| Though very often an expensive and vexing | | | | well, especially those with unusual fins or scale |
| hobby, keeping koi is also very relaxing, beautiful, | | | | patterns. Koi purists do not consider these actual |
| enviable and the hobby of a lifetime. Many people | | | | koi. |
| who invest in koi find they catch a fever of | | | | There were once only a few colours, but with the |
| excitement that leads them to keep trying to find | | | | pace of breeding development (and the financial |
| that perfect fish. | | | | incentive to do so) several new colours have |
| Not surprisingly fanciers range from the most | | | | emerged in the last 30 years with the injection of |
| simple of backyard ponds to tens of thousands of | | | | new material. These colours are arranged in in a |
| litre ponds with hundreds of fish and breeding | | | | seemingly infinite variety of combinations. |
| programs. The fact that very well conforming | | | | Markings are judged from above in special, bright |
| specimens can fetch thousands and thousands of | | | | blue pools that set off the bright, metallic colours. |
| dollars is not surprising. | | | | Outside of Japan the colours are known by their |
| For the backyard koi keeper, however, simply | | | | names in Japanese as well as the local language, |
| having a good reason to have a waterfall might | | | | since so much of the literature is translated from |
| be enough. There is no right or wrong reason, | | | | the original Japanese. For instance, colours include: |
| only the desire of all to have healthy and happy | | | | Ai - blue Aka / Hi red, though actually a rather |
| fish. | | | | dark orange that can vary somewhat Asagi - light |
| There are over a hundred different types of koi | | | | blue (a greyish/silvery blue) Ki - non-metallic yellow |
| registered for show in professional breeder and | | | | Orengi - orange Shiro - white Sumi - dark black |
| amateur clubs throughout Japan and the world, | | | | (sometimes called "india ink") |
| though new varieties are still largely shown in | | | | They tend to have something of a metallic sheen |
| Japan. | | | | unless otherwise noted. Generally these |
| Koi may be generally grouped according to and in | | | | distinctions apply across the board and describe |
| combinations of:skin colour skin pattern scale | | | | both underlying and overlaid colours. Additionally, |
| pattern | | | | there are a few distinct colour patterns that have |
| Whichever you consider most important or if you | | | | special names: |
| have your heart set on a very particular fish, | | | | Kohaku - red and white only Ogon - one colour |
| there is one for every taste. In more than 16 | | | | only Sanshoku - any three colours regardless of |
| categories, now, there are over a hundred types | | | | the shape of the coloured areas |
| of koi and an infinity of variety in each type. | | | | Just about any koi can be classified into one of |
| True koi are always judged from from above, | | | | the many types. However, most fish you'll be |
| and their ponds are designed to facilitate this. | | | | looking at as a first time koi buyer fall into a few |
| From this angle, one judges the conformity and | | | | basic categories. Many of the fish sold in the US |
| harmony of the design depending upon which | | | | and EU are those who've been rejected from |
| type of koi you're looking at. That said, some | | | | breeding programs that are in continual pursuit of |
| characteristics are considered from the side such | | | | the perfect koi. Just because it doesn't conform |
| as the markings on the eyes and and cheeks. | | | | to the accepted standard of show beauty doesn't |
| On the other hand, many people who keep koi | | | | mean they are not unique and beautiful. |
| hybrids choose to view them from the side as | | | | |