The beautiful aquarium fish is actually a variant of the carp, which originated in Japan and has become a high-end aquarium fish that has taken the world by storm. There are many types of koi fish, which can be roughly divided into 13 categories according to domestic and international standards, and there are more than 100 different varieties. Among the many koi species, which one are you most familiar with?
Let's take a look at the top 10 precious koi, including red and white koi, Taisho tricolor koi, red-crowned koi, Showa tricolor koi, golden koi, dragon and phoenix koi, and so on. In this ranking, let's take a closer look at these fascinating koi species.
1. Red and white koi
As we all know, red and white koi can be said to be the representative of koi. There is a saying that "koi fish start with red and white and end with red and white", which shows how much people cherish red and white koi. For beginners, red and white koi may be one of the best options, but as you learn more about koi, many people will eventually prefer this species. The standard requirement for red and white koi is that the background color should be pure white, preferably without mixing other colors, and the red part should be as bright as possible.
2. Taisho tricolor koi
The Taisho tricolor koi is also one of the most expensive koi in history. This koi is a special species with red, white and black markings, and is named Taisho Tricolor because it was born during the Taisho period. Its body is covered with a white undertone, dotted with red and black markings. Notably, it has only red spots on its head and no black spots, while its pectoral fins are covered with black stripes. A high-quality Taisho tricolor koi fish needs to be red, white, and black with shiny blue ink spots that complement the white spots that are distributed over areas such as the shoulders.
3. Red-crowned koi
The red-crowned koi is a gem among koi fish, and it can be identified at a glance among the fish. It is covered in snow white, inlaid with a round spot like a red tassel in the middle of the top of the head, like a white dragon turning the river when swimming, and like Danyang lying in the water when it is still. This koi fish always becomes the center of attention, noble and gorgeous, full of aristocratic atmosphere.
Among the many koi species, the red-crowned koi is known as the most popular one among the eunuchs, and is also known as the "official carp", which symbolizes the smooth prosperity of the officialdom, so the red-crowned koi also has the reputation of "good luck".
4. Dragon and phoenix koi
The dragon and phoenix koi is a unique species of Japanese koi fish bred in Taiwan. Its uniqueness lies in the shape of the dragon head and phoenix tail, the fish whiskers are slender and straight, like a mighty dragon, and the mouth and nose are decorated with vibrant patterns. When it swims, the pectoral fin dances like long sleeves, like a fairy bird and a phoenix dance, and the tail fin is elegant and agile, like a dragon swinging its tail, and like a colorful phoenix fluttering, showing a beautiful posture. The dragon and phoenix koi fish symbolize the auspicious and auspicious meaning of the dragon and phoenix, they have distinct personalities, excellent memory, and can establish interaction and tacit understanding with the owner for a long time. It is precisely because of these qualities that the dragon and phoenix koi have been loved and sought after by more and more aquarists in recent years.
5. Write koi lightly
The light writing koi, also known as the writing skin light carp, is a kind of koi fish bred by writing carp and golden carp. Its whole body exudes a dazzling metallic luster, and its body is covered with large markings, which is unique. Light writing koi can be divided into two categories: golden Showa koi and golden writing koi. The former is created by the crossing of the Showa tricolor koi and the golden carp, with distinct golden elements, as well as the silver Showa koi, which has a silver hue on its body. The latter is bred from the yellow writing koi and the golden carp. Hikari koi fish are attracting attention for their excellent appearance and are highly sought after among many aquarists.
6. Showa Tricolor 锦鲤
The Showa tricolor koi that appeared in the Showa period in Japan are divided into two types: traditional Showa and modern Showa. The traditional Showa type has fewer white areas, while the modern Showa type has comparatively more white areas. This kind of koi is covered with a large number of red patches all over the body, the red is uniform and full, the edge of the patches is clear, the richer the red, the better the quality, the white part requires pure white throughout, and the head and tail of the high-quality Showa tricolor koi should have white patches.
A good Showa tricolor koi should have face-cut ink spots on their heads and triangular or lightning-shaped ink patterns on their bodies, which should be thick and extend to the abdomen. The pectoral fins should have a certain amount of black, not all white or all black, and there should be no red patches, which is one of the important criteria for measuring quality.
7. Pine leaf koi
The leaf pine koi is a species of koi with great historical roots. Their appearance is both beautiful and contains a deep meaning. These koi are covered with black markings, and if they have white spots on their red scales, they are called white pine koi fish, and if they have black spots on their red scales, they are called pine leaf koi.
8. Autumn cui koi
The autumn carp is a species bred from light yellow and German apple carp, and has a unique style. Its head is a clear pale blue with no variegated spots, and its back is dark blue, like a clear sky. The nose, gills, abdomen, and fins are dotted with red spots, which seem to be the icing on the cake and add a highlight to the overall look. Some of the more well-known species of the Koi include the Flower and the Crimson Cui, both of which exhibit unique beauty and charm.
9. Golden koi
The appearance of this koi fish has a golden hue all over the body, and its neat scales shine like gold in the sun, symbolizing prosperity and wealth. When selecting, this golden koi requires the fish to have a straight back, a steady and dignified swimming posture, a full and unconcave body at both ends, and symmetrical and complete fins. In terms of color, the biggest feature of the golden koi is its golden yellow hue, and it is more ornamental to choose individuals with more vivid colors and showy colors. Due to its magnificent appearance and the appeal of its golden color, the golden koi is favored by many aquarists.
10. Clothes carp
Coatcoats are a species bred from red and white or tricolor koi and light yellow koi. The reason for its name is that a faint blue color can be faintly seen under its red markings, as if it is wearing a thin layer of gauze. Clothes carp are relatively easy to identify, and it is only necessary to look at the scales under the red markings to see if they have a blue or darker hue to confirm that they are a coat carp. It is precisely because of this classical beauty, as if wearing light yarn, that many aquarists are attracted by the beautiful appearance of the carp.
The ranking of the top ten species of koi fish is mainly summarized according to the living habits, distribution range, ornamental value, preciousness, popularity and other relevant information of koi fish. The list is for reference only, if you have any questions, please comment/communicate at the end.
Top 10 Precious Species of Koi - Encyclopedia of Animals