| The word 'Koi' comes from Japan, but Koi fish | | | | |
| originated from China. The koi word means | | | | Kohaku: a white-skinned Koi, with a red |
| carp, the exact term is the Cyprinus carpio. | | | | pattern |
| You probably heard that word: Nishikigoi, | | | | |
| this is a more specific term for colorful | | | | Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke): a white-skinned Koi |
| carp. | | | | with a red and black pattern |
| | | | |
| Koi has a lot of color varieties and they are | | | | Showa Sanshoku (Showa): a black-skinned Koi |
| related to goldfish. Koi caring and breeding | | | | with a red and white pattern |
| is very simple. | | | | |
| | | | Bekko: a white, red, or yellow-skinned Koi |
| Koi keeping become popular in the 19th | | | | with a black pattern |
| century. Farmers working the rice fields | | | | |
| noticed that some colored carp, captured | | | | Ghost koi: "Hybrid" of Ogon and wild carp. |
| them, and raised them. By the 20th century, a | | | | Not Nishikigoi. |
| number of color patterns had been | | | | |
| established. Niigata Koi were exhibited in an | | | | Butterfly koi: Long-finned version of all |
| exposition in Tokyo in 1914. After that the | | | | others. Not Nishikigoi. |
| hobby of keeping Koi spread worldwide. Koi | | | | |
| are now commonly sold in most of the pet | | | | Kois live in the wild in every continent |
| stores. | | | | except Antarctica. Some places in the world |
| | | | Koi keeping is illegal, and some other places |
| You can differentiate the varieties by color | | | | people tried to eradicate them. Koi increase |
| and pattern. Koi pond have many different | | | | the turbidity of the water and it can cause |
| colors: white, black, red, yellow, blue, and | | | | damage to the environment. |
| cream. The variations are limitless, breeders | | | | |
| determined different categories. The most | | | | This beautiful fish has place in the world |
| popular category is Gosanke. | | | | and a lot of people has passion for these |
| | | | ponds. |
| Some example from the koi varietis: | | | | |