Are Koi Fish In The Carp Family?

Koi fish are a colorful, ornamental versions of the common carp

. Though carp domestication is believed to have begun in China as far back as the 4th century, modern Japanese koi are believed to date back to early 19th-century Japan where wild, colorful carp were caught, kept and bred by rice farmers.

Whats the difference between a koi and a koi carp?

The common carps body is more compressed and taller than the koi fish with much of its growth being in the midsection while the koi fish tends to grow longer

. Selective breeding has lead to the perfect torpedo-like shape the koi has taken on with their midsection being thick and leading to a narrower head and tail.

Can koi breed with common carp?

Common carp and koi will breed and produce fertile offspring

. Bighead carp, grass carp, and black carp might be able to produce viable hybrids with koi (like goldfish do), but the hybrids are likely to be sterile (like mules or koi x goldfish).

Do goldfish turn into koi fish?

Koi will breed with the goldfish

. Some of the baby fish (fry) will be born brown or grey and may turn orange as they get older. These fish will not be pure koi, something that doesn’t really matter unless you are really into koi! Koi have whiskers called “barbels” while goldfish do not.

Are goldfish related to koi?

Both koi fish and goldfish are decedents of carp so they are actually

distant relatives

. The goldfish is far older than koi fish. Goldfish were developed in China over 1,000 years ago while koi fish have only graced our ponds since the 1820’s.

How do I identify a koi carp?

The easiest way to tell is from

fin shape and color

. Male koi have smaller, more pointed fins that are opaque and generally colorful. Female koi, on the other hand, have larger, rounded fins that are partly or completely translucent or even transparent.

Do people eat koi fish?

US Angler agrees that

koi are edible

because folks eat carp all over the world. Koi are Amur carp that have been specifically culled for their unique coloration and carp, despite their meager reputation as table fare, can be delicious.

Do koi reproduce?

Koi fish will breed once a year in a garden pond

. If you have male koi that are at least two years old and females that are at least three, you can expect them to spawn in the spring or summer. It is normal for koi to become more aggressive during spawning, so pay close attention to the process.

Are goldfish related to carp?

Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) are part of the carp family

but do not have barbells around their mouths. They vary in their fin configuration, coloration and in their body size, which is directly influenced by their environment.

Are koi just big goldfish?

Koi are all almost the same size

, but goldfish are usually wider and have an egg-like appearance. However, most goldfish have a variety of body types and shapes depending on their characteristics.

What is a ghost koi?

Ghost Koi are

a mix between a mirror carp and a metallic Ogon Koi

. Ghost Koi grow faster than standard koi and will have either a metallic shine, yellow scales or a ghost white appearance. Koi thrive in a stable environment.

Can koi live with guppies?

Answer:

Yes, high risk

. What is this? At only 2.5 inches long at their maximum adult size, guppies are quite small fish that are resultantly easy prey for koi.

Which is better koi or goldfish?

If you think that the larger the fish, the better it is then

koi clearly win out

. However, fish only grow to a size appropriate for their environments, so if your pond is only a few meters across, your koi won’t grow much larger than goldfish would, anyway.

Can koi and goldfish crossbreed?

Like many interspecies hybrids,

koi and goldfish hybrids are sterile

. This means they cannot reproduce at all, even with other hybrids. It doesn’t matter if the hybrid is male or female either. Both sexes will be sterile and, as far as studies have shown thus far, there are not exceptions to this rule.

What fish can live with koi?

• 1) Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
• 2) Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
• 3) Suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus)
• 4) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
• 5) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
• 6) Chinese high-fin banded shark (Myxocyprinus asiaticus)
• 7) Orfe (Leuciscus idus)

Are carp just big goldfish?

What’s so dangerous about a goldfish? As we mentioned before, they can reach monstrous sizes in the wild. Like all species of carp,

the domestic goldfish, Carassius auratus, grows to be as large as its resources will allow

(within reason, anyway).

Are koi hardier than goldfish?

While

goldfish are considered by some to be hardier than koi

, their needs vary more widely depending upon breed. Although smaller than koi, they produce a greater amount of waste in relation to their body size and as such require more dissolved oxygen (and more frequent pond cleaning).

Is a shubunkin a koi?

Shubunkin are from China and are very similar to goldfish and tend to be hardier and more resilient than koi. In general,

shubunkin are smaller than koi

and can be raised in a large aquarium. Shubunkin usually grow to 12 to 20 inches in length, depending on their environment.

Are koi and goldfish in the same family?

Koi and goldfish are part of the Cyprinidae family

, so there we refer to them as “cyprinids”. While being in the same family of species indicates a very close relationship, there is one even closer: genus. However, koi and goldfish belong to different genera (the plural for genus).

Are there mini koi fish?

The koi fish that you buy for your small pond will also be less expensive. But don’t let their small size or cheaper price fool you.

Smaller koi fish are just as beautiful as their larger relatives.

How much is koi carp worth?

At what age do koi breed?

Koi will start breeding when they reach sexual maturity. This happens when they are

at least two years old

and about 12 inches long. If you plan on breeding your Koi, it is better to wait until they are around 4 or 5 years old.

Is there a male fish?

You can determine the sex of your fish by inspecting its gonads (reproductive organs), which are located towards the top of the gut cavity. Mature female fish will have orange ovaries and

male fish will have white testes

(see photos above).

Do koi fish recognize their owners?

Most Koi owners will swear by their dog-like loyalty, emotions, and long-term memory. Strikingly like us, koi are equipped with a long-term memory and they also have the same senses that humans do. Not only are Koi great at remembering faces but

they can even recognize their own names

– try it at home!

Can koi fish bite you?

Are My Fingers Safe?

Koi won’t bite while you feed them, but may harmlessly pull on your finger as they try to get food

. Koi have very muscular mouths and will be able to give your fingers a noticeable “pull” if they manage to get ahold of any while feeding.

Are black koi rare?

Karasu, or Karasugoi, are the only true black colored koi

, and Japanese breeders have produced them for quite some time. However they were largely unknown in the West in recently. Some say that the Japanese developed them just after the Second World War, while others claim that their breeding predates it.