The Magnificent Koi Japanese Fish
Swimming Jewels
Sometimes called “living jewels” and “swimming flowers,” the koi Japanese fish are considered to be the most popular decorative fish one can ever have in a fresh-water pond. Their colors always seem dancing and alive, while their very presence is thought to be portents of good luck, prosperity and happiness in the home.
Once a commoner
Surprisingly enough, these magnificent creatures came from the simple and unimpressive common carp, which were at one time used as staple food by the Chinese when they ran low on rice. The Japanese were more creative. When these lowly fish were introduced into their waters, they selectively bred and cross-bred the carp to achieve color mutations that would be aesthetically pleasing and valuable to other breeders and enthusiasts. Thereafter, these fish were called koi, meaning Japanese carp. In the early 1900s, during an exhibit in Tokyo, the koi Japanese fish caught the interest of the international community, and koi breeding was officially recognized as a hobby.
Many colors
Koi, or nishikigoi which is Japanese for “brocaded carp,” are now acknowledged as primarily ornamental and can fetch prices of a mere $10 to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the colors, color combinations, patterns and scales. The varieties are dependent on these factors in fact, and the names given to these breeds are translated into Japanese corresponding to those factors. Widely known varieties are the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, Showa Sanshoku, Bekko, Asagi, Tancho and Ogon. Common colors are white, red, black, orange, and yellow, and occasionally blue and cream, and can appear as one color or a combination of some or all. Patterns can be spotted, scattered, splashed, or seen only on certain parts of the body as in the underbelly or on top of the head, while the number of each color can also vary and are important in determining the variety. Some koi Japanese fish can also look like hammered precious metal; other varieties are without scales.
Sex, male or female?
It is often difficult distinguish between the sexes, but many koi Japanese fish breeders claim that males have brighter colored scales and sleeker bodies, with larger and more pointed pectoral fins. The females, on the other hand, are rounder, and their pectoral fins tend to be smaller and more curved. It becomes easier to tell when they get older, though, especially as one notices when an aggressive koi starts chasing another one around. The pursuer is most definitely the male, and the one being chased is the female.
They eat alot!
Koi Japanese fish tend to eat a lot. Their appetites are fantastic, in that even after feeding, one can find them foraging under rocks and digging in the soil beneath. This disturbs the soil, and in turn gives the water a murky quality. For this reason, most breeders and enthusiasts favor feeding what is called “floaters” to their koi Japanese fish. This is to encourage them to come to the surface, and thereby show off those fascinating colors and features. But even then one must be careful not to overfeed – although koi Japanese fish do not die from eating too much, they do expel more waste, and this causes the water to become toxic and unfit as a home environment. We know we love our koi Japanese fish and wish it to grow fat and big, but it is surely more important for them to be healthy and happy.
