Koi Variety Identification Guide: What Kind of Koi Do I Have?

You're standing at your pond, staring at your fish, and you have absolutely no idea what you're looking at. Is that a Kohaku or a Sanke? Is that metallic one a Yamabuki or a Hariwake? And how on earth do you say "Taisho Sanshoku"?

This guide is for you. Plain English. Short descriptions. Pronunciation rules right next to every word — with English examples so you never have to flip back to a chart to remember how a sound works.

The Five Golden Rules — Read These Once

Japanese vowels are simple and consistent. They never change. Learn these five sounds and you can pronounce any koi name:

• A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"
• E = "eh" (like "bed") — never silent
• I = "ee" (like "feet")
• O = "oh" (like "go")
• U = "oo" (like "food")

Every syllable gets equal weight. Every vowel is pronounced. No silent letters.

These rules are repeated under every variety name below so you never have to come back to this page.

A Note Before You Start — Don't Get Frustrated

Koi identification is not always black and white — and that's completely normal. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you work through this guide:

• Some koi are mixtures of other varieties. Koi have been selectively bred for centuries, and crossbreeding happens. You may come across a fish that has characteristics of two or more varieties and doesn't fit neatly into any single category. That's okay — you're not doing it wrong.
• Colors change over time. Koi are living, growing animals. A young koi may not have developed its full color yet — markings that will eventually appear may be faint or invisible right now. A young Showa at 4" may look nearly all black; the red and white areas develop gradually over 1–3 years as the fish matures. Conversely, some colors and patterns fade, shift, or disappear entirely as a koi ages. This is especially true of black sumi markings, which can come and go dramatically over a koi's lifetime.
• Some varieties are famous for changing. Kumonryu, for example, can go from mostly black to mostly white — and back again — with the seasons. A fish that looks like one variety in summer may look like a completely different fish in winter.
• Use the most prominent colors you can see right now. When in doubt, identify based on what's visible today. If a fish is hard to pin down, that's not a failure — it's just the nature of koi. Do your best with what you can see, and revisit the identification as the fish matures.

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is to get close enough to understand what you have and enjoy it. Even experienced koi keepers debate variety identification on difficult fish. You're in good company.

🌈 Find Your Koi By Color — Quick Lookup

Start here. Find the color group that best matches your fish right now, then look at the markings column to narrow it down.

How to read the color descriptions: The colors listed in the "Main Colors" column are always written in order from most dominant to least dominant — the first color listed is the one that covers the most area on the fish, and the last color listed is the least prominent. For example, "White + Red + Black" means the fish is mostly white, with red patches, and black is the smallest amount. If your fish looks mostly black with some white, look in the "Mostly Black" group instead, even if it also has a little red. Always start with the color that covers the most area.

🔴 Mostly White With Red or Orange

⚫ Mostly Black With Another Color

🔴⚫⚪ Red + Black + White (Three Colors, Red Dominant)

✨ Metallic / Shimmering (Glows Like Polished Metal)

🟤 Solid Warm Earth Tone (Brown, Tan, Olive)

🔵 Solid Cool Grey or Blue

🔵🔴 Blue on Top, Red on Bottom

🟡 Solid Yellow or Green (Rare)

🔍 Scale Type Add-Ons — Check These After You Find the Color Group

Once you've identified the color group, check the scales. These features get added to the variety name and apply to almost any variety.

The Big Picture: How Koi Are Grouped

Every koi variety is defined by three things: base color, pattern/markings, and scale type. Once you know those three things, you can identify almost any koi.

Body Shape: What to Look For

Most koi share the same basic torpedo-shaped body — broad at the shoulders, tapering toward the tail. But a few varieties have distinctive body shapes that can help with identification before you even look at color:

• Standard koi — Classic torpedo shape. Broad shoulders, streamlined body, proportional fins. This is the baseline for most varieties.
• Chagoi and Soragoi — Noticeably deep and thick-bodied. These fish look almost chunky compared to other koi — wide across the back, with a rounded belly. If your fish looks unusually broad and heavy for its length, Chagoi or Soragoi is worth considering.
• Butterfly koi — Slender body with dramatically long, flowing fins on the tail and pectoral fins. The body itself is often more slender than standard koi. The fins are the giveaway — they trail behind the fish like ribbons.

