Kikokuryu
A Kikokuryu (pronounced Key-Ko-Koo-Roo)is always a metallic and always a doitsu (scaless or partially scaled) variety of Koi or Butterfly Koi. Metallic refers to skin, color, and pec fins having a lustrous sheen to them. This is not to be confused with Gin Rin which refers only to a sparkle in the scales of scaled varieties. Kiko (for short) were originally developed from the non metallic Kumonryu variety.
The Kikokuryu is a metallic black and white fish developed from crossing Kumonryu to Doitsu platinum Ogon. They can range from black and white, to blue and white, and silver and white. Sometimes in young fish and/or with certain environmental conditions the black can be beneath the base white skin color of the fish, and the black will appear blue or silver in coloration because of the white overlay. Environmental changes in water temp, lighting, water chemistry, system background coloration, and other factors can cause this to happen
This is the breed that many sellers mistakingly identify as a “Ghost Koi”, Blue Matsuba, and even “Blue Kujaku” because that is a popular marketing name to buyers. These fish are not truly blue and that “blue” will change to black in time and with certain conditions, so don’t be fooled by their ignorance in misidentifying this breed. THIS BREED DOES NOT STAY PERMANTLY BLUE, or any color that comes from that changing black. this variety changes quite frequently.
Basically put, the black on this metallic breed is not the same type of black referred to as “sumi” on other breeds. Sumi is stable for the most part, whereas the black of the Kiko changes based on the factors listed above. The black of a Kiko tends to darken substantially in colder water, and the other factors mentioned. With certain individuals they can come out of my black background retail tanks very dark. Put it in a white bucket for a short time and it will change before your eyes! Sometime this change can be extreme. This is a trait it got from its cousin the Kumonryu. The difference is the Kumonryu changes for no apparent reason, but the Kiko changes much more predictably with the factors previously mentioned. This is one of my favorite breeds of Koi.
Over the years the Kikokuryu has been developed into some other breeds like Beni Kikokuryu, Kin Kikokuryu, and the Pastel Kin Kiko developed By Hanover Koi farms to be discussed below.
A Good Kikokuryu
A good quality Kiko has a very good skin luster and sheen throughout. You want to see no spots that are lacking color, especially on the head. The whiter the white of the fish the better quality it is, and remember that sheen is important. It can have black and/or white on the head, but it needs to be pleasing to look at if it has more than one color there. The colors should not be a flat , but more glossy. When the black is in the fully developed stage it should be inky black, and the white should be snow white in a perfect world. When the black is in the more subdued phase however it can appear as simply a light dusting of black powder that is hardly noticeable. This is a perfectly acceptable stage of the changing black of the Kikokuryu.
Beni KikoKuryu
The Beni Kikokuryu (Ben-ee—–key-ko-koo-roo) (Beni Kiko for short) was developed from the Kikokuryu. This breed is always a Doitsu (scale less or partially scaled) and always a metallic Koi.
A Beni Kiko is simply a Kikokuryu with an orange or red pattern on top of the standard colors of a Kikokuryu of black and white. As a matter of fact Hanover Koi Farms developed this breed, coincidentally the same time as the Japanese breeder that developed it in Japan. At that time I had no knowledge that they too were working on the same thing, at the same time. We therefore honor the Japanese naming of the breed, as they are the true masters of Koi breeding.
The Beni Kiko has a little different black color characteristics than the basic Kiko at times, but we won’t get into all that here, though. Know, however, that the black on any variation of Kiko changes, be it the basic Kiko, Kin Kiko, or the Beni Kiko.
A Good Beni Kikokuryu
A good Beni Kiko has bright colors with defined crisp edges to each color, as well as a balanced look overall in the patterns. The skin luster/metallic sheen is also an important factor when judging this breed for quality. The Kiwa (edges) of each color plate of the back pattern should have crisp edges all the way around. You do not want to see smeared or fading edges to these color plates. The body and fin conformation must be strong as well.
This is a very popular breed as it has many varied looks, colors, and patterns, and most times are very unique! It’s one of our favorite breeds of Koi!
Kin Kikokuryu
The Kin Kikokuryu (Kin—-key-ko-koo-roo) (kin Kiko for short) was developed from the Kikokuryu. This breed is always a Doitsu (scale less or partially scaled) and always a metallic Koi.
A Kin Kiko is simply a Kikokuryu with a yellow (and sometimes, but rarely orangish) pattern on top of the standard colors of a Kikokuryu of black and white. As a matter of fact Hanover Koi Farms developed this breed, coincidentally the same time as the Japanese breeder that developed it in Japan. At that time I had no knowledge that they too were working on the same thing, at the same time. We therefore honor the Japanese naming of the breed, as they are the true masters of Koi breeding.
A Good Kin Kikokuryu
Much the same as a Beni Kikokuryu, A good Kin Kiko has bright colors with defined crisp edges to each color, as well as a balanced look overall in the patterns. The skin luster/metallic sheen is also an important factor when judging this breed for quality. The Kiwa (edges) of each color plate of the back pattern should have crisp edges all the way around. You do not want to see smeared or fading edges to these color plates. The body and fin conformation must be strong as well.