KOI IDENTIFICATION: Koi fish, often referred to as Nishikigoi, are the product of hundreds of years of select breeding between common Asian and German carp. Koi fish come in a variety of colors ranging from pure white to yellow, orange, red, blue, black, even green! Their patterns and color combinations are unique to each individual koi fish. The most popular koi are typically a combination of red, black, and white. Some koi come with long fins (Butterfly Koi) or can be breed without scales (Doitsu Koi). Ponds whose koi breeds are well represented and balanced in numbers really show well. Everyone has their own particular favorites, what's yours? At North County Ponds, we enjoy viewing and caring for all types of Japanese koi.
MAGOI Mah-Go-Ee)
In Magoi, the scales are actually deep bronze, but the fish appear black when viewed from above. Magoi are not recognized as true koi by some show organizers, but that does not stop them from being kept. Free of the stunting effects that can arise from selective breeding for color or pattern, these fish can become huge. For that reason, Magoi blood is being reintroduced into some Go Sanke bloodlines to speed and maximize growth. This breed often gets lost in the dark backgrounds of koi pond surfaces.
CHAGOI (Ch-Aw-Go-Ee)
Chagoi are uniform brown koi. The word "Cha", derived from the Chinese/Japanese word for tea, describes the color of this breed. They are noted for two distinct qualities: their capacity to grow very large and their extreme friendliness. Introducing a Chagoi to a pond full of nervous koi has a calming effect, speeding up the hand-feeding training process. The color of Chagoi can vary from saffron through reddish brown to almost black, yet the paler the koi the more highly it's valued. High quality, blemish-free scale reticulation is a requirement. Metallic Gin-Rin Chagoi are also finding favor.
OCHIBA SHIGURE (Oh-Chee-Bah-She-Ger-Ee)
Soragoi are plain blue-gray koi. They are not a popular variety in their own right, but crossed with Chagoi they become Ochiba Shigure. Here, the gray base color of the Soragoi is patterned with the brown of the Chagoi. An Ochiba breed is a solid bronze scaled koi. The Ochiba Shigure has Kohaku-like markings, but more often the brown is confined to the head or to small patches on the body. Doitsu(scaleless) and Gin-Rin(metallic) styled Ochiba can also be found.
MATSUKAWABAKE (Maht-Soo-Kah-Wah-Bah-Key)
The Matsukawabake is an oddity, in that the distribution of black and white areas changes according to the seasons and the temperature of the water in which it is kept. However, this does not amount to a complete reversal of pattern. The koi can turn completely black or completely white under some circumstances, but can display interesting shadowy black sumi in the transition periods. Gin-Rin Goshiki and Doitsu Goshiki add even more complexity to an already fathomless variety. Interesting fish, nice addition to the koi collection.
KUMONRYU (Koo-Mon-Roo)
Kumonryu, fist appeared in the 1980s, is the most popular of all black koi derivatives in Kawarimono. The name means "dragon fish" and is applied to these koi because their markings are reminiscent of the coiled dragon bodies depicted in Oriental paintings. Kumonryu are always Doitsu, sharpening the contrast between the white and black on the body. Beny Kumonryu exhibit blotches of solid red and are very impressive. Patterning can be highly variable; the best examples show large, wavy-edged blocks of white along the flanks and the top of the body. However, these fish can change colors pending season or water temperature and quality.
 
If your pond is new or old, large or small, North County Ponds is trained in a variety of pond care services including regular pond maintenance, on-call pond services, pond clean-outs, complete filter system installs, pond water treatments, system cleanings, pond sealing, koi medicating, koi and fish care, algae control, aquatic plant care, and all other aspects of pond and lake management. Call North County Ponds at 760-710-1632 for questions, pricing info, or to schedule a free pond consultation.
 
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