Scale types you'll see:

• Standard (fully scaled) — Normal overlapping scales covering the whole body. Most koi.
• Doitsu — German-scaled. Smooth skin with only one or two rows of large scales running down the back and sides. The rest of the body is bare.
• Gin Rin — Sparkling, diamond-like scales that catch light and shimmer. Can appear on any variety.
• Butterfly — Long, flowing fins. Not a variety — a fin type that can appear on any variety.

Size at Maturity

These are general ranges for pond-kept koi in good conditions. Individual fish vary based on genetics, water quality, and feeding.

The Varieties — Plain English, With Full Pronunciation Under Every Name

🔴 KOHAKU

🔊 Say it: "KOH-hah-koo"
Three equal beats: KOH • hah • koo

O = "oh" (like "go")
A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"
U = "oo" (like "food")

What it looks like: White body with red or orange-red patches on top. Two colors only — white and red. No black anywhere. The red patches are called hi (say it: "hee" — I = "ee" like "feet"). The cleaner and brighter the white, the better the fish.

Sub-varieties:

• Kohaku — Standard scaled, two-color, white + red. The most classic koi of all.
• Doitsu Kohaku — Say it: "DOYT-soo KOH-hah-koo" — OI = "oy" (like "boy") • U = "oo" (like "food") • O = "oh" (like "go") • A = "ah" (like "father") — Same white + red pattern on a smooth Doitsu body with only a row of large scales down the back.
• Gin Rin Kohaku — Say it: "GEEN reen KOH-hah-koo" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • A = "ah" (like "father") • U = "oo" (like "food") — White + red with sparkling, glittery scales that shimmer in sunlight.
• Butterfly Kohaku — White + red with long, flowing fins.

⚫🔴⚪ TAISHO SANKE

🔊 Say it: "TIE-show SAHN-keh"
Four equal beats: TIE • show • SAHN • keh

AI = "eye" (like "tie" — exception to the vowel rules, this one sounds like English)
O = "oh" (like "go")
A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"
E = "eh" (like "bed") — never silent

Also called just "Sanke" — say it: "SAHN-keh"

What it looks like: White body with red patches AND black spots. Three colors: white, red, and black. The black spots (called sumi — say it: "SOO-mee" — U = "oo" like "food" • I = "ee" like "feet") appear on the body but never on the head in a true Sanke. Think of it as a Kohaku with black polka dots added.

Sub-varieties:

• Taisho Sanke — Standard scaled, three-color classic.
• Doitsu Sanke — Say it: "DOYT-soo SAHN-keh" — OI = "oy" (like "boy") • U = "oo" (like "food") • A = "ah" (like "father") • E = "eh" (like "bed") — Smooth Doitsu body, three-color pattern.
• Gin Rin Sanke — Say it: "GEEN reen SAHN-keh" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • A = "ah" (like "father") • E = "eh" (like "bed") — Three-color with sparkling, glittery scales.

⚫🔴⚪ SHOWA SANSHOKU

🔊 Say it: "SHOW-wah SAHN-show-koo"
Five equal beats: SHOW • wah • SAHN • show • koo

O = "oh" (like "go")
A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"
U = "oo" (like "food")

Usually just called "Showa" — say it: "SHOW-wah"

What it looks like: White, red, and black — but the black is the dominant color and it appears everywhere, including the head and fins. Key difference from Sanke: Showa has black on the head. Sanke does not. The black wraps around the body in large, bold patterns rather than small spots.

