Category: Fish

Koi or “Nishikigoi” can be found in a range of different colors, and many koi varieties have black markings or a solid black coloration.

These are ornamental fish that are commonly kept in ponds or water gardens, and their hardiness allows koi to thrive in conditions many other aquarium fish can’t. Koi have a rich history in Japanese and Chinese culture and are a symbolic fish that bring good luck and prosperity. Owning one of these fish has become popular around the world, with the origins of the koi’s ancestors originating in China.

Even though many koi have black pigments mixed into reds, oranges, or whites, there are only one koi that has a solid black color. This would be the Karasu koi fish, which is a variety of koi. A “black koi” is not a true variety of koi fish, and it is used to describe koi fish with black colorations.

The black markings or colorations are typically referred to as “Sumi”, and certain solid black koi might be called Sumi koi. Sumi refers to a type of black Japanese ink, which is why it has been used to describe the black markings on koi. Black koi fish are most popular in Japan since the Japanese produced the solid black Karasu koi fish.

Black Koi Fish Characteristics

The Earliest Records of Black Koi Fish in History

The Asian continent is the birthplace of koi fish, with records of the koi’s ancestry fish dating back to AD 200 in China. Koi fish descended from Amur carp, which are a type of freshwater carp that developed color mutations and were called brocaded or colored carp. Koi originates from China where their ancestors the brocaded carp were first domesticated, but the Japanese were the first to selectively breed these prized fish for their colors and patterns.

Fossils of the carp date back millions of years ago from when they inhabited the Caspian, Aral, and Black seas. These carp were initially kept as a food source for agricultural purposes in both China and Japan, but the Japanese took interest in breeding them for more than just food.

At some point in time, the Chinese rice farmers noticed that the koi developed natural color mutations, such as reds, whites, blues, and black. During the Shang dynasty in China around 1600 to 1046 BC, the carp were raised in ponds and viewed by royalty as a form of entertainment. Since then, there has been plenty of literature and artwork mentioning koi fish, including ancient paintings that depict beautiful Nishikigoi.

How Black Koi Fish Gained Popularity

The carp were introduced into Japan after China invaded Japan. The koi fish selective breeding in Japan dates back to the early 1800s, between 1820 and 1830. Black carp known as “magoi” could be found in the Niigata waterways in the 1600s before being caught by farmers. The Japanese villagers of Ojiya saw potential in these mutated carp and began to breed the red and white colored koi for ornamental purposes.

This led to the carp being named “Nishikigoi”, meaning brocaded carp. The koi gained popularity in Japan after being recognized for their colors which weren’t common in fish at the time. This was the start of the many koi fish varieties available today, and it led to the development of the black (Sumi) pigmentations on koi fish.

When Did Black Koi Fish Become Recognized As Pets?

It wasn’t until the early 1900s that koi fish became more recognized, which would eventually lead them to become pets. Although the koi were being bred to produce more vibrant colors, the Japanese weren’t marketing them as pets. When a koi fish was gifted to Emperor Hirohito in Japan for his imperial palace moat in 1914, koi started to become more recognized.

Other parts of the world became to take an interest in these beautiful and elegant fish, leading to their distribution as pets outside of Japan. Since black pigments on a koi were common in many varieties, some of the first pet koi fish likely had black patterns on their bodies. The Karasu, which is a solid black koi fish, was developed by Japanese koi fish breeders and is now kept as a pet around the world.

Top 4 Unique Facts About Black Koi Fish

1. Karasu koi are the only koi to have an almost solid black coloration.

While black is not an uncommon color to see in koi fish, any koi that have a truly solid black color aside from their underside are Karasu koi. These koi have an inky black color that covers most of their bodies. The Karasu koi is monochromatic when viewed from above, which makes them look striking in ponds and water gardens. In recent years, the Karasu has become quite popular in koi kichi ponds.

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2. Karasu koi are not magoi.  

