History of Kois

    The colorful koi fish, called nishikigoi in Japanese, is a specially bred variety of carp. Carp can be found all over the world in cool water, and are pursued for sport and for food. In the 19th century, Japanese farmers began breeding decorative carp, selecting brightly colored specimens to ornament gardens in luxurious fish pools. Koi can be found all over the world in decorative gardens and in a dizzying variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Although they resemble over-sized     goldfish, sometimes growing up  to three feet (91 centimeters) in length, the two fish are are related only distantly.
                                                                                                                                                            

      In Japan, the term “koi” refers to carp. The fish known in English as koi are actually nishikigoi, “brocaded carp,” a reference to their colorful patterns. In Japan, the fish are considered to be lucky symbols of friendship and affection. Koi were introduced to the world in 1914 during an exposition, and quickly became popular decorative pets, especially when the introduction of plastic bags and rapid shipping made shipments of the valuable fish viable. Some particularly distinctively patterned koi sell for thousands of dollars.