Sub-varieties:

• Showa Sanshoku — Classic three-color Showa, standard scaled.
• Hi Showa — Say it: "HEE show-wah" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • A = "ah" (like "father") — A Showa where the red is so dominant it crowds out most of the white. Mostly red and black, little to no white visible.
• Kin Showa — Say it: "KEEN show-wah" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • A = "ah" (like "father") — A metallic Showa. Same red-black-white pattern but the scales have a gold metallic sheen that makes the fish glow. "Kin" means gold.
• Gin Rin Showa — Say it: "GEEN reen show-wah" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • A = "ah" (like "father") — Three-color Showa with sparkling, diamond-like scales.
• Doitsu Showa — Say it: "DOYT-soo show-wah" — OI = "oy" (like "boy") • U = "oo" (like "food") • O = "oh" (like "go") • A = "ah" (like "father") — Showa pattern on a smooth Doitsu body.

⚫⚪ UTSURI

🔊 Say it: "oot-SOO-ree"
Three equal beats: oot • SOO • ree

U = "oo" (like "food") — appears twice in this word
I = "ee" (like "feet")

What it looks like: A two-color koi — black base with one other color (red, white, or yellow). The black is always the dominant base color.

Sub-varieties:

• Shiro Utsuri — Say it: "SHEE-roh oot-SOO-ree" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • U = "oo" (like "food") — Black and white. Bold black and white, no other colors. "Shiro" means white.
• Hi Utsuri — Say it: "HEE oot-SOO-ree" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • U = "oo" (like "food") — Black and red/orange. "Hi" means red/fire.
• Ki Utsuri — Say it: "KEE oot-SOO-ree" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • U = "oo" (like "food") — Black and yellow. Rare. "Ki" means yellow.

⚫⚪ BEKKO

🔊 Say it: "BEH-koh"
Two equal beats: BEH • koh

E = "eh" (like "bed") — never silent
O = "oh" (like "go")

What it looks like: A two-color koi — white, red, or yellow base with black spots. The opposite of Utsuri. The base color is light, and black sumi spots are scattered across the body. No black on the head.

Sub-varieties:

• Shiro Bekko — Say it: "SHEE-roh BEH-koh" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • E = "eh" (like "bed") — White base with black spots. Looks like a Sanke without the red.
• Aka Bekko — Say it: "AH-kah BEH-koh" — A = "ah" (like "father") • E = "eh" (like "bed") • O = "oh" (like "go") — Red/orange base with black spots. "Aka" means red.
• Ki Bekko — Say it: "KEE BEH-koh" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • E = "eh" (like "bed") • O = "oh" (like "go") — Yellow base with black spots. Rare.

✨ OGON — Solid Metallic Koi

🔊 Say it: "OH-gohn"
Two equal beats: OH • gohn

O = "oh" (like "go") — appears twice in this word

What it looks like: A single solid color — but metallic. These fish look like they're made of polished metal. No patterns, no markings. Just one brilliant, reflective color from nose to tail.

Sub-varieties:

• Yamabuki Ogon — Say it: "yah-mah-BOO-kee OH-gohn" — A = "ah" (like "father") • U = "oo" (like "food") • I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") — Solid metallic gold/yellow. Glows like a gold coin in the water.
• Platinum Ogon — Say it: "PLAT-ih-num OH-gohn" — O = "oh" (like "go") — Solid metallic silver-white. Looks like polished chrome in the water.
• Orenji Ogon — Say it: "oh-REHN-jee OH-gohn" — O = "oh" (like "go") • E = "eh" (like "bed") • I = "ee" (like "feet") — Solid metallic orange. "Orenji" is simply the Japanese word for orange.

✨ HARIWAKE

🔊 Say it: "hah-ree-WAH-keh"
Four equal beats: hah • ree • WAH • keh

A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake" — appears twice in this word
I = "ee" (like "feet")
E = "eh" (like "bed") — never silent

What it looks like: A two-color metallic koi — platinum white base with yellow or orange markings. Both colors are metallic and reflective. Think of it as a metallic Kohaku, but the white is platinum-bright and the markings are golden-yellow rather than red-orange.

