When the Japanese started breeding koi varieties they initially mutated fish from one or two colors. Through the years, koi’s popularity popularity incredibly grew and people started to breed them in different colors and pattern combinations. And today, you can see them in different stunning colors.
Due to the limitless number of colors of koi varieties, breeders have decided to group them into categories. The most common of all are the Kohaku koi and the Hirarimono or Ogon variety.
Kohaku koi comes in white with red markings, while the Ogon koi yields a metallic reflection because of its scalation. Kohaku means red and white. A white skinned koi with the red markings on top of their head was the first variety to be established in Japan during the late 19th century.
Another white koi variety is the Koromo with Kohaku style pattern. But this time it has blue or black edged scales only over the Hi or red pattern. This cross koi breeding of variety between a Kohaku and Asagi was initially done in the 1950″s. The most commonly encountered Koromo is the Ai Goromo which has the same color with Kohaku except that the red patches have blue or black edge. Another one is the Budo-Goromo, however, this koi variety is less common and has a darker burgundy Hi overlay that gives its appearance like a bunch of grapes. The rarest koi variety among the Koromo is the Tsumi-Goromo almost similar to Gudo-Goromo, but the Hi pattern is dark burgundy that is nearly black when viewed.
The world’s most popular koi is the White Koi fish or the Platinum Ogon. Their body is absolutely vivid and shines like a precious metal. These unique koi variety first appeared way back in 1963, which is the result of the cross breeding of Kigoi and the grayish-silver Nezu. Nezu is the short name for the Japanese word Nezumi Ogon, meaning “rat”. This type of fish are very popular because of its ability to withstand poorly filtered outdoor ponds. Nezumi Ogon is hardy fish and can grow rapidly. Nezu, Orenji and Fuji koi are some of the other Ogon koi variety.
Most Ogon koi breeding is usually done with the Ginirin. Their combination gives enormously shinier scales. Their scales are not comparatively the same with that of metallic koi. Ginirin scales provide a glimmering shine that reflects like a diamond. A koi variety can only qualify as a Ginirin if it has at least 20 scales minimum.
Another metallic Ogon koi variety is the Yamabuki Ogon which is yellow in color and the Platinum Ogon or white koi fish that is in bright silver color. We know that koi comes in various qualities, but Ogon koi comes only in one distinct color with the same tone starting from the head down to its tails and up to the tips of its fin. It is more desirable for Ogon koi to grow largely in order to complement the plain hue of its body.
Koi fish pond owners will not have regrets in taking care of their koi fish because of the beauty and attraction they give to the outdoor landscape water garden. Koi is pleasing to the eyes. The reflection of a flawless white koi fish gives elegant contrast color to a dark pond.
