Black Koi Fish and Its Varieties

Japanese started breeding Koi from carp mutations and these fish then came with several color variations. One such wonderful variety is the Black Koi. Koi are distinguished for their excellent colors and varieties. They are famous for their long life span. Earlier, the oldest recorded Koi lived for around two hundred years but over time their longevity has been dramatically reduced. Now, if you take care of them properly and feed them with proper diet, they could live around twenty to thirty years.

Do you know how to find out the difference between male and female Koi? Males have a concave anal section, which the female varieties do not possess. Apart from that, there are other varieties of how male Koi can be differentiated from the female. Males also feature certain marks on the head. Black Koi usually breed during the period of spring and summer. These fish can produce around 1,000 eggs. When these eggs mature and hatch, they are known as Fry. Depending on the temperature of water, Fry start to get color within three to twelve weeks of age.

When the Koi become mature, they gain a length of around 36 inches. Thus, it is obvious that large Koi require a bigger area and hence a large pond is essential for their development. If somehow, managing a large pond is not possible, then at least the number of Koi should be decreased. The Magoi species are even bigger in size. The color of these fish are actually a rich bronze. But they appear black when they are looked upon from the top. Other species of Koi can be maximized by reintroducing the blood of Magoi into their species.

Another variety of Black Koi is the Karasu, which means crow in Japan. This is one of the oldest varieties. Their body texture is black and they feature black fins as well. The beauty of these Karasus is enhanced by their belly color, which is either orange or white.

Koi color of is directly related to their maintenance and environment. If they are looked after properly with nutritious food, clean healthy water and a stable living environment, their color will be bright and if not, they will turn dull. One species of Koi that can literally change color is the Matsukawabake. These fish have certain white patches on their body. According to seasonal changes or change in water temperature can turn Matsukawabake Koi into totally black or totally white. If these fish are again given their normal conditions, they amazingly regain their original color.