mirror’ scales on an otherwise scale-less body.
There are, of course, many more varieties available. This makes deciding which ones to put in your pond even more fun!
