subject: The Wonderous Koi Fish [print this page] If you are reading this, you already possess an interest for one of the most beautiful creatures to grace planet Earth -the Koi Fish, one of God's most mesmerizing creatures. Your interest in Koi Fish is as unique as the fish itself as only the people with the best taste in collecting beautiful fish and taking care of them turn to Koi.
Koi is not just a generally popular fish. It is in fact so popular in Japan that it has been declared their national fish. Actually named Cyprinus Carpio, Koi fish initially came in only three colors: red, blue and yellow. Now however, due to cross breeding and modern scientific experiments, they can be found in a sweetly abundant variety ranging from dozens of colors to dozens of patterns.
Their signature feature though, has always been their bright and shiny, paper-thin body.
Talking about popularity, the Koi is not just popular in Japan but is also taken as a mythological creature, which speaks volumes about the age and tradition attached to the fish. Reported to have originated in Persia and then traveling to China and Japan through fish lovers, there are fables surrounding the surreal qualities of the fish and it is rare to see such a following grow around a type of fish.
That's how special the Koi is.
Although Koi fish belong to the large family that also includes Goldfish and Carp, it is the extensive and proactive selective breeding that started in Japan that has made Koi special. It has been made one of the best domesticated fish in the world.
What comes with that is longevity, amazing agility and playfulness, and just generally a gorgeous overall personality that can survive in several climates, all over the world.
After showing interest in the most beautiful fish in the world and planning to breed it, there are a few difficulties you might face though. The difficulties are not only based around taking care of the fish, but also on choosing the right Koi for you!
There are so many different varieties of Koi to choose from that you might get confused on how they are classified. To make things simple, the Japanese have classified almost all of them based on their physical features, and some on their historic significance. Some types you can choose from are:
There's the Sandan. This type of Koi has three red 'islands' on its body, not connected to each other. San, meaning three in Japanese, is an appropriate name for this type. Then there's the Yondan (Yon meaning four). This type has 4 red islands on its body.
It all comes down to your preference on what type of design you are looking for. The Kuchimeni Is a super-cute type of Koi where there are little red markings around the fish's mouth that make it look like it's wearing lipstick!
There are hundreds of types of Koi to choose from, and pretty simple ways of taking care of them if you gain the right expertise. Just make sure you value and respect the beauty and tradition the Koi has brought to the world for centuries.
