15 curiosities of the koi fish; The Japanese carp!

One of the most representative symbols of Japan is the koi fish. Those beautiful colored carp that brighten the ponds of Japanese gardens around the world, and that can reach an enormous size and weight.

When kept in a clean pond or aquarium and well cared for, these fish can become live more than 60 years.

The oldest specimens that have been recorded in Japan have weighed up to 40 kg, becoming authentic pets able to bond with their caregivers.

These and many other curiosities are what surprise the lovers of fish and Japanese culture when they discover the secrets behind the koi fish.

Would you like to know why it is a unique and highly valued fish across Asia? You will also want to keep it as a companion animal when you discover all that these extraordinary fish can do.

We analyze the figure of the koi fish in Japanese culture, known as the dragon fish or the 'living jewel'.

Main reason for paintings, legends, ancient talesAnd even the most beautiful Japanese tattoos, Japanese carp are much more than just river fish.

What is koi carp?

Koi fish are a type of carp from Asian countries. The name 'koi' is actually a Japanese word abbreviation nishikigoi.

Nishiki Means 'Beautiful colors', while goi means in japanese 'large tent'. A very simple but successful way to call koi carp, which attract a lot of attention for its bright and vivid colors.

These fish belong to the species Cyprinus carpio koi, which are common or domestic carp from wild fish farming.

Over the centuries, these animals have been used to populate the ponds of the private gardens and parks around the world, with a clear origin in the countries of China and Japan.

Unlike wild carp, koi carp can grow to reach a larger size, weight, and even live several decades.

The common carp breed that is raised in Japan It has very striking colors, while the wild carp from which it comes have a brown or olive hue.

At present there are many varieties of koi fish characterized by their colors.

In Japan, each of them receives a different name, with shades ranging from the purest white, reddish, orange, yellow tones, black, bluish or green, and the combination of several.

Koi fish curiosities that will surprise you

When we think of traditional symbols of Japanese cultureOne of the first that comes to mind is this river carp.

The Japanese koi has been part of the ancient and recent history of Japan, with a very important meaning in family legends.

During your trip to Japan, you will find koi fish in countless places. They are not only in the great most ponds in the country.

You can see the koi carp in works of art, stamped on gorgeous silk kimonos, in some matsuri and being part of the advertisements.

You will also see it among the japanese style tattoos most requested inside and outside the Japanese country.

If you also think it is a precious animal, when you meet these curiosities about the koi you will adore them even more. Find out more about the carp of Japan and be surprised by these details that very few know.

Origin of the koi fish

Koi fish are descendants of the common carp of the genus Cyprinus carpio. These fish were domesticated in China thousands of years ago.

Through different hybridizations the so exotic species that we know today. There are writings on the breeding of Chinese carp dating back to 500 BC

This was a common activity among the lords of the high society of countries of the Far East, who spent a lot of time achieve the perfect hybridization getting bigger fish with brighter colors.

Japanese koi fish in the Imperial Palace

Although today it is the most common fish in Japanese ponds, koi carp does not became fashionable in Japan until 1914.

Japanese Emperor Hirohito received a precious copy of koi as a gift, which became the main attraction of the pond of the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

This species was known as real koi fish, and little by little it was introduced into the ponds of different gardens and parks all over Japan.

Although since 1840, Japanese high society Koi was already breeding, it was not until the 20th century that these fish began to occupy public places so that everyone could enjoy their beauty.

Koi carp size and weight

Koi fish eat everything. They are an omnivorous species, which eats insects, seeds, and even meat, fruits or vegetables.

It is not surprising that with the gluttons they are they get to grow so much. The usual thing is that if they are well cared for, they will exceed 8 kg in weight, already measure almost 1 meter long.

Koi fish biggest in the world that has been recorded so far measured more than 120 cm long, and more than 40 kg in weight.

These large specimens can live for more than 30 years, although there are those who claim that some have lived up to 200 years.

An example of this is the fish named Hanako, which he lived from 1791 to 1977, a total of 226 years!

There are about 30 different color combinations

In Japan today there are 24 varieties of koi fish. However, in China and other countries Asians there are many other varieties, which at present do not stop increasing in number.

We must not forget that koi fish are the result of the hybridization of species. Some of the most common types and varieties in Japan They are:

• Sanke
• Utsuri
• Showa
• Bekko
• Koromo
• Shusui
• Hi utsuri
• Goshiki
• Ochiba
• Shiro bekko ...

There is also a special variety that symbolizes the flag of Japan called tancho kohaku, with the totally white body and a red circle in the middle of the head.

They usually hibernate in winter

In winter, when temperatures drop below 6ºC, koi fish go into hibernation.

During the winter months the tents become less active, reserving its energy to keep the body warm. They are located in the sunniest areas of the ponds, quite still and with little appetite.

With the arrival of spring, when the water begins to warm up, they become voracious fish that they eat everything they can find.

In the spring-summer season they go through a overgrowth phase, getting fat for the cold months ahead.

In summer they can be burned with the sun

Due to their light and bright colors, koi fish have a greater tendency to get sunburned.

