Japanese Koi fish are something like living art exhibits. They are beautifully patterned and fun to watch swim around. These guys have been making ponds more fun for centuries, and none have been more prolific in doing so than the Kohaku Koi fish.
Kohaku Koi fish are the stereotype for the species as a whole. They’re big, red-and-white patterned, and very pretty. Originally from Japan, they’re now popular all over the world. They can be kept in any sized Koi pond and fed almost anything. Not only that, they can live for extremely long amounts of time!
If after reading this post, you're looking to buy Kohaku koi for your pond, check out our providers directory. There are both online and stores local to your area where you can get one or more kohaku to add to your pond.
Want the details? Here’s what you need to know about Kohaku fish.
Kohaku Koi fish are classic; they’re what people picture first when you say “Koi fish.” They can grow to be around 120 cm (or almost 50 inches!) but usually stay in the 60 cm (24 inches) range because of pond sizing.
They’ve got ghostly white (or sometimes pinkish) fins at their sides, tail, and back and have significant, distinctive, and slightly weird eyes. Think Jaws, but harmless and googly-eyed.
Oh, and let’s quickly clear up a common misconception - Koi fish aren’t just giant goldfish. For some reason, people think they’re the same species, but although they both come from varieties of carp, they’re distinctly different animals. Sorry, your local fair isn’t handing these guys out in tiny plastic tanks.
The most remarkable thing about Kohaku are their colors and patterns. These guys are large fish and roundish with beautiful red markings(or orange) and white color all over their bodies. There are a few varieties of “Hi” (red) patterns.
You can also identify a Kohaku Koi fish from its head pattern, which is sometimes done when showing the animals in competitions. They’re often bred specifically for a kind of pattern, making authentic, distinctive Kohaku of any variety well sought after.
The Kohaku Koi fish is one of the oldest varieties of Koi. They’ve been popular for thousands of years since their domestication from wild populations. Naturally preferring fresh, relatively still water, these beautiful fish are perfect for Koi ponds of almost any description.
As with most other varieties of Koi, breeders first bred the Kohaku Koi fish in Japan. Now, though, you can find these ornamental fish in markets around the world. They’re a common addition to landscape water features in the United States and some places in the United Kingdom.
You can buy a Kohaku Koi fish online, through many direct importers, or sometimes at your local pet store.
Caring for a Kohaku Koi fish is relatively easy. They’re omnivorous, meaning they will eat pretty much anything they can find in their garden pond, although a classic favorite is algae. Some professional Kohaku breeders will feed their tanks using a floating pallet of algae the fish can nibble on. There are also specialized pellets that you can buy to feed them.
Kohaku Koi fish will grow to fit in whatever pond you put them in, so make sure you’re ready to care for big fish if you’ve got a bigger feature pond! Unless you’re prepared to have hundreds of tiny Koi floating around every May through June, keep your male and female Kohaku Koi fish in different ponds.
If taken care of properly, a Kohaku Koi fish can live for upwards of 40 years. There have even been reports of them living more than 100 years at a time! Needless to say, these guys will be lovely, low-maintenance friends for many years to come.
Kohaku koi fish are not only easy to care for but their unique colors and patterns will add quite a bit of life and beauty to any koi pond. With proper care, especially with attention to maintaining the correct water temperature in the pond, these carp fish can provide pleasure and entertainment for decades.
