- BEKKO – Black markings (similar to Sanke) on a solid red (Hi), white or yellow (Ki) base.
- BENI – Red colouration.
- DIA – Mutant scales that appear gold over red and silver over white areas of skin.
- DOITSU – Koi with either no scales at all, or a line of enlarged scales along each lateral line and either side of the dorsal fin.
- ENYU – Purplish koi with red markings.
- FUKURIN – Net-like lustrous skin around the scales of (usually) metallic koi.
- GIN RIN/ Kin Gin Rin – Silver/gold pearlescent scales
- HAJIRO – Black koi with white nose and white-tipped fins.
- HANATSUKI – A red pattern over the nose and snout, usually reaching the mouth.
- HI – Red.
- HIKARIMOJI – Class for single-coloured metallic koi, eg Purachina, Yamabuki, Chagoi etc
- HIKARIMOYO – Class for all multi-coloured metallic koi eg Hariwake, Kikusui etc
- INAZUMA – Lightning strike pattern.
- IPPON HI – Where solid red runs from nose to tail without a break.
- KAGE – Shadowy black reticulated marking over white (or other base colour, eg. red on Hi Utsuri), usually on showa and utsuri varieties.
- KANOKO – Koi with a sprinkling of red on the white areas of the fish.
- KI – Yellow.
- KIGOI – a plain, non-metallic yellow koi.
- KIN – Gold metallic.
- KINDAI – White skin predominates – particularly applied to predominantly white Showa.
- KIWA – Border of red and white at the rear edge of red patterns.
- KOKESUKE – Semi-translucent.
- KOROMO – literally ‘robed’. – the red colouration overlaid with blue or black. ( NB. K changes to G- when teamed with a colour prefix eg. Ai -Goromo, Budo-Goromo etc)
- KUCHIBENI – Red lips; literally translates to lipstick. Should be restricted to a thin line.
- MAGOI – Ancestral black carp.
- MARUTEN – A self-contained head marking, in conjunction with red elsewhere on the body.
- MATSUBA – Black centre to scale, giving a pinecone appearance to single coloured metallic Koi.
- MENKABURI – Red head.
- MENWARE – Showa head pattern.
- MIDORIGOI – Greenish yellow with mirror scales.
- MOTOGURO – Solid black colouration in the base of pectoral fish on Showa and related varieties
- MUDAGOKE – scattered scales on the body of doitsu fish (can detract from quality of the Koi depending on its placement).
- NIDAN – Two-step pattern.
- NISAI – Second year fish
- OYA-GOI – parents /breeding stock.
- SANDAN – Three-step pattern.
- SANSAI – Third year fish.
- SHIMI – Undesirable individual dark brown or black scales on areas of ground colour.
- SHIRO MUJI – All-white, non-metallic koi.
- SUMI – the heavily pigmented black pattern. This can be either the base skin colour as in Showa, or the black pattern as in Sanke.
- TANCHO – Circular red spot on head, but no other red on the body eg. Tancho Kohaku, tancho sanke, tancho showa.
- TATEGOI/TATESHITA – ‘Unfinished’ koi of any age that the breeder considers should continue to improve.
- TORA/ TIGER/ OGON – Metallic equivalent of Ki Bekko.
- TOSAI – First year fish.
- TSUBO SUMI – Black on white skin. – as displayed by sanke & bekko.
- YONDAN – Four step pattern.
- YONSAI – Fourth year fish.
Bekko
Doitsu Midorigoi
Kage Showa
Ki – Utsuri
Kohaku 2 step pattern
Kohaku showing Shimi
Tancho Showa
Tateshita Asagi
There are many more terms used to describe koi. If you happen across one that you are unfamiliar with, and is not listed above, feel free to ask us!
If you need any further advice about keeping koi, we are always happy to chat, whether about choosing your Koi, designing and maintaining your pond, koi health or water chemistry.
Feel free to give us a call today on 07940 456004
Some of the best fully quarantined Japanese Koi available in the UK
Our koi go through a four-week CEFAS approved quarantine programme and PCR testing on arrival in the UK
We personally select all our Koi
There are many breeders to choose from. We have dedicated a page to highlight some of the ones that our Koi come from.
Contact us and arrange a visit
We are based in Sawbridgeworth, CM21
Please call us on:
Geff: 07940 456004
Jan: 07702 266712
or email us at koiman.enterprises@gmail.com
to arrange a visit