Koi Carp


All Koi | Doitsu | Sanke | Butterfly | Kohaku | Koromo | Kujaku | Matsuba | Ogon | Shiro
Tancho| Showa | Shusui | Taisho | Bekko | Ghost | Goshiki | Kumonryu | Asagi | Yamabuki | Food

ornamental koi in a pondThe ornamental koi originates from the drab carp now found across most continents.

Individuals with color mutations were selected and bred from to enhance their visual appeal.

The earliest records of single color koi are from Japan. Here this fish is common in the water courses and ponds of Japanese style gardens.

Caring For Koi


As koi carp grow to a significant length they require a pond at least a meter and a half in length. When cared for in a comfortable pond this fish can successfully live for more than 30 years quite easily. Amazingly the oldest koi carp to be reported made it to the ripe old age of 200 years.

This cold water fish will tolerate winters outdoors but should not be fed once the water has sunk below 10 degrees Celsius. Koi food will typically float on the surface so that the fish can be examined and accounted for during feeding. They contain both plant and animal matter as the ornamental carp's diet is that of an omnivore.

Young koi especially will require protection from predators. Deep water, thick plants and in come cases netting are good steps to take.

Koi Varieties


Selective breeding has created all kinds of color combinations. The following are recognized varieties of ornamental koi.


Identification chart


Asagi - Koi with blue top + red bottom and sides

Bekko - White, red, or yellow with a black overcoat of markings

Butterfly- Long finned koi that can be any of the other categories.

Doitsu - German Ornamental Carp

Ghost - Offspring from a solid colored koi and a wild carp

Goshiki - Black Koi with red, white, brown, and blue

Kohaku - White and red koi variety.

Koromo - Blue edges on scales tiled in an orderly arrangement

Ogon- Single solid color such as orange, red, yellow, platinum or white

Showa- Alternately Showa sanshoku. Black with a red and white

Shusui - Like the Asagi but missing some scales

Sanke- Alternately taisho sanshoku. White with a red & black

Tancho- Koi with a large read circle on it's head. Can be further classified as Tancho Showa, Sanke, or Goshiki

Hariwake - Typically a platinum white base with orange patches.

 Hikari Moyomono - Either two tone metallic or dark with some gold or silver scales

Jinmengyo - These are koi with strangely emphasized facial features that look somewhat mammalian.

Kawarimono - Mixed or poorly defined koi variety

Kin Gin Rin - Shiny gold or silver scaled koi. Koi with other classifications can also have Gin Rin added to the end of the name

Utsurimono - Black with a red, white, or yellow

Live Koi Fish For Sale

People can buy koi fish through most of the year online so there is no need to wait. Koi are generally sold in a size range from 4" to 16" in length. The smaller fish will be more affordable while carp over a foot are for the pond owner who just cannot wait. Small fish are sometimes sold in batches with prices of the individual fish starting at around $5. Rare koi varieties and partially grown fish sell for up to and over $100 on the open market.

If this is the first time you are going to buy koi carp it is best to buy a group of small fish rather than one large one. In a large pond they should more than double in size in their first year. Leave the thousand dollar fancy Japanese strains until you have mastered the more affordable varieties.

Below are listings of koi currently for sale from eBay listings.

$75.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Sunday May-19-2013 16:20:39 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $98.00
$90.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Sunday May-19-2013 16:22:21 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $120.00
$360.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Sunday May-19-2013 17:18:00 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $805.00
 16'' Tancho Kohaku Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0409a018
$360.00
$805.00
$820.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Sunday May-19-2013 17:22:00 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $1,750.00
 20'' Kohaku Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0404r013
$820.00
$1,750.00
18''Taisho Sanke Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0402r027
$220.00
16''Taisho Sanke Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0404r006
$190.00
18''Taisho Sanke Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0404r018
$300.00
$840.00
18''Taisho Sanke Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0416s009
$265.00
$545.00
11''Taisho Sanke Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0426a010
$145.00
12'' Kohaku Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0422a017
$215.00
$340.00
15'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0422a013
$345.00
$480.00
16'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0422a004
$255.00
$19.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Sunday May-19-2013 17:41:07 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $29.99
$205.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Sunday May-19-2013 17:41:20 PDT
 10'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0426a008
$205.00
18'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0418a023
$435.00
$805.00
15'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0422a001
$265.00
$505.00
15'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0418a028
$150.00
15'' Showa Live Koi Fish Kodama Koi l0422a002
$235.00