Sub-varieties:

• Hariwake — Standard scaled, platinum + yellow/orange metallic.
• Doitsu Hariwake — Say it: "DOYT-soo hah-ree-WAH-keh" — OI = "oy" (like "boy") • U = "oo" (like "food") • A = "ah" (like "father") • I = "ee" (like "feet") • E = "eh" (like "bed") — Same metallic two-color pattern on a smooth Doitsu body.
• Butterfly Hariwake — Metallic platinum + yellow with long flowing fins.

✨ MATSUBA

🔊 Say it: "maht-SOO-bah"
Three equal beats: maht • SOO • bah

A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake" — appears twice in this word
U = "oo" (like "food")

What it looks like: A metallic koi with a pine-cone scale pattern. Each scale has a dark center, creating a net-like or pine-cone texture across the whole body.

Sub-varieties:

• Kin Matsuba — Say it: "KEEN maht-SOO-bah" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • A = "ah" (like "father") • U = "oo" (like "food") — Gold metallic base with black pine-cone scale pattern. "Kin" ("keen") means gold.
• Gin Matsuba — Say it: "GEEN maht-SOO-bah" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • A = "ah" (like "father") • U = "oo" (like "food") — Silver metallic base with black pine-cone scale pattern. "Gin" ("geen") means silver.

⚫⚪ KUMONRYU

🔊 Say it: "koo-MOHN-ryoo"
Three equal beats: koo • MOHN • ryoo

U = "oo" (like "food") — appears twice in this word
O = "oh" (like "go")
RYU = "ryoo" — blend the R and Y together quickly, then add "oo" (like "food")

What it looks like: A black and white koi with a dramatic, cloud-like pattern. "Kumonryu" means "nine-tattooed dragon." The black and white pattern is bold and graphic — and famously changes over time. A Kumonryu that's mostly black today may be mostly white next year.

Seasonal identification tip: If your black-and-white fish looked completely different last season — dramatically more black, or dramatically more white — it's almost certainly a Kumonryu. No other common variety shifts its pattern this dramatically with temperature and season changes.

Sub-varieties:

• Kumonryu — Black and white, fully scaled, pattern changes with seasons and age.
• Doitsu Kumonryu — Say it: "DOYT-soo koo-MOHN-ryoo" — OI = "oy" (like "boy") • U = "oo" (like "food") • O = "oh" (like "go") — Same black-and-white dragon pattern on a smooth Doitsu body.
• Hi Kumonryu — Say it: "HEE koo-MOHN-ryoo" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • U = "oo" (like "food") • O = "oh" (like "go") — Kumonryu with an orange or red marking added. Three colors: black, white, and orange/red.
• Kin Kikokuryu — Say it: "KEEN kee-koh-KOO-ryoo" — I = "ee" (like "feet") • O = "oh" (like "go") • U = "oo" (like "food") — A metallic Doitsu Kumonryu. Silver/gold metallic base with the black Kumonryu pattern on a smooth Doitsu body. One of the most striking koi varieties.

🟤 CHAGOI

🔊 Say it: "CHAH-goy"
Two equal beats: CHAH • goy

A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"
OI = "oy" (like "boy")

What it looks like: A solid brown, tan, or olive-colored koi. No markings, no pattern — just one warm earthy color from head to tail. Chagoi are famous for being the friendliest koi in the pond — they're the first to eat from your hand and they calm down the other fish around them.

🔵 SORAGOI

🔊 Say it: "SOH-rah-goy"
Three equal beats: SOH • rah • goy

O = "oh" (like "go")
A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"
OI = "oy" (like "boy")

What it looks like: A solid blue-grey koi. Similar to Chagoi in personality and body type, but the color is a cool silver-blue rather than warm brown. "Sora" ("SOH-rah") means sky in Japanese — the color is like a grey sky reflected in water. Also known for being calm and hand-tame.

