Koi Types Guide: 12 Varieties & How to Choose

By Josh K From AuqaCubby

Josh has been an aquarium and pond enthusiast for over 35 years. He brings his love for aquaculture and experience to others

Reviewed by Josh K., Aquarium and pond enthusiast for over 35 years

Key Takeaways

• Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa (the "Gosanke") are the three most popular and collectible koi varieties.
• Choose koi by body shape and skin quality first, then color pattern and variety.
• Ghost and Chagoi koi are the friendliest and easiest for beginners to hand-train.

Koi Types Guide: 12 Varieties & How to Choose the Right One

Koi come in dozens of named varieties, but most ponds are stocked with 12 core types sorted by color, pattern, and scale style. The right choice depends on your water volume, budget, experience level, and whether you want show-grade fish or hardy, friendly pets. Below is a practical breakdown of the 12 varieties you'll meet most often, how to tell them apart, and what to prioritize when you buy.

Quick Comparison: 12 Koi Varieties at a Glance

Variety	Main Colors	Scale Type	Difficulty	Best For
Kohaku	White + red	Standard	Moderate	Classic show ponds
Taisho Sanke	White + red + black	Standard	Moderate	Collectors
Showa Sanshoku	Black + red + white	Standard	Moderate	Bold patterns
Utsurimono	Black base + white/red/yellow	Standard	Moderate	High contrast look
Bekko	White/red/yellow + black spots	Standard	Easy	Beginners
Asagi	Blue-gray net + red belly	Standard	Easy	Traditional ponds
Shusui	Blue + red, scaleless with dorsal row	Doitsu	Moderate	Unique texture
Koromo	Kohaku pattern with blue edging	Standard	Advanced	Experienced keepers
Goshiki	Five-color mix on dark base	Standard	Moderate	Deep, painterly look
Chagoi	Solid brown/olive/bronze	Standard	Very easy	Friendliness & growth
Ogon	Solid metallic gold/platinum	Hikarimono	Easy	Visibility in deep ponds
Butterfly (Hirenaga)	Any color, long flowing fins	Any	Easy	Ornamental display

The 12 Koi Varieties Explained

1. Kohaku

The most iconic koi: a snow-white body (shiroji) with crisp red markings (hi). Judges look for clean edges, balanced pattern distribution, and no red on the head wrapping into the eyes or mouth. Kohaku is the benchmark against which many other varieties are measured.

2. Taisho Sanke (Sanke)

A Kohaku pattern with added black markings (sumi), usually above the lateral line and never on the head. Sanke suit keepers who want more visual complexity without the heavy black of Showa.

3. Showa Sanshoku (Showa)

Black-based koi with red and white overlaid in bold, wrapping patterns. Showa typically have sumi on the head and black that wraps the body — the easiest way to distinguish them from Sanke.

Together, Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa form the Gosanke, the three most prized varieties in koi shows worldwide.

4. Utsurimono (Utsuri)

A black koi with one secondary color: Shiro Utsuri (white), Hi Utsuri (red), or Ki Utsuri (yellow). Think of it as a Showa with only two colors. Great for ponds where you want dramatic contrast.

5. Bekko

A white, red, or yellow koi with small, evenly placed black spots — the mirror image of Utsuri. Bekko are often more affordable and forgiving, which makes them a reasonable starter variety.

6. Asagi

One of the oldest koi lineages. Blue-gray reticulated scales form a net pattern on the back, with red or orange on the belly, cheeks, and fin bases. Asagi tend to be hardy and age gracefully.

7. Shusui

The scaleless (Doitsu) version of Asagi, with a single row of large scales along the dorsal line. The clean blue back and red sides read beautifully from above.

8. Koromo

A Kohaku pattern where each red scale is edged in blue or black, giving a "robed" appearance. Koromo develop their best color with age, which makes them an investment variety rather than an impulse buy.

9. Goshiki

A five-color koi (white, red, black, and two shades of blue) that looks almost painterly as it matures. Modern Goshiki often appear as a Kohaku pattern over a dark, netted base.