Karasu is often confused with magoi since both fish have a black coloration. However, magoi do not have the true black coloration like Karasu koi fish do. When compared to dark backgrounds, magoi will look browner whereas Karasu will maintain a black-hued body.

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3. Black koi symbolize good luck and positivity.  

Black koi fish symbolize good fortune, strength, and determination. In Japanese culture, their dark black bodies are believed to absorb negative energy and evil entities. People also keep black koi in ponds with other vibrantly colored koi to protect them from evil and keep the koi in good health.

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4. Karasu koi are not found scaleless.

Although Karasu koi fish can be found with butterfly or regular fins, they can only be found with scales (wagoi). If the fish has a black coloration and has no scales (doitsu), they are probably a Kumonyru koi that has turned black.

Do Black Koi Fish Make a Good Pet?

Black koi fish like the Karasu makes excellent pets. Just like other koi, they do best in a large pond that is filtered. The water should be kept clean through the filter and regular pond maintenance. If the pond becomes murky, it will be difficult to see your black koi fish.

A black koi fish’s care is the same as any other koi, and a healthy diet and good water quality is the key to keeping your koi fish healthy. Your black koi needs a pond that holds at least 1,000 gallons of water or more since they need to be kept with other koi fish.

Conclusion

The black coloration on koi fish looks mesmerizing when they are kept with colorful koi varieties. You can find the black pigmentation on parts of koi fish to form a pattern in combination with colors such as white and orange, or it will be a solid coloration in Karasu koi. With such fascinating origins, striking coloration, and peaceful temperament, it is clear why koi make such popular pond fish.

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Featured Image Credit: JuanCarlosPalauDiaz, Shutterstock

The post Black Koi Fish: Facts, Origin & History (With Pictures) appeared first on Pet Keen.

Many people may think of koi as “just fish,” but koi enthusiasts love their fish very deeply, like members of the family. This means that it’s important for some people to pick the perfect name for their koi fish.

Believe it or not, koi can have distinctive personalities, and each one has a unique appearance. From colors to shapes to size, each koi is an individual, so you want to choose the name that suits your fish the best. Of course, koi’s scales and colors can provide a multitude of names to choose from.

How to Name Your Koi Fish Based on Color

To pick a color-based name for your koi, you can pick a name anywhere on the spectrum from expected to rare. Most people know basic colors, but there are a lot of words associated with the colors of koi fish that can be used.

Modern koi originated in Japan in the 1800s, while carp have been bred domestically since the 4^th century in China, so there are plenty of name options from the native languages associated with koi and their carp family members.

The 150 Majestic Koi Fish Names

Basic Koi Colors

Fun Color Names

Variety and Appearance Names

Japanese Names

Words Associated With Specific Koi Colors

In Conclusion

There is no shortage of name options for your koi fish, even if you’re only looking for a name related to the beautiful colors and appearance of your fish. Some of these names are the official names of certain koi varieties, while many of these names are fun and interesting descriptors for fish. Now all that’s left is for you to pick the perfect name for your lovely fish.

You Might Also Like: 

• 16 Fascinating Koi Fish Facts You Need to Know!
• 7 Essential Koi Fish Supplies To Get You Started

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Featured Image Credit: Vital Safo, Shutterstock

The post 150 Majestic Koi Fish Names for Their Beautiful Colors appeared first on Pet Keen.

Sneezing and coughing are normal behaviors in humans, and some lung-breathing animals do to expel irritants from the lungs or nasal passages. Since fish do not have lungs and rely on breathing through gills instead, fish do not sneeze and cough. This is because they are physically unable to do this as their bodily anatomy does not allow it.

However, fish can make movements with their mouths that look similar to cough or sneezing, but they are not the same. This article will explain why.

Can Fish Cough?

No, fish cannot cough. This is due to their lack of lungs and a pulmonary system that we as humans have. When we have an irritant in our throats or lungs such as phlegm or air pollutants, one of our body reflexes is to cough to expel the irritant. For a person to cough, our body would need to go through several steps.

