I received a email from a blog visitor who is deciding which Koi to buy.
Photo below shows a selection of Sakai tosai Sanke, size around 20~25cm.
He has shortlisted Koi 1 or Koi 2 in the photo above. All things being equal, which Koi would you take and why?
Is there any other that you think may be even better? Comments and opinions appreciated.
A Kohaku is a variety of white skinned Koi with bright red markings over their body. Most people who started the Koi hobby will have the most number of this Koi variety in their collection.
A Koi with a completely white body and only a red patch on its head is a Tancho Kohaku or Tancho for short. If the patch is round in shape, it is especially prized by the Japanese and collectors since such patterns are rare and it also resemble the Japanese national flag.
This is one of my favourite Koi in my pond. This fish have a nice circular red patch on its head. I bought this Koi, when it was about 20 cm long, from Nippon Koi Farm which imports Koi bred in Japan. They also breed some locally. That was in Jan 2008 when I first moved into my current house and was stocking up my new pond. This was one of the 2 Kohaku I bought that day, along with some varieties of Koi. This “Tancho” Kohaku is a female and has a nice bulky body shape. It is now about 50 cm long.
The photo below shows the other kohaku that I bought that day. Bought it for its colour and nice 2-step pattern. It is also about 50 cm now but, to my disappointment, its body shape is too slim. Probably a male.
