Most expensive Koi fish sold for a worth of $1.8 million; here's what makes the fish so special
Nishkigoi, commonly known as Koi fish, are a popular and striking species recognized for their vivid red and white coloring. Admired for their elegance and beauty so much so that even predators are captivated by their appearance.
High value Koi are typically bred by prestigious Japanese breeders with decades of experience.
Koi fish are not only elegant but possess other notable characteristics; they are strong, intelligent and resilient creatures that can live longer,with a life span ranging from 25 to 40 years. This fish is loved by many pet owners because of their friendly nature.
Spending millions on Koi fish may sound surprising, but the factors such as- bloodline, pattern, size and gender, significantly determine their value.
Female Koi are more valuable than males, as females grow bigger and have better body shape and color retention.
S Legend Koi fish sold for a worth millions
According to A-Z-Animals reports, in October 2018, S Legend, a Kohaku variety, brought in a whopping $1.8 million. The 39-inch colorful female carp was bought by Ms. Ying Ying Chung, a Koi enthusiast and collector, from the renowned breeder Kentaro Sakai.
While a standard Kohaku koi that costs just $50, the price paid $1.8 million for S Legend was shocking.
The reason for the high price was pretty clear, the particular fish species could lay up to 1000,000 eggs during one breeding season. Even if only 1/% matches the high-quality standards, it would yield a significant number of premium Kohaku koi- making a profitable investment. Additionally, Kohaku Koi can grow up to 50 inches, and their value increases as their size increases.
But, the million dollar S Legend died in 2019
Types of Kohaku koi fishes
There are a variety of Kohaku koi in the market, including:
Asagi
These are characterized by a blue or indigo body, and red at the base of the pectoral fins. They are one of the oldest koi varieties and are recognized by their 'net-like' pattern of scales. The red at the base of the pectoral fins is called Motoaka.
Bekko
Bekko koi are a simple, beautiful koi variety characterized by a solid colored body (white, red, yellow) with black sumi markings. Bekkoi koi have a simple stepping stone pattern. They are essentially Taisho Sanke Koi without the red (Hi) markings.
Doitsu
Doitsu are German carp that are scale-less. Depending on the type of Doitsu, there may be scales along the lateral and dorsal lines of the koi or no scales at all.
Ginrin
Ginrin indicates the group of koi varieties that have diamond scales on their entire bodies. These scales are different from metallic and Platinum koi due to their scales being reflective and shining in the light.
Hiirenga / Butterfly
Hirenaga Koi are the butterflies of the water, and are known for their graceful, flowing fins. The long fins and tail of the Hirenaga should be solid without tears and ideally should be symmetrical.
Platinum
Platinum Koi can grow to be jumbo and are most treasured when they have a beautiful solid metallic shine with no blemishes or scars. They shine beautifully in a dark pond, with their almost reflective bodies.
Showa
Showa are beautiful koi, with colors of white, red, and black painted across their bodies. Showa are one of the 'Big 3'koi fish along with Taisho Sanke and Kohaku Koi.
All these fishes have different price tags, depending on their physical characteristics.
The most valuable ones have a bright white on their tails, pectoral and dorsal fins. The value of Koi fish decreases due to the soft edging of a koi colour's pattern. Some less valuable species are Komoyo, Makibara, Kuchibeni, and Shiromuji.
Colours of Kohaku koi fishes
The colors of Kohaku Koi, depend on their age and sex. Female koi fish take more time to attain their red coloration, and they continue to retain as they grow older. Whereas, male koi fish develop their coloring early, but the color tends to fade as they age.
Diet of Kohaku koi fishes
Additionally, the diet of the Koi fish plays a major role in developing and retaining health and coloration. The diets of the fish should contain plenty of protein, spirulina, and krill to achieve the best results.
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