Koi fish are a beautiful and popular species of ornamental fish that are often found in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Among the many varieties of koi, the Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi stands out for its striking coloration and unique pattern. In this article, we will take a closer look at this fascinating fish and explore what makes it so special.
Appearance
The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi is a black and white koi with red or orange markings. The black base color on the body of the fish is broken up by white patches, which create a distinct pattern. The red or orange markings can be found on the head, tail, and fins of the fish. The butterfly koi variety is known for its long and flowing fins, which resemble the wings of a butterfly. The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi can grow to be quite large, reaching up to 36 inches in length.
Origins
The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi is a variety of the Utsurimono koi, which originated in Japan in the early 20th century. Utsurimono koi are characterized by their black base coloration and vibrant red or orange markings. The butterfly koi variety was created in the mid-20th century by breeding Utsurimono koi with long-finned Asian carp. This hybridization resulted in the distinctive butterfly fins that are now a hallmark of the butterfly koi variety.
Care
The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi is a hardy and adaptable fish that can thrive in a variety of conditions. They prefer water temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH level between 7.0 and 8.0. It is important to provide them with a large and well-filtered pond, as they can grow quite large and produce a lot of waste. The pond should be deep enough to allow the fish to swim freely and should provide plenty of hiding places, such as rocks or plants. The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi should be fed a high-quality diet that is rich in protein and contains a mix of pellets, vegetables, and live food.
Symbolism
In Japan, koi fish are highly regarded and are often associated with good fortune, perseverance, and strength. The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi, with its bold coloration and graceful fins, is considered a symbol of beauty and elegance. Some people believe that the colors of the koi can represent different aspects of life, such as red for love and orange for success.
Conclusion
The Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi is a stunning and fascinating fish that has captured the hearts of koi enthusiasts around the world. With its striking coloration and unique pattern, it is a true showstopper in any outdoor pond or water garden. While caring for koi can be challenging, the rewards are well worth it for those who are dedicated to providing these beautiful fish with the best possible care. Whether you are a seasoned koi keeper or a newcomer to the hobby, the Hi Utsuri Butterfly Koi is a variety that is sure to impress.
More information about hi utsuri butterfly koi
hