Butterfly Koi

Looks how to spot one

Scaled or partly scaled koi with very long fins

A koi with dramatically lengthened fins and tail that trail behind it like ribbons or wings. The fins are many times longer, relative to the body, than on standard koi, which gives the fish a slow, floating style of swimming.13

Personality what they are like

Calm and easygoing. Like other koi it can learn to recognise the people who feed it and may come to take food from the hand.12

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Swims more slowly and gracefully than standard koi, so it appreciates a pond without strong currents and room to glide.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs clean, well-filtered water and a large, deep pond. Koi do best at about 15 to 25 C and should not be fed when the water falls below about 10 C.12

Home where they are happiest

An outdoor pond fish. Wikipedia suggests a depth of about 90 cm and a lot of water per fish, while general koi guidance calls for at least 1 m depth, more in cold-winter climates, with a pump and filter.12

Food basics what goes in the bowl

An omnivore. Feed a balanced, protein-rich koi food with some vegetables and occasional treats such as earthworms or shrimp.1

Company who they like around

Sociable and fine in a group with ordinary koi, which share the same care.1

The story where it all began

In 1977 Crown Prince Akihito suggested crossing a long-finned Indonesian carp with Japanese fish, and the Saitama station began breeding in 1980, producing the first long-finned koi two years later. Randy LeFever, son of US koi breeder Wyatt LeFever, gave them the name butterfly koi, and they became very popular in North America.1

Recognised by the official bits

Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA)

Introduced separate judging standards for butterfly koi (June 2006)1

Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) / UK Koi Judges Association

Not judged in their competitions1