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Identification of Koi Varieties
A field guide to Koi varieties to assist judges & enthusiasts in the identification of Koi.
Based on the Idea and Concept of Sarel van Rensburg
non metallic
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metallic
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white base colour with red markings |
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silver base colour with red/orange markings |
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white base colour with red & black markings (no black marking on head, sometimes black stripes in the fins) |
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silver base colour with yellow-gold or orange gold & black markings (no black on face, sometimes black stripes in fins) |
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white base colour with small black markings (no black markings on the head) |
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silver base colour with small black markings (no black markings on the head) |
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white base colour with red markings + red scales only have blue edge white base colour with red markings + red scales only have black edge or black centre white base colour with red markings where the matsuba (black centred scales) forms the occasional solid black marking or patch white base colour with red markings + red scales only have purple centres (matsuba) and resemble bunches of grapes budo goromo + solid black patches |
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silver base colour with red/orange/gold markings + dark edges or dark centres in the colours |
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single coloured white |
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single coloured silver/white |
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white base colour + each scale has a black centre (matsuba pattern) |
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silver fish with matsuba or pine cone pattern |
non metallic
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metallic
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black base colour with red and white markings + black and/or white and/or red marking on head (often with round black markings on base of pectoral fins) with dominant red with dominant white |
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black base colour with red/orange/yellow gold and silver markings + black and/or silver and/or red/orange/yellow gold marking on head (often with round black markings on base of pectoral fins) |
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black base colour with white "windows": black and white pattern on head (often with round black markings and/or stripes on base of pectoral fins) |
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black base colour with silver "windows": black and silver pattern on head markings (often with round black markings and/or stripes on base of pectoral fins) |
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black base colour with red "windows": black and red pattern on head (often with round black markings and/or stripes on base of pectoral fins) |
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black base colour with red-gold "windows": black and red pattern on head (often with round black markings and/or stripes on base of pectoral fins) |
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black base colour with yellow "windows": black and yellow pattern on head (often with round black markings and/or stripes on base of pectoral fins) |
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black base colour with yellow -gold "windows": black and yellow pattern on head (often with round black markings and/or stripes on base of pectoral fins) |
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non metallic
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metallic
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solid black base colour sometimes with red on belly black base colour + white fin tips black base colour + white fin tips and face black base colour + white head and fins black base colour + white markings with doitsu scalation black base colour with scales outlined in white creating a netting effect black base colour + white markings creating a "marbling" effect |
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non metallic
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metallic
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blue-grey base colour : full scaled distinct netting like pattern + orange or red belly, cheeks and fins |
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blue-grey base colour with no body scales except for double line of large blue/black scales on back and possible along the sides + orange or red belly, cheeks and fins |
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silver base colour with no body scales except for double line of large blue/black scales on back and possible along the sides + orange or red belly, cheeks and fins |
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blue-grey base colour with orange/red markings + black centres to scales (matsuba pattern) on base colour and colour pattern : black scales in doitsu variety pale base = Kindai Goshiki |
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silver base colour with yellow gold or red -gold markings. matsuba pattern (black scale centres) on base colour and colour pattern. black scales in doitsu variety. look for the peacock's eye-effect |
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blue-grey base colour with distinct net-like scalation blue-grey base colour with brown/orange markings : can also be brown base colour with blue or grey markings with distinct net-like scalation |
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non metallic
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brown /olive green fish, distinct scalation |
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green / yellow + doitsu scalation |
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non metallicpredominantly yellow
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metallicpredominantly yellow
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single colour yellow (often with red eyes) |
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single colour yellow/gold |
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single colour yellow + each scale has black centre (matsuba or pine cone) |
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single colour yellow + each scale has black centre (matsuba or pine cone) |
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yellow base colour with small black markings |
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yellow -gold base colour with small black markings (tora = tiger) |
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non metallic
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metallic
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single colour red + red fins |
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single colour red/orange |
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red base colour with small black markings (no black markings on head) |
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deep brick-red base colour |
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deep brick red |
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single colour orange |
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single colour orange |
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red base colour with pine cone pattern over back, individual scales have black centres / doitsu fish, black scales |
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red base colour with pine cone pattern over back, individual scales have black centres doitsu fish, black scales |
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red fish with white fin tips |
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non metallic
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metallic
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base colour white + orange or lemon gold (no black markings on scales) |
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silver base colour + orange-gold or lemon-gold markings (no black markings on scales) |
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base colour white + orange or lemon gold + pine cone pattern on back |
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silver base colour + orange-gold or yellow-gold markings covering virtually the whole body + pine cone (matsuba pattern) |
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non metallic
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metallic
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any base colour or combination of colours with circle of colour (red) on head only |
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any metallic base colour or combination of colours with circle of colour (red) on head only |