Koi Varieties Guide: Kohaku, Sanke, Showa and More
A friendly overview of the major koi varieties: Kohaku, Taisho Sanke, Showa, Ogon, Asagi, Utsuri, and Butterfly koi. Learn how to tell them apart, with care that stays the same across them all.
Walk past a koi dealer and the names come thick and fast: Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Ogon, Asagi, Utsuri, Butterfly. It can feel like learning a new language, but the big idea is simple. Koi varieties describe color, pattern, and scale type, not different fish. Every variety in this guide is the same species with the same needs, so care is identical across them all. This guide helps you tell the major types apart, then points you to one care routine that works for every koi in your pond.
The major koi varieties at a glance
| Variety | How to recognize it | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Kohaku | White body with red markings; the classic koi | White, red |
| Taisho Sanke | White base with red and black; little black on the head | White, red, black |
| Showa | Black base with red and white; black wraps the head | Black, red, white |
| Ogon | Single solid metallic color, glossy and uniform | Gold, platinum, orange |
| Asagi | Blue-gray net pattern on the back, red on the sides | Blue-gray, red |
| Utsuri | Black base with one contrasting color in blocks | Black with white, red, or yellow |
| Butterfly koi | Long, flowing fins and barbels; any coloring | All colors and patterns |
A closer look at each variety
Kohaku
The most famous koi of all: a clean white body marked with crisp red (called hi). A good Kohaku has bright, even white skin and well-defined red patterns with sharp edges. The saying among hobbyists is that you begin with Kohaku and you end with Kohaku, because judging the balance of red and white is a lifelong study.
Taisho Sanke
Often shortened to Sanke, this is a white-based koi adding black markings (sumi) to the red and white. The black typically sits on the body rather than the head, floating like brushstrokes over the pattern. Sanke essentially builds on Kohaku coloring with a third color.
Showa
Showa also carries white, red, and black, but it is a black-based koi, so the sumi is bold and wraps across the body and head. The easy field test: black on the head leans Showa, while a clear head leans Sanke. Showa often look more dramatic and graphic because of that heavy black base.
Ogon
A single solid metallic color with a glossy, uniform sheen, from gold to platinum to orange. Ogon are dazzling in sunlight and tend to hold their color reliably, which makes them a favorite for beginners who want shine without the complexity of multi-color patterns.
Asagi
One of the oldest koi types, Asagi show a blue-gray net pattern across the back where each scale is edged in a lighter shade, with red or orange along the sides and cheeks. The reticulated back is the signature look.
Utsuri
A black-based koi with one contrasting color in large blocks: white (Shiro Utsuri), red (Hi Utsuri), or yellow (Ki Utsuri). The strong two-tone contrast and wrapping black make Utsuri striking, especially the black-and-white Shiro Utsuri.
Butterfly koi
Also called longfin or dragon koi, these are koi bred for long, flowing fins and barbels. They come in every color and pattern above, so you can have a butterfly Kohaku or a butterfly Ogon. Their care matches standard koi, though those long fins can be more easily damaged and benefit from clean water and predator netting. For a full breakdown, see our butterfly koi care guide.
The care is the same: here is what every koi needs
This is the key message of the whole guide. Whichever varieties you choose, the care does not change. Every koi needs the same foundation, which we cover in depth in our koi care guide:
- Pond size: roughly 1,000 gallons or more, since koi grow large and produce heavy waste. Confirm your real volume with the pond volume calculator.
- Depth: at least 3 feet for growth, temperature stability, and safe overwintering.
- Stocking: do not overstock; check numbers against adult size with the koi stocking calculator.
- Water quality: zero ammonia and nitrite, stable pH, and adequate KH, built on a fully cycled filter.
Get those right and a Kohaku, a Showa, and a Butterfly koi will all thrive side by side. Variety is the part you choose with your eyes; care is the part you do the same for every fish.
Color-enhancing koi food for vivid varieties
Haruto Koi Food Color Enhancer, 11 lb
Color-enhancing formula that supports rich reds and clean scale appearance.
Tetra TetraPond Koi Vibrance Soft Sticks
Floating soft sticks formulated to enhance koi and goldfish coloration.
Blue Ridge Platinum Pro Floating Koi Food, 4.5 lb
Premium floating pellet for steady growth and condition across all varieties.
Kaytee Koi's Choice Floating Fish Food, 10 lb
Everyday floating staple for koi and goldfish in any mixed pond.
Feeding for color
Color in koi comes first from genetics, but diet and conditions help the fish show their best. A balanced, color-enhancing food rich in natural carotenoids and spirulina supports vivid reds and clean whites, while clean water and natural sunlight bring out the metallic sheen on Ogon and the contrast on Utsuri. No food paints color a koi was not bred to carry, so choose your varieties for the look you want and feed well to maintain it. Feed only what the fish finish in a few minutes and ease off as the water cools below roughly 50 F.
Seasonal notes for every variety
Because care is shared, the seasons matter the same for all koi. In summer, oxygen and algae are the focus, covered in our summer pond care guide. In winter, koi of every variety slow down and settle in the deep zone, and a frozen pond needs a de-icer to keep a gas-exchange hole open, as explained in our overwintering koi guide. The patterns may differ, but the pond, the water, and the calendar treat them all alike.
Choose the varieties that make you smile, mix them freely, and give them one consistent, excellent care routine. That is the whole secret of a beautiful koi pond.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of koi?
The most popular varieties include Kohaku (white with red), Taisho Sanke (white with red and black), Showa (black with red and white), Ogon (single metallic color), Asagi (blue-gray net pattern), Utsuri (black with one other color), and Butterfly koi (long, flowing fins). These are grouped into recognized classes by color, pattern, and scale type, but they are all the same species of koi.
Do different koi varieties need different care?
No. Care is essentially identical across every koi variety. A Kohaku, a Showa, and a Butterfly koi all need the same pond size, depth, water quality, diet, and seasonal care. Variety describes color, pattern, and finnage, not biology. Pick the koi you love to look at, then give them all the same excellent care covered in our koi care guide.
What is the difference between Sanke and Showa?
Both carry white, red, and black, but the base color differs. A Taisho Sanke is a white-based koi with red and black markings, and its black does not usually appear on the head. A Showa is a black-based koi with red and white, and the black wraps around the body and head. A simple test: if you see black on the head, it is more likely a Showa.
What are butterfly koi?
Butterfly koi, also called longfin or dragon koi, are koi bred for long, flowing fins and barbels. They come in all the standard colors and patterns, from metallic Ogon types to Kohaku coloring. Their care is identical to standard koi, though the long fins can be more prone to damage and need clean water and predator protection. They are not a separate species.
Which koi variety keeps its color best?
Metallic single-color koi like Ogon and the solid blacks tend to hold color reliably, while red-and-white patterns can shift over a koi life. Color depends on genetics, diet, water quality, and sunlight. A balanced, color-enhancing food rich in natural carotenoids and spirulina supports vivid reds and clean whites, but no food creates color the fish was not bred to show.
How many koi varieties can I mix in one pond?
As many as you like, because they are all the same species with the same needs and they school together happily. A mixed pond of Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Ogon, and Butterfly koi is a classic and beautiful setup. Your only real limit is bioload. Size the pond and pump for the total number and adult size of fish, not the number of varieties.
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