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How to Keep Koi Carp

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



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