In China, fish are very lucky. In fact, the Chinese word for fish sounds similar the word for 'surplus' or 'abundance'.

Perhaps for this reason having a koi fish tattoo featuring a beautiful koi fish is supposed to bring you wealth and bounty for years to come.

There is also a legend saying that the koi fish succeeds in climbing a fall called the (dragon gate on the yellow river) and would transform into a dragon. Because of the legend the koi became a huge symbol for worldly advancement and aspiration. The koi is also associated with many positive and masculine qualities. This is why it is made for the annual Boys Day Festival held in Japan where it is shown as a colorful streaming flag traditionally used to show each son in the family. Most koi tattoos in the imagery especially if used with flowing water means the same, the ability to finish high goals, overcoming hard difficulties. And of course courage.

So people say that koi fish can live more than 100 years old. They usually age accurately (but sacrificially) by the examination of the bones of the koi's inner ear. The ages that derived from scales are most often inaccurate. A one year-old koi can have between seven and eleven rings on a scale, depending on the scale you choose.

Koi's also have no stomachs. What they do have are expandable small intestines that function as a pseudo stomach, but they have no common stomach structures.

They have small teeth in the back of the throat that they use to crush any crustaceans they may ingest.

In most Japanese judging contests they only grant or award points. American judging contests tend to deduct points from "perfect koi's", the Japanese only award points to the fish in competition. Which they start at 0.

Koi are pigs of the water simply because they love and eat anything and they like to eat a lot. They can consume up to 2% of its body weight a day

Koi fish are integrally liked with their watery environment. Which means they are a reflections of the quality and your skills in maintaining it.

Koi can be trained to eat straight from your hands and don't worry they don't bite because they don't really have teeth.

The koi love different foods to eat in their diets so try just about anything including lettuce, cheerios, peeled oranges and brown bread. A big koi can eat you out of your house and home if you feed it all the time.

Most fish including the koi are not warm water fish but they grow faster and are more active in warm water.

Putting vegetable filters actual plants in the kois pond is the net best thing to sliced bread. They help reduce nitrate levels and reduction in nitrates leads to reduction in algae growth. Simply because the nitrates are a plant food. Which is great

Now that you know more information on your pond friends you have a better understanding of exactly how they operated and new ways to give them their hearts desires.

If you are looking forward to buying a Japanese koi fish then you might already know that there are many varieties to the koi fish. They can come in many different styles and colors but one thing remains the same in all of them, they are all equally beautiful. There are over 17 different varieties with each one having their own patterns, colors, and designs. Which can make the process for buying a koi fish quite confusing because you might not know exactly which style to purchase.

The first color variety that was established and perfected by the Japanese in the early 19th century was the Kohaku. This fish is a white with beautiful overlaying red patterns with many shapes and sizes. Usually if there are any other colors present on the fish it can be called a pure khoaku. Like all koi the body shape and fin size appearance most be of superior quality before color and patters can be established. The best quality kohaku of course have brilliant red markings, which are called Hi by the Japanese.

In a show fish with these markings should never extend past the nostrils, fins, or any other lateral line. The edges should be sharp and show no signs of fading or blending. By finding the perfect Koharku just keep in mind that there most be a good distribution and intensity of the Hi.

Taisho sanke first appeared in the early 1900s. Some believe that the color variety is a product of the Kohaku and the Magoi bred together to make a tri-colored fish. Usually this fish has a small portion of black pigmentation or Sumi over its body. The most favorable feature is when it has a large Sumi on its shoulder. When the Sumi appears on the head of the Taisho are not eligible for competition.

Another form of the sanke is a showa, which came around in the 1927. The showa is a black koi with a Hi and white color imposed over its body. A famous Japanese koi breeder named Jukichi Hoshino discovered this unique breed. By taking a Kohaku and a Ki- Usturi he developed this strain which was further refined over the years. This unique color is now considered one of the " BIG THREE" in Japan.

Well now that you have read some of the most common types of koi fish you might be a bit excited. Especially if you believe you might have a competition koi on your hands. Try not to get too excited because there are more koi in the running.