🔴⚪ ASAGI

🔊 Say it: "ah-SAH-gee"
Three equal beats: ah • SAH • gee

A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake" — appears twice in this word
I = "ee" (like "feet")

What it looks like: A blue-scaled koi with red or orange on the belly, cheeks, and fins. The top of the body is covered in a net-like blue scale pattern — each scale has a light blue center with a darker blue edge. The red appears on the lower body and face. One of the oldest koi varieties.

🔴⚪ SHUSUI

🔊 Say it: "SHOO-swee"
Two equal beats: SHOO • swee

U = "oo" (like "food")
UI = "wee" — blend U and I together quickly (U = "oo" like "food" + I = "ee" like "feet" = "wee")

What it looks like: The Doitsu version of Asagi. Same blue-top, red-belly color scheme, but on a smooth Doitsu body with only the row of large scales running down the back. The large Doitsu scales are often a deep blue-black, making a striking contrast against the lighter body.

✨ KIN SHOWA

🔊 Say it: "KEEN show-wah"
Three equal beats: KEEN • show • wah

I = "ee" (like "feet")
O = "oh" (like "go")
A = "ah" (like "father") — never "ay" like in "cake"

"Kin" = gold / metallic gold

What it looks like: A metallic Showa. The classic red-black-white Showa pattern, but the scales have a warm gold metallic sheen that makes the whole fish glow. The metallic quality is what separates it from a standard Showa.

✨ KIN HI UTSURI

🔊 Say it: "KEEN hee oot-SOO-ree"
Five equal beats: KEEN • hee • oot • SOO • ree

I = "ee" (like "feet") — appears in Kin, Hi, and Utsuri
U = "oo" (like "food") — appears twice in Utsuri

"Kin" = gold/metallic • "Hi" = red/fire

What it looks like: A metallic Hi Utsuri — black base with metallic red/orange markings. The red has a warm metallic sheen. Bold and dramatic.

✨ KIN KI UTSURI

🔊 Say it: "KEEN kee oot-SOO-ree"
Five equal beats: KEEN • kee • oot • SOO • ree

I = "ee" (like "feet") — appears in Kin, Ki, and Utsuri
U = "oo" (like "food") — appears twice in Utsuri

"Kin" = gold/metallic • "Ki" = yellow

What it looks like: A metallic Ki Utsuri — black base with metallic yellow/gold markings. The gold has a reflective, glowing quality. One of the rarer metallic varieties.

Quick-Reference Identification Chart — Print & Take to the Pond

Look at your fish and match it to the description below. Colors are listed from most dominant to least dominant — the first color listed covers the most area on the fish. Start with the color that covers the most area, then check the markings. Remember: some fish are hard to identify — use the most prominent colors you can see right now and don't get discouraged.

The "What Is My Koi?" Decision Tree

Work through these questions in order:

Step 1: Is it metallic? (Does it shimmer and glow like polished metal in sunlight?)
→ Yes → Likely an Ogon, Hariwake, Matsuba, Kin Showa, Kin Kikokuryu, or Kin Utsuri
→ No → Continue to Step 2

Step 2: How many colors?
→ One solid color → Ogon (metallic), Chagoi (brown/tan), Soragoi (grey-blue)
→ Two colors → Go to Step 3
→ Three colors → Go to Step 4

Step 3: Two colors — what are they?
→ White + red/orange only → Kohaku ("KOH-hah-koo" — O="oh" A="ah" U="oo")
→ White + black only, no black on head → Shiro Bekko ("SHEE-roh BEH-koh" — I="ee" O="oh" E="eh")
→ Black + white, black on head → Shiro Utsuri ("SHEE-roh oot-SOO-ree" — I="ee" O="oh" U="oo")
→ Black + red/orange → Hi Utsuri ("HEE oot-SOO-ree" — I="ee" U="oo")
→ Black + yellow → Ki Utsuri ("KEE oot-SOO-ree" — I="ee" U="oo")
→ Platinum white + yellow/gold (both metallic) → Hariwake ("hah-ree-WAH-keh" — A="ah" I="ee" E="eh")
→ Black + white, bold cloud pattern, changes over time → Kumonryu ("koo-MOHN-ryoo" — U="oo" O="oh")

