Koi fish are often referred to as “living jewels,” and for good reason. Their vivid colors, mesmerizing patterns, and graceful movements make them a prized addition to ponds and water gardens around the world. But koi aren’t just pretty to look at—their coloration and patterning are steeped in history, genetics, and culture. Understanding koi color patterns helps enthusiasts appreciate their fish more deeply and can even influence breeding decisions and competition success.

Whether you’re just beginning your koi-keeping journey or have a pond full of these elegant swimmers, this guide will walk you through the fascinating world of koi color patterns in a way that’s easy to understand and enjoyable to explore.

Why Color and pattern matter –>

• Importance of color and pattern beyond aesthetics: determining koi variety, quality, and value
• Origin of kou variety names come from Japanese terms.
• The three staple colors are Hi (red), Shiro (white), and Sumi (black). However, some other important colors are Ki (yellow), Ogon (metallic monochrome), and Muji (single color).

Popular Koi Varieties and Their Color Meanings –>

• Find out what the different color variations mean and the importance of their color placements.

Koi color changes over time –>

• Koi colors are not fixed and change as they age. Factors influencing color change are environment, diet, genetics, and seasons.
• It’s important to considering potential future coloration when selecting koi as they may not stay the same throughout their entire lifetime.

Koi scales: Texture and Appearance

• There are multiple different textures that make up the scares of a koi.
• Wagoi is the traditional scale, matsuba that creates a pine cone-like effect, Asagi and Net Patterns, and Gin Rin which is a reflective, shimmering scale. 

Doitsu Koi: The scaleless or partically scaled variety –>

• The Doitsu koi is originally from Germany and known for it’s smooth skin and unique patterns.
• It has three types of scale configurations;
  • Leather (kawi goi)
  • Mirror (Kagami Goi)
  • Armor (Yoro Goi)

Unique pattern highlights –>

• The Tancho is known for it’s single red spot on the head, resembling the Japanese flag
• Kuchibeni has a red patch around the lips, giving ith the lipstick koi nickname

Standard versus Butterfly fins –>

• The two different kinds of fins can give the koi a very unique appearance. The standard fins are short, oval-shaped and proportional.
• Meanwhile the butterfly fins are elongated, flowing fins, resembling butterly wings.

Shine and Sparkle on top –>

• Not only do koi have different patterns on their scale, but the finishes are also different.
• From metallic, reflective skin to scale sparkle each kind with it’s own unique name.

Color and pattern aren’t just for show—they help determine a koi’s variety, quality, and even its value in the world of koi appreciation and competition. Many of the terms used to describe koi varieties come directly from Japanese, where the names often reference a dominant color or a specific pattern feature. For example, the word Kohaku refers to one of the oldest and most popular koi varieties, known for its white body (Shiro) with red patches (Hi).

Koi color patterns can range from simple to complex and come in nearly every color imaginable: deep blues, sunny yellows, shimmering silvers, and bright oranges, among others. Still, there are three staple colors you’ll encounter most often:

• Hi – Red
• Shiro – White
• Sumi – Black

These three colors form the foundation of many popular koi varieties, although other colors like Ki (yellow), Ogon (metallic monochrome), and Muji (single color) also play an important role in the koi world.

1. Kohaku

One of the most classic koi, the Kohaku features a white body with patches of red. While this sounds simple, the exact hue and placement of the red can greatly affect the koi’s aesthetic appeal. A vivid, evenly distributed red on a clean white background is considered ideal. There are many pattern types within the Kohaku variety—for instance, a zigzag red pattern across the body is called Inazuma, or “lightning strike.”

Kohaku koi have been a staple in ponds for over a century and remain a top choice for beginners and collectors alike.

2. Sanke

Add black (Sumi) to the red and white base of a Kohaku, and you have a Sanke (also called Taisho Sanke). The black markings should be distinct and not overwhelm the red and white foundation. Sanke koi bring a dramatic flair to the pond with their tricolor beauty.

3. Showa

Where Sanke has black markings on a white base, the Showa variety flips the script: these koi have a black body with red and white markings layered over it. This makes for a bold, striking fish. Because the base color is black, the red and white must be vibrant enough to stand out against the dark background.

4. Utsuri

Any koi that has a black base color (Sumi) combined with just one other color—red (Hi), white (Shiro), or yellow (Ki)—falls into the Utsuri category. These koi are known for their dramatic contrast and deep, glossy blacks. They come in three main types:

Hi Utsuri (black and red)

Shiro Utsuri (black and white)

Ki Utsuri (black and yellow)

5. Bekko

Bekko koi are essentially the reverse of Utsuri. Instead of having a black base with another color, Bekko have a colored base (red, white, or yellow) with black markings over it.

