Koi Lingo

Koi Glossary of Terms

Ai Goromo – a type of Goromo with deep blue coloring around their red scales
throughout the pattern
Aka Bekko – a solid red koi with black patterns
Aka Matsuba – a metallic solid red orange koi with black honeycomb pattern
down it’s back
Akame – a koi with red in it’s eyes
Ammonia – the gas expelled from a fish’s gills when it breathes
Asagi – koi that have a blue honeycomb-like pattern down the back with red or
orange on the sides, bottom and in the fins
Bekko – a koi with a solid colored body and black patterns
Beni – used to describe the color red on koi
Beni Kumonryu – a Kumonryu coupled with orange or red in the pattern *Beni Kumonryu patterns will change throughout their lifetime
Beni Matsuka Wabakke – a metallic koi with black, white and orange or red
patterns. *Beni Matsuka Wabakke patterns will change throughout their lifetime
Benigoi – a solid red koi
Bozu – a koi with no coloring on it’s head
Budo Goromo – a type of Goromo with blue or purple coloring around their red scales throughout the pattern
Chagoi – a solid brown, tan or copper colored koi with a hint of honeycomb pattern down it’s back
Dissolved Oxygen – the amount of how much oxygen is dissolved in the water
Doitsu – a koi of any variety that is all or mostly scaleless
Gin Rin – a koi with scales that shine and sparkle like glitter
Gold Crown Karasu – a solid black koi with yellow or orange on the head sort of resembling a crown
Goromo – a white based koi with red patterns that have black or blue edging around the scales
Gosanke – the top three koi varieties: Sanke, Kohaku and Showa
Goshiki – a koi with five colors: white, red, black and shades of blue that mix together in patterns (sometimes appearing purple)
Hajiro – a koi that is solid black with white fins and/or tail
Hariwake – a metallic white koi with patterns of orange or yellow
Heisi Nishiki – the doitsu version of a Yamato Nishiki
Hi – used to describe the color red on koi
Hi Asagi – an Asagi with more than “normal” red coloring
Hi Showa – a Showa with a mostly red pattern
Hi Shusui – a Shusui with more than “normal” red coloring
Hi Utsuri – a black-based koi with red or orange patterns
Hikari – metallic
Hikari Moyo – metallic koi varieties with bright color and patterns: Hariwake, Kikusui, Kujaku, Yamato Nishiki, Heisi Nishiki, Kikokuryu, and Kin Kikokuryu
Hikari Muji – koi Ogon varieties, Yamabuki, Platinum, Orenji, Nezu and Matsuba
Ice Wing Karasu – a solid black koi with white or silver fins
Karasu – a solid black koi
Kawarigoi – a non-metallic koi not of any other variety
Kawarimono – koi that cannot be grouped into any of the standard koi varieties
Ki – used to describe the color yellow on koi
Ki Bekko – a solid yellow or orange koi with black patterns
Ki Matsuba – a metallic solid yellow or orange koi with black honeycomb pattern down it’s back
Ki Utsuri – a black-based koi with yellow patterns
Kigoi – a non-metallic solid yellow koi
Kikokuryu – a doitsu highly metallic white based koi with black patterns
Kikusui – a highly metallic doitsu white koi with patterns of orange or yellow
Kin – used to describe the color gold on koi
Kin Ki Utsuri – a metallic Ki Utsuri
Kin Kikokuryu – a doitsu highly metallic white based koi with black and orange or yellow patterns
Kin Showa – a metallic Showa koi, these can have orange or yellow instead of red
Kohaku – a white-based koi with red patterns
Koromo – the koi group that is made up of Goromo and Goshiki
Kuchibeni – used to describe a koi with red lips, like it is wearing lipstick
Kujaku – a metallic white koi with a honeycomb pattern down its back as well as
orange or yellow patterns
Kumonryu – a doitsu koi with white, black and/or gray patterns. *Kumonryu
patterns will change throughout their lifetime
Maruten – a koi with a red tancho paired with other red patterns
Matsuba – a metallic solid white koi with black honeycomb pattern down it’s back
Matsuka Wabakke – a metallic koi with black and white patterns. *Matsuka Wabakke patterns will change throughout their lifetime
Midnight Matsuba – a Gin Matsuba that is a much darker gray than the “ideal” Gin Matsuba
Midorigoi – a doitsu non-metallic green koi
Nezu Ogon – a solid gray metallic koi
Nitrites – the natural byproduct when ammonia is converted by good bacteria through a process called Nitrosomonas
Ochiba – a koi that has a pattern of both Chagoi and Soragoi colors
Ogon – all solid colored metallic koi
Orenji – used to describe the color orange on koi
Orenji Ogon – a solid orange metallic koi
pH – the scales used to determine how acidic or basic water is
Platinum Ogon – a solid white metallic koi
Salt – pond salt is used to boost your fish’s natural defense system to shield off disease and add electrolytes in the water
Sanke – a white-based koi with red and black patterns
Seine – a long skinny net used to catch a large number of fish
Shiro – used to describe the color white on koi
Shiro Bekko – a solid white koi with black patterns
Shiro Muji – a non-metallic solid white koi
Shiro Utsuri – a black-based koi with white patterns
Showa – a black-based koi with red and white patterns
Shusui – the Doitsu version of the Asagi koi where the honeycomb pattern is instead a zipper-like line down the back
Smokey Joe – a term we call our line of Kin Kikokuryu koi
Soragoi – a solid silver or gray colored koi with a hint of honeycomb pattern down it’s back
Sumi – used to describe the color black on koi
Sumi Goromo – a type of Goromo with black coloring around their red scales throughout the pattern
Tancho – a koi of any variety with a colored circle on it’s head
Tancho Kohaku – a white-based koi with one single red circle located on it’s head
Utsurimono – koi Utsuri varieties, Shiro Utsuri, Hi Utsuri and Ki Utsuri
Yamabuki Ogon – a solid yellow metallic koi
Yamato Nishiki – a metallic white based koi with orange, yellow and/or black patterns.