Chinese Koi Fish (Cyprinus carpio)
The Chinese Koi Fish belong to the carp family. These beautiful fish are believed to originate from eastern Asia, in the Black, Caspian, Aral Seas and China. This species can survive and adapt to many climates and water conditions, which allowed for them to be located world wide today.
The Japanese term “Koi†simply means carp. These fish have a vast variety of colors, patterns and scalations, but their body shape is very similar. While the colors and patterns are virtually limitless, some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. The Japanese are credited with further developing the various colors and patterns that these fish have, even though their history dates back 20 million years to China. Today, these fish are used for ornamental or decorative purposes in aquariums and ponds.
Many people confuse Koi fish with Goldfish, but they are not the same. Although they both come from the carp family, they are a different species. Goldfish have the vast colorations and patterns like the koi and it may be difficult to tell them apart. However, Goldfish tend to be smaller and have a variety of body and fin shapes, that the koi do not.
Koi are an omnivorous fish, and will eat a wide variety of foods. In the winter, their digestive systems slow nearly to a halt, and they eat very little, perhaps no more than nibbles of algae from the bottom. Koi fish that are kept as pets, will recognize the persons feeding them and gather around them at feeding times. They can be trained to take food from one’s hand.
Information courtesy of wikipedia.org/wiki/koi_fish
Photo courtesy of myfavorite-pets.blogspot.com