6. Goshiki

Goshiki means “five colors,” and this variety is just as colorful as it sounds. Created by crossing Sanke with Asagi koi, Goshiki feature the red, white, and black of Sanke combined with the gray and blue of Asagi. There are two main subtypes:

Kindai Goshiki, which has a lighter, more modern appearance

Kuro Goshiki, which is darker and more traditional

Their multicolored scales give Goshiki a complex, net-like appearance that stands out in any collection.

One of the most fascinating aspects of koi is that their colors aren’t fixed. Just like people’s hair 

can lighten or darken with age, koi undergo ontogenetic color changes as they grow. A koi that begins its life with vibrant colors might mellow out over time, or vice versa. Environmental conditions, diet, genetics, and even the seasons can all play a role in how a koi’s colors develop.

This means that selecting koi for your pond isn’t just about how they look today—it’s also about their potential in the years to come.

Koi scales can affect how a fish looks as much as its color does. Here are some important scale-related features to know:

Wagoi (Traditional Scales)

Most koi fall under this category. These fish have a full set of uniform scales covering their bodies.

Matsuba

This variety features a pine cone effect—black markings in the center of each scale—that gives the fish a textured, reticulated look.

Asagi and the Net Pattern

Asagi koi are known for their blue-gray bodies with a net-like pattern formed by darker edges on each scale. This gives the fish a delicate, lace-like appearance that’s quite elegant.

Gin Rin

These koi shimmer and sparkle thanks to special, reflective scales. Although technically a scale deformity, Gin Rin koi are beloved for their dazzling, glittery effect, especially under sunlight.

Not all koi have scales. Doitsu koi—named after the Japanese word for “German”—were originally bred in Germany for easier cooking, as fewer scales meant less prep time. In the koi world today, Doitsu fish are admired for their smooth, shiny skin and unique patterns.

There are three main types of Doitsu scale configurations:

• Leather (Kawi Goi): Completely scaleless or with a single row of tiny scales
• Mirror (Kagami Goi): A row of large, reflective scales along the dorsal and/or ventral lines
• Armor (Yoro Goi): Irregular, scattered scales that look like patchwork armor

One thing to keep in mind is that Doitsu koi are generally less resistant to disease and may have shorter lifespans than their fully-scaled counterparts.

Some koi stand out thanks to distinctive and often symbolic markings:

• Tancho: A single red spot on the head, resembling the Japanese flag. This pattern is named after the Tancho crane, which also has a red mark on its head. Tancho koi are especially prized in Japan for their beauty and cultural significance.
• Kuchibeni: A red patch around the lips, making the koi look as if it’s wearing lipstick. These fish are often affectionately called “lipstick koi.”

These individual markings don’t define a variety on their own but can enhance the appeal and value of a koi within its category.

Koi aren’t just about bodies and scales—their fins also play a role in their appearance.

Standard Fins

Most koi have short, oval-shaped pectoral fins that are proportional to their body size. These provide efficient movement and a classic look.

Butterfly Fins

Also known as Hirenaga (which means “long fin”) or Dragon Fin koi, these beauties have elongated, flowing fins that resemble butterfly wings. As the koi grows, so do its fins, creating an elegant, almost mythical appearance. Butterfly koi often have longer barbels (whiskers), which can split and form delicate branches.

Although not always accepted in traditional Japanese koi competitions, butterfly koi are a favorite among hobbyists for their dramatic and ornamental appeal.

Sometimes koi shine so brightly that they appear almost metallic. But not all shine is the same.

• Hikari koi (from the Japanese word for “shining”) have metallic skin that reflects light evenly across their bodies.
• Ogon refers specifically to metallic, single-colored koi.
• Hariwake is a two-colored metallic koi, often white and yellow or white and orange.

It’s easy to confuse these with Gin Rin koi, but here’s the difference: Gin Rin koi sparkle because of their scales, while metallic koi shine because of their skin. Both add shimmer to a pond but in slightly different ways.

Whether you’re curating a peaceful backyard pond or entering the competitive world of koi shows, understanding koi color patterns helps you make informed choices and appreciate the nuances of each fish. Each koi is a living piece of art, shaped by genetics, environment, and time.

The more you know about these beautiful creatures, the more joy they can bring. So next time you gaze into your pond, take a moment to look beyond the surface beauty. Notice the subtle hues, the scale patterns, the unique markings. That’s where the true magic of koi lies.