The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care Koi fish (nishikigoi) are a type of carp originally from Japan. They are different from Goldfish in that the Chinese used selective breeding of the Prussian carp to produce the different colors of goldfish until the fish are considered a different spices from the carp.
If Koi are set free they revert back to the common carp while goldfish won't. Koi and goldfish can interbreed but the offspring will be sterile.

Koi are really popular for outdoor ponds but caution must be taken to keep them safe from predators. These colorful fish can't hide and are an easy catch.
During the winter in cold climates the Koi won't eat much and will stay quiet until spring. Ice needs to be broken in some spots to make sure the water has enough oxygen or else the fish will die.

Koi reproduce by laying a large amount of eggs and the male fish will fertilize
them. Raising the baby fish or fly can be tricky and are mostly done by professional fish breeders. Of course there are several books to choose from on this page that will explain the "how" of breeding and raising Koi.

Koi fish can be sold for a lot of money based upon their color pattern. There are also shows for these ornamental fish. If you are interested in selling them for profit you should invest in some good books that will explain show quality and prices. Experience breeders know the difference between ones that are worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. One of the most popular category of the Koi fish is the Gosanke. The Gosanke is then split into more varsities like the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku. There are so many varsities and colors of the Koi and some of the major ones are listed here:

"The major named varieties include: Kohaku - a white-skinned Koi, with a red pattern Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) - a white-skinned Koi with a red and black pattern Showa Sanshoku (Showa) - a black-skinned Koi with a red and white pattern Tancho - Any koi with the only red being in a circle on its forehead. The fish can be a Tancho Showa, Tancho Sanke, or even Tancho Goshiki Asagi - a Koi with light blue scales on its top and red scales on its bottom Shusui - the partially scaled version of an Asagi Bekko - a white, red, or yellow-skinned Koi with a black pattern Utsurimono - a black Koi with a red, white, or yellow pattern Goshiki - a mostly black Koi with red, white, brown, and blue accents Ogon - a Koi that is one solid color, can be regular or metallic; known colors - red, orange, platinum, yellow and cream Ghost koi - "Hybrid" of Ogon and wild carp. Not Nishikigoi.

Kin Gin Rin - a Koi with shiny scales. The name translates into English as " Gold Silver Scales" There are also Gin Rin versions of almost any other type of koi. Kawarimono (kawarigoi) - Miscellaneous types of Koi Doitsu-goi - German Carp Koromo - Koi with areas of blue-edged scales aligned neatly Hikari-Moyomono - Koi with coloured patterns over a metallic base, and koi in two metallic colours Butterfly koi - Long-finned version of all others. Not Nishikigoi." This information on varieties is found: Wikipedia Encylopedia Commissions Earned

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