This includes expanding the vocal cords to pass air through the lungs, closing the windpipe, and contracting your abdominal muscles. The cough can help to clear your throat and lungs, which is not something that fish need to do.

Fish also lack the anatomy necessary to cough, and they have a different respiratory system than humans. There is no need for fish to cough, although they may try to expel irritants or objects stuck in their mouths by shaking their heads or opening and closing their mouth.

These are usually signs that a fish could be choking, and not that they are coughing. Fish will also try to dislodge gravel, plants, or food that has gotten lodged in their mouths by opening and closing their mouths, but this is not the same thing as coughing.

Do Fish Sneeze?

No, just like fish cannot cough, they can’t sneeze either. There is no reason for fish to sneeze since they do not need to get rid of pollutants or irritants from their lungs or nasal passages. Although fish do have two nasal cavities, these nasal passages are used for sensing and smelling molecules in the water, and not for breathing.

Fish do not breathe out of their nose, and instead, use gills to breathe underwater. When a fish takes in water into the nasal cavities, the olfactory sacs help the fish analyze the different smells in the water. This is useful for the fish as it allows them to smell other fish, potential mates, predators, and most importantly food. Even if water with an irritant does pass through the fish’s nasal cavities, they will not sneeze to expel it.

Why Can’t Fish Sneeze or Cough?

The simple answer as to why fish cannot sneeze or cough is because they do not have lungs. They do not need to expel things from their lungs or nose by coughing or sneezing, nor could they if they tried.

Fish have very different respiratory systems than humans and lung-breathing animals do. Fish do not breathe with lungs or a pulmonary system, instead, they breathe with gills. Both lungs and gills have the same function though—to allow for gaseous exchange. The fish’s gills consist of blood vessels that enable to fish to breathe in dissolved oxygen in the water. To do this, the fish needs to open and close their mouths to take in water. The water will then pass over a large surface of the fish’s gills that contains filaments with thousands of blood vessels. The absorbed oxygen from the water will then diffuse into the fish’s bloodstream, allowing them to breathe in oxygen, and release carbon dioxide back into the water.

So, if you have noticed your fish’s mouth opening and closing at times while they swim about in their aquarium, they are “breathing”. Some of their mouth movements may be slow at times and difficult to notice. This is especially true if the fish is resting. When your fish does begin to move around more and open and close their mouths more visibly, it can appear as if they are coughing.

Fish may also forage through the substrate and spit out any substrate or food that they have found. However, this is not your fish coughing. Instead, your fish is tasting different objects in the water to decide which ones are edible. They may also spit out large pieces of food so that they can chew it easier.

Do Fish Cough Up Water or Air Bubbles?

If you have noticed your fish gulping air from the surface of the water and expelling bubbles, you might be surprised to find that they are not coughing. The gas bubbles produced from the fish’s mouth when this happens are likely just gas bubbles that naturally occur when your fish is opening and closing their mouth at the surface or in other parts of the tank. These bubbles will not be from your fish coughing or sneezing, even if it may appear that way.

Can Lungfish Cough and Sneeze?

Even though lungfish have evolved to have lungs from their swim bladder organ for breathing air, they still do not breathe or sneeze. This allows lungfish to have both lungs and gills to breathe in an aquatic environment. Even though they have lungs that are connected to their trachea and larynx, their respiratory system is different than the one needed for sneezing and coughing to be a natural bodily reflex.

Conclusion

Unlike humans or other animals like dogs, fish cannot sneeze and cough. However, that doesn’t mean fish don’t have a respiratory system. Fish breathe through their gills and use their nostrils for smelling odor molecules in the water. They do not need to breathe in air and expel irritants, and it is not one of their body’s natural reflexes.

Any pollutants and irritants in the water that may cause humans or certain animals to sneeze and cough are filtered out by the fish’s gills and other organs.

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Featured Image Credit: Juan Carlos Palau Díaz, Pixabay

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