Step 4: Three colors — is there black on the head?
→ No black on head → Taisho Sanke ("TIE-show SAHN-keh" — AI="eye" O="oh" A="ah" E="eh") — white base, red patches, black spots on body only
→ Black on head and fins → Showa Sanshoku ("SHOW-wah SAHN-show-koo" — O="oh" A="ah" U="oo") — black dominant, red + white
→ Mostly red and black, almost no white → Hi Showa ("HEE show-wah" — I="ee" O="oh" A="ah")

Step 5: Check the scales
→ Smooth body with one row of large scales down the back → Add "Doitsu" ("DOYT-soo" — OI="oy" U="oo") to the variety name
→ Sparkling, glittery scales that catch light → Add "Gin Rin" ("GEEN reen" — I="ee") to the variety name
→ Long flowing fins → Add "Butterfly" to the variety name

Common Mix-Ups — What People Confuse Most

• Sanke vs. Showa: Both are white + red + black. The difference: Sanke has NO black on the head. Showa has black on the head and fins. When in doubt, look at the head.
• Shiro Bekko vs. Shiro Utsuri: Both are black and white. Bekko has a white base with black spots and no black on the head. Utsuri has black as the dominant color and black appears on the head.
• Kohaku vs. Hi Showa: Both can look mostly red. Kohaku is white + red only — no black anywhere. Hi Showa will have some black, even if it's minimal.
• Hariwake vs. Kohaku: Both have a light base with colored patches. Hariwake is metallic — both colors shimmer. Kohaku is not metallic.
• Chagoi vs. Soragoi: Both are solid single-color. Chagoi is warm — brown, tan, or olive. Soragoi is cool — blue-grey, like a cloudy sky.
• Kumonryu vs. Shiro Utsuri: Both are black and white. Kumonryu has a more dramatic, cloud-like pattern that changes over time. Shiro Utsuri's pattern is more stable.

Glossary — Common Koi Words With Pronunciation

Koi vs. Goldfish — How to Tell the Difference

If you're not sure whether your fish is a koi or a goldfish, here are the key differences:

• Barbels (whiskers) — Koi have two pairs of small barbels (whisker-like appendages) at the corners of the mouth. Goldfish have none. This is the most reliable single identifier.
• Size — Adult koi typically reach 18–30"+ in a pond. Most goldfish varieties stay under 12", though common and comet goldfish can reach 12–14" in large ponds.
• Body shape — Koi are generally torpedo-shaped with a more uniform body. Many goldfish varieties have rounder, deeper bodies (especially fancy goldfish like Orandas or Ryukins).
• Fins — Standard koi have a single tail fin. Many fancy goldfish have double (split) tail fins. Butterfly koi have long flowing fins but still a single tail.
• Color overlap — Both come in red, white, orange, black, and yellow, so color alone won't tell you. Look for the barbels first.

📸 Photo Tips for Identification

A good photo makes identification much easier — for yourself and for anyone you ask for help. Here's how to get a useful shot:

• Shoot from directly above. The top-down view shows the full pattern clearly and is how koi are traditionally evaluated. Angled shots distort the pattern and make colors harder to read.
• Use natural daylight. Shoot in outdoor light or near a bright window. Flash and artificial light wash out colors and can make a non-metallic fish look metallic (or vice versa).
• Wait for the fish to be still. A blurry photo of a moving fish is almost useless for identification. Be patient — koi often slow down near the surface when they're used to being fed.
• Avoid glare. Pond surface glare is the enemy. Shoot when the sun is not directly overhead, or use your body to shade the water surface.
• Take multiple shots. Get one full-body overhead shot, and one closer shot of the head and shoulder area where key markings (especially black on the head) are easiest to see.