10. Chagoi

A solid brown, olive, or bronze koi. Not flashy, but Chagoi are famous for being the friendliest and fastest-growing variety — they often learn to eat from your hand within weeks and encourage shyer koi to follow suit.

11. Ogon

Solid metallic koi in gold, platinum, or orange. Their reflective skin makes them highly visible in deep or shaded ponds, and they're generally easy to keep.

12. Butterfly Koi (Hirenaga)

A hybrid with long, flowing fins and barbels. Not accepted in traditional Japanese shows, but extremely popular in Western ornamental ponds for their graceful movement.

How to Choose the Right Koi

Start with body shape, not color

A healthy koi has a torpedo-shaped body, symmetrical fins, clear eyes, and smooth, unbroken skin. Color patterns fade or shift with age — body conformation does not. Any variety becomes disappointing if the fish itself is weak.

Match the variety to your experience

• Beginner-friendly: Chagoi, Ogon, Bekko, Butterfly, Asagi
• Intermediate: Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Utsuri, Shusui
• Advanced/collector: Koromo, Goshiki, high-grade Gosanke

Koromo and high-grade Gosanke change significantly as they grow, so predicting adult quality takes experience. If you're new, buy something you already love at its current size.

Size your pond honestly

Koi routinely reach 24–36 inches and need roughly 250+ gallons per adult fish, with strong biological filtration and a minimum depth that prevents freezing or overheating. Overstocking is the single most common cause of disease and poor color. Tracking water parameters and stocking levels with a pond tracking and care app can help you stay on top of your pond's health before problems develop. For general pond management guidance, the University of Florida IFAS Extension is a solid reference.

Mix for personality, not just looks

A Chagoi or two in a mixed pond will often "train" the rest of your koi to be bolder at feeding time. If hand-feeding and interaction matter to you, include at least one.

Buy from a reputable source

Avoid koi displayed in cloudy water, tanks with dead fish, or shared systems with obvious ulcers, clamped fins, or flashing. Reputable dealers quarantine incoming stock and can tell you the fish's bloodline, age, and origin.

Answers to Common Koi Questions

Which koi variety is the most desirable?

High-grade Kohaku is traditionally considered the most desirable, which is why koi keepers say, "Start with Kohaku, end with Kohaku." Rare, well-patterned Gosanke bloodlines routinely command the highest prices at auction.

Which koi are the friendliest?

Chagoi are widely regarded as the friendliest koi — curious, food-motivated, and quick to hand-train. Ogon and Butterfly koi are close behind.

What is the rarest color of koi?

True solid-black (Karasugoi) and pure platinum with no blemishes are uncommon, but the rarest sought-after type is usually a flawless high-grade Ki Utsuri (yellow and black) with crisp pattern edges.

How do I know what type of koi I have?

Identify in this order: (1) scale type — standard, Doitsu (scaleless), or metallic; (2) base color; (3) secondary pattern colors; (4) where the pattern falls (head, body, fins). That sequence narrows almost any koi to one or two varieties.

What are the three most popular types of koi?

Kohaku, Taisho Sanke, and Showa Sanshoku — collectively called the Gosanke.

What to Avoid When Choosing Koi

• Buying on color alone from a young fish. Pattern and color shift dramatically in the first two years.
• Mixing new koi without quarantine. Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) and parasites spread quickly in warm water; quarantine new arrivals in a separate system for 2–4 weeks.
• Overstocking a small pond for variety. Five healthy koi look better and live longer than fifteen crowded ones.
• Treating with salt or baking soda without testing first. Pond salt (used sparingly) can help with mild parasites and nitrite stress, and baking soda raises KH to stabilize pH — but adding either blindly, without a test kit, can swing water chemistry and harm your fish.

When to Get Expert Help

If you're planning your first pond, selecting high-grade koi, or troubleshooting persistent water-quality or disease issues, a koi health specialist or aquatic veterinarian is worth the call before you spend serious money on fish. For stocking, filtration sizing, and species-pairing questions, AquaCubby — for ponds, freshwater & saltwater aquariums — is happy to help you match the right varieties to your setup so your koi thrive from day one.

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Published by AquaCubby.