Where do Koi fish come from?

A Brief History of Koi. Koi, or Nishikigoi (Cyprinus carpio), are descendents of the common carp. In nature they are brown, but through selective breeding by the Japanese, numerous colors and patterns were developed. In the 17th century Chinese rice farmers began keeping carp in their rice paddies. read more

Koi actually originated in Persia and were distributed as food fish and selective breeding for colors originated in Japan. Koi type Carp were wide spread throughout Asia and the Middle East. Breeders do not leave eggs with the parents, almost all breeders manually mix eggs from milked females with milked males. read more

The word "koi" comes from Japanese, simply meaning "carp". It includes both the dull grey fish and the brightly colored varieties. What are known as koi in English are referred to more specifically as nishikigoi in Japan (literally meaning "brocaded carp"). read more

Today, Koi are bred throughout the world, but most people agree that the best ones come right from the Niigata Prefecture in Japan. Koi are some of the most sought after ornamental fish in the world. You’ll find Koi hobbyists in nearly every country. read more