Black Koi Information

Koi fish come in a wide variety of colors and patterns but Black Koi are distinguished from other koi because of their black base coloring. There are many different varieties within each category, and even experts have not agreed on whether there are thirteen or fifteen categories, so it is unlikely that anyone seeing koi will be able to name them unless they are Japanese koi lovers.

Although koi did not originate in Japan it was the Japanese that first brought them to popular status, so much so that they are one of the most popular domestic fish worldwide. Because of the influence of the Japanese on their breeding and history the variants of species all have Japanese names. They began breeding them from Chinese carp starting with only two colors. The different colors and patterns emerged with breeding. They are a relative of the goldfish but a distinct species.

Black Koi, like all Koi, normally live to less than forty years but can live longer and the oldest officially recorded Koi was two hundred and twenty six years. They eat a wide ranging diet and live in fresh water. Male koi can be recognized by their concave anal section and sometimes by breeding spots appearing on their heads. Their behavior in the breeding season can also be a giveaway as males tend to do the chasing.

They breed in late spring or early summer, depending on the water temperature and the spawning will produce about a thousand eggs that will hatch in four to seven days. The fry will not show their color until they are a few weeks old. They become sexually mature at about ten inches and grow to around three feet. Koi need both space and company to do well. They are not a schooling fish but are very social and tend to gather in small groups.

One of the oldest species of black koi is the Magoi which can grow quite large and breeders are reintroducing it into other species to improve growth potential. The Magoi is actually a dark bronze color but appears black in the pond.

The most popular black koi is the Kumonryu, meaning “dragon fish,” perhaps because it resembles ancient paintings of dragons or its color markings suggest black dragons riding on white clouds. Other variants include the Karasu, another old species that can have a white or orange belly and the Matsukawabake that typically has white areas on its body but can change its color from completely black to completely white. Koi can change their coloring from the effects of their diet, temperature, season or health but their original color will reappear once normal conditions return.

The great variety of colors and patterns is one of the main attractions of keeping koi but it isn’t all visual. Koi owners have noticed that their fish have individual personalities. They will become used to seeing the owner or feeder and will even learn to feed from the hand. Black koi offer a rewarding experience for the owner not just as a decorative garden ornament but as a source of peace and joy that they can interact with.