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 Overview
Koi (jap. = nishikigoi) started
appearing at the Caspian , Black , Ochotskian Sea and China in the 6th century
B.C. With the conquests of the Chinese, Koi came to Japan. At this time there
were 2 color mutations of the wild carp (lat.= Cyprinus Carpio), namely red and
gray. In Japan, the Koi was first mentioned in manuscripts written in the 2nd
century A.D. at the imperial court. In the 17th century A.D. there was a "Koi
as food breeding program" through the rice farmers in the mountains
of the province Niigata (north-west coast of the main island of Japan). Carp
were bred here for food, because the severe winter weather in this region cut it off from
the outside world. The first color mutations arose in the 19th century
A.D. by cross breeding different Koi species. The rice farmers were able to sell
them for excellent profits and created a much needed source of income.
European
Breeding
The first
European cross breeding was done at the end of the 18th century between
scale-less Koi ( Leather Carp) and partially scaled Koi (Mirror Carp). At the beginning of the 20th century
these carp reached Japan, and were used for breeding. In Japan they are called
doitsu - Koi (doitsu = German). In 1914 these kinds of Koi were presented for
the first time in Tokyo (Japan) and won second prize. After a decline in
breeding by lack of available feed, and WWII, koi breeding in Japan experienced
a comeback, especially with the advent of viable air transportation. Since 1980, Koi
are bred in Europe. These Koi are known as Euro - Koi, even if their parents are
Japanese.
Bred
where else?
Other countries breeding Koi
are: United States, Germany, Israel, Taiwan and Malaysia.
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