So that they are well protected in summer, the ideal environment for them is a pond with deep water and shade, where to protect yourself in the hottest hours.

You can see the burns on koi fish as small spots or wounds on the head or back.

It is common for these fish, especially the older ones, develop tumors due to exposure to sunlight, much more common in species with light colors.

Koi fish competition with other species

The fish goldfish It is a distant cousin of the koi fish. Both species come from the wild fish hybridization, obtaining animals with bright and exotic colors.

However, just because they are family does not mean that they get along. In fact, koi fish they don't like to share a pond with other species.

These animals they live happier in a group, since they always move with their companions, with whom they share lunchtime and also rest.

But when there are other non-koi pond companions, they tend to intimidate them, stealing their food and even attacking them.

The intelligence of the Japanese carp

The Japanese koi fish is not just one of the most beautiful fish in the world, if not also one of the most intelligent.

In Japan there are breeders who are dedicated to train your pets, to the point of being able to do different tricks with them. The vast majority can even recognize their owners or the people who feed them on a daily basis.

These calm-looking fish are very observant, and in exchange for their favorite food they do all kinds of commands. You can teach how to eat from your hand, or to come to you at the sound of a bell.

Some very long-lived and well-taught specimens have passed as an authentic family heirloom from parent to child, who have cared for them as a member of the family.

Koi contests are held in Japan

For decades it has been celebrated all over the world different contests and trade shows in which the participants show the beauty of their koi specimens, as well as the different tricks that they have been taught.

One of the most important is the All Japan Koi Show contest, held every year in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

Do not miss this YouTube video with the prettiest koi fish of the 2020 edition, they are beautiful!

Participants win different prizes each year, and some interested parties can even pay incredible sums of money from plus 1 million euros for large specimens.

The most expensive aquatic pet in the world

Koi fish farming is quite a fruitful business in Japan. A well-kept and beautiful specimen it is usually sold for about € 100,000 on average.

More than a hobby, the care and breeding This carp fish is becoming more and more famous in the Japanese country.

There are koi fish collectors around the world who have come to pay more than 1.5 million euros for a single fish.

The purity of the specimen, the size, the colors and many other characteristics that make it a unique specimen, increase the final price of these aquatic pets that today are the most expensive in the world.

Is the koi fish eaten?

The main purpose for which the common carp began to be raised in China was to use it as food. Large and heavy animals were sought, which later were introduced to Japan as a source of food.

Koi carp meat is cooked like any other river fish, with a somewhat harder texture that requires a few extra minutes of preparation.

However, today this is not the goal of the breeding of these fish.

Even if they are edible speciesIt is recommended not to eat the species raised in ponds, because they tend to accumulate many toxins from stagnant waters.

The most tattooed fish in the world

The Japanese carp is one of the most characteristic japanese tattoos. This is due to the meaning behind this symbol for the Japanese themselves, as an example of determination and courage.

Over the years, the swimming koi fish has become the most tattooed drawing in the whole world, not just by members of the Yakuza.

When you swim against the current it means that the person who tattoos it on your skin is fighting adversity. But if the fish swims downstream, it has already overcome its big problem.

In addition to the classic black and white japanese mafia tattooAdding color to the Japanese carp also has a deep meaning. A red tent It is a symbol of love, but also of courage.

The black koi means male strength or success. The blue It is a sign of peace, while the koi turned into a dragon is rebirth.

Yin Yang symbol

In Japan there is a very old legend that says that the Yin Yang symbol comes from the union of two koi fish.

If you look closely, the two tears, represented in black and white, have the shape of two koi that they join their tails with their heads.

Yin Yang is a feng shui symbol that represents the union of man and woman among many other things.

In the Japanese country it has been used for centuries to wish a happy marriage to a couple, presenting itself in the form of two black and white fish that embrace forming an infinite spiral.

Legend of the black koi fish

Even if orange carp is the most common In Japanese ponds, the most highly valued fish is undoubtedly the black one.

You exist two kinds of black carp in Japan, one with a white body and black spots, and another with a completely black body.

This fish is considered as a protector for the home that retains all negative energy.

According to legend, when a black carp dies in a pond for no apparent reason, it is said to have been for retaining a lot of bad luck, protecting their masters.

The fish turned into a dragon

Another traditional legend related to the Japanese koi fish is that of the fish that swam upstream to become a dragon.

According to a story from China, a koi fish swam upriver towards the Dragon Gate located on top of a mountain.

When after crossing the door, the fish had become so strong that turned into a great dragon.

With shiny scales and a long muscular body, this is the greatest symbol of bravery that the Japanese use to cheer themselves up for a great personal challenge.

Do these characters sound familiar to you? In Nintendo's Pokémon video game they are represented by Magikarp and its evolution Gyarados.

A little fish that barely has the ability to fight or defend, which later transforms into one of the strongest and most fearsome water Pokemon.

The koi fish, along with the cherry blossom They have been the quintessential samurai symbols for centuries. A highly valued jewel in the Japanese country that has crossed borders, and that is becoming more and more important in the culture of Japan.

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