Koiニシキゴイ
Cyprinus carpioNE— Not Evaluated
Koi are ornamental color varieties of the Amur carp, developed through selective breeding that began in the early 19th century in the Nijūmuragō region of what is now Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Long-lived and highly social bottom-feeders, they are prized worldwide for their vivid patterns and can live for decades, with some pond-raised individuals reportedly reaching a century or more. Elite show-quality koi command extraordinary prices at auction, reflecting the fish's deep cultural significance in Japan as a symbol of luck and perseverance.
Koi (reference photo)
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Species Data
- Classification
- Cypriniformes / Cyprinidae Source
- Size
- Typical kept individuals are about 70–80 cm in body length; in a good environment some grow to over 1 m
- Weight
- Unknown (large individuals can exceed 10 kg)
- Lifespan
- Often lives for decades in captivity, and cases exceeding 100 years have been reported under good conditions
- Diet
- Omnivore Omnivorous bottom-dwelling fish that eats a wide range of plant matter such as peas, lettuce, and watermelon, as well as commercial feed
- Distribution
- An ornamental variety bred from wild carp, koi originated in the early 19th century in the "Nijūmuragō" area spanning present-day Ojiya and the Yamakoshi region of Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, and are now kept and exported worldwide. Source
Did You Know?
- Koi have a well-known tendency to grow in proportion to the size of their environment, so the same individual might stay around 15 cm in a small tank but reach roughly 80 cm in a spacious pond. Source
- A koi named Hanako became famous after a 1974 scale-ring analysis reportedly put her age at 226 years, but the method is now considered to have miscounted growth rings, and the claim is no longer accepted. Source
- Koi are also known for fetching extraordinary prices; in 2018 a single fish sold to a Chinese collector for about $2 million, setting a record at the time. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3
Saitama SuizokukanSaitamaAbout 15 minutes (about 7 km) by taxi from Hanyu Station or Kazo Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line.
Aquamarine FukushimaFukushimaOpened in 2000
Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated (NE)
Sources
Support Conservation
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- Visit
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- Animal Supporter Programs & Giving
- Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
- Furusato Nozei
- Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.
FAQ
- Where do koi come from?
- Koi were developed from wild Amur carp through selective breeding that began in the early 1820s in the Nijūmuragō area, spanning present-day Ojiya City and the Yamakoshi district of Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Source
- How long do koi live?
- Koi commonly live several decades in good conditions, and some pond-raised individuals are reported to have lived over a century; a famous claim that one koi named Hanako reached 226 years is now considered a miscount of scale growth rings rather than an accurate age. Source
- Why do some koi grow much larger than others?
- Koi growth is strongly shaped by their environment—individuals kept in small tanks tend to stay small, while the same fish raised in a spacious pond can grow to around 70-80 cm or more, since their growth rate adjusts to available space. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3 Source
Books & gear
Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org