Koi are a special breed of carp (Cyprinus carpio). Koi is the short version of Nishikigoi. Nishikigoi literally means brocade carp from Japanese but the more popular term is Living Jewel. This name has its origin in the pattern and colour of the Koi. These are similar to what are known as brocade fabrics – a type of silk in which gold and silver threads are tied.
There is no exact clarity about the exact original origin of Koi. General carp farming has a long tradition in the Chinese world. The breeding of the Koi can be traced back to this carp breeding. The targeted breeding of carp with a special colour mutation, i.e. the koi, began in Japan around 1800. In 1914, the koi were presented to the general public for the first time at a Japanese fish exhibition. Nowadays, Koi keepers and breeders are spread all over the world.
Koi are divided into 16 main varieties. Within these main variants, there are at least 100 sub-variants. An exact statement about the number of different variations cannot be made, as the number of variations increases due to the permanent breeding of new variations of Koi. In ideal water conditions, the Koi have a life expectancy of 30 to 60 years. With a good diet, the koi can reach a length of one meter and a weight of up to 24 kilograms.
Koi should be kept in clean waters. Due to the fact that koi are animals that feel more comfortable in a group, care should be taken not to keep a koi alone. Keeping a Koi in isolation can have a negative impact on wellbeing and thus on its health.
Different characteristics determine a price for the individual Koi. If the koi is to be assigned to a certain koi variation, the consistency of the characteristics that classify the respective koi variation is decisive for the price of the individual koi.
These characteristics form the basis of the pricing of Koi. Another price-determining feature is, for example, the correct origin of the parent animals.
