Koi are very popular fish bred and cared for by hobbyists the world over. Koi is a Japanese word that means "carp" and covers the dull gray wild carp caught in rivers and also lakes for food, along with the brightly colored varieties. It is the colorful koi fish that are bred for their beauty. Although the proper term for these "living jewels" is nishikigoi, many people, especially those in the United States, call them simply as koi.

A Very Koi Story

The carp originated from Central Europe and also Asia where it was simply a food fish. It was the Chinese that began propagating selected species of carp until they developed the gold fish more than a thousand years ago. The Chinese first introduced koi as food to Japan in 200 AD. Seeing the lovely color mutations, Japanese farmers in Niigata, a prefecture in Honshu, bred them for aesthetic purposes and produced several color designs. The first variety to be established is the kohaku, the red-and-white koi.

The Niigata koi was first seen by the public in 1914 during the annual exposition in Tokyo. The charming, colorful fish charmed the whole of Japan and some kept koi because they looked perfect for their water gardens. It did not take long before the rest of the world caught up on the hobby. Today, Niigata remains to be the home of the finest koi breeders though you can buy koi from most pet stores. Then again, you have to go to specialized dealers if you want the higher-quality fish. Prices of koi vary according to the very koi-like quality of the fish.

Koi Characteristics

You can find koi with different colors and designs. The usual colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue and cream. Female koi are usually plump while the males are a lot more streamlined with torpedo shapes. A matured koi can grow as long as 36 inches and weigh more than 17 pounds. The koi are hardy and durable, and can live for decades based on their genetics and living conditions. The oldest koi ever reported was "Hanako" that supposedly lived up to 226 years.

The Koi are omnivores and eat almost anything including vegetables. It is very koi of the fish to forage at the bottom of the pond for food. Although koi fish are basically shy and will dash away when disturbed, they often recognize the person routinely feeding your koi fish. It is ordinary to see koi gathering around their keeper during feeding times with some eating directly from the hand.

Varieties of Koi

There are several varieties of koi that are distinguished by the color, pattern and scales. There are a few hybrids like the Ghost koi and Butterfly koi that have also acquired popularity but are not regarded as true Nishikigoi. Among the prominent varieties of the true Nishikigoi are the following:

- Kohaku - white koi with large red markings on top

- Taisho Sanshoku - looks like the Kohaku but has more small black markings

- Showa Sanshoku - black koi having red and white marks

- Tancho - any koi with a lone red patch on the head

- Asagi - is colored light blue on top and red below

- Utsurimono - black with very koi markings of red, white or yellow

- Bekko - base color of red, white or even yellow with small black markings

- Goshiki - black koi accented with red, white, brown and also blue markings

- Shusui - does not have scales except for a single row of large mirror scales running along the dorsal area, from head to tail

Why Setting Up A Koi Filter System Is Important
Not only does having a koi filter system installed help make your koi pond more attractive, it also does a lot to keep your koi fish healthy. Koi fish are highly sensitive to the pH balance and density of the water they're in compared to other types of fish.

Koi Breeding: Learn More About It
Koi breeding is not easy if what you aim for is to produce high-quality fish for competition purposes. Before you can obtain a prize-winning koi fish, you will have to cull and discard several thousand fry. The koi breeding process is long and difficult but it is all worth it.

Tips On Picking Out Fishes For Your Custom Aquarium
Choosing the fishes for your custom aquarium should be fun. Go to a well stocked aquatic center when shopping for your new pets.

A Few Tips On Keeping Your Koi Healthy
Koi health is of paramount importance if you want to enjoy your fish for a long time. Koi fish are known to live for decades although the average life span is 20 to 30 years. Koi are hardy and durable; however, they can get sick.

Fundamental Information Concerning Nitrogen Levels Inside Salt Water Aquariums
With salt water aquariums it is very important to keep the nitrogen levels down or else the fish will die. Fish are living creatures and like humans they will eat food and release waste.

Salt Water Aquarium - Several Vital Information To Keep In Mind Before Buying One
A salt water aquarium is not a toy and shouldn't be wrapped up as such. By buying a fish tank you are taking responsibility for the care of these beautiful creatures and this is not something you should enter into lightly.

Points To Be Considered While Buying A Salt Water Aquarium
The number one mistake people make when buying salt water fish tanks is to buy one that is too small. Marine fish are used to a lot of space and deep water so you need to buy as large a tank as possible.