What If My Fish Doesn't Match Anything?

Don't worry — this happens to experienced koi keepers too. Here are the most common reasons a fish is hard to identify:

• It's a crossbreed. Koi have been selectively bred for centuries, and not every fish fits neatly into a named variety. A fish with characteristics of two varieties is not a mistake — it's just a mixed fish. Enjoy it for what it is.
• It's young and still developing. Many koi don't show their full color and pattern until 2–4 years of age. A young fish may look like a completely different variety once it matures. If your fish is under 10", give it time.
• It's a Kumonryu mid-season. Kumonryu can look dramatically different depending on water temperature and season. If your fish looked different a few months ago, Kumonryu is worth reconsidering.
• It's a less common variety. This guide covers the most common varieties, but there are dozens more. If your fish doesn't match anything here, it may be a less common variety like a Benigoi, Kigoi, Ochiba Shigure, or Kikokuryu.
• Still stuck? Post a clear overhead photo to a koi forum or Facebook group — the koi community is generally very helpful with identification questions. Or contact us directly and we'll do our best to help.

A Note on Male vs. Female Koi

Gender does not affect variety identification. A male Kohaku and a female Kohaku are both Kohaku — the variety name describes the color and pattern, not the sex of the fish. You can identify any koi variety without knowing whether it's male or female.

For the curious: males tend to be slimmer and more streamlined; females are often broader across the midsection, especially when carrying eggs in spring. But these differences are subtle in young fish and don't affect variety identification at all.

Related Reading

• Koi 101: What to Know Before Buying Your First Fish
• Understanding Koi Grades: Decorative vs. Select vs. Premium
• First-Time Koi Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know
• Browse Our Current Live Koi Inventory

Questions about a specific fish? Contact us — we're happy to help you identify what you have.

Shop Koi by Variety

Ready to add one of these beautiful fish to your pond? Browse our available koi by variety below — all hand-selected and shipped overnight with a live arrival guarantee.

Kohaku

• 10"–12" Kohaku Standard Fin — Decorative Grade
• 10"–12" Kohaku Standard Fin — Premium Grade
• 8"–10" Kohaku Butterfly Fin — Decorative Grade

Showa, Kin Showa, Gin Rin Showa & Hi Showa

• 10"–12" Showa Sanshoku Standard Fin — Premium Grade
• 10"–12" Hi Showa Standard Fin — Premium Grade
• 10"–12" Kin Showa Standard Fin — Select Grade
• 10"–12" Kin Showa Standard Fin — Premium Grade
• 10"–12" Gin Rin Showa Standard Fin — Premium Grade

Taisho Sanke

• 8"–10" Taisho Sanke Standard Fin — Select Grade
• 8"–10" Doitsu Taisho Sanke Standard Fin — Select Grade
• 10"–12" Taisho Sanke Standard Fin — Premium Grade

Utsuri & Hi Utsuri

• 10"–12" Hi Utsuri Standard Fin — Select Grade

Kumonryu & Hi Kumonryu

• 10"–12" Hi Kumonryu Standard Fin — Decorative Grade
• 8"–10" Doitsu Kumonryu Butterfly Fin — Premium Grade

Ogon, Gin Matsuba & Kin Matsuba

• 8"–10" Platinum Ogon Butterfly Fin — Premium Grade
• 10"–12" Gin Matsuba Standard Fin — Select Grade
• 10"–12" Kin Matsuba Standard Fin — Premium Grade

Kin Kikokuryu

• 12"+ Kin Kikokuryu Standard Fin — Premium Grade

Hariwake

• 8"–10" Doitsu Hariwake Butterfly Fin — Select Grade

Soragoi

• 10"–12" Soragoi Standard Fin — Select Grade

Mixed Boxes

• 3-Fish Mixed Box — 10"–12"
• 4-Fish Mixed Box — 10"–12"
• 5-Fish Mixed Box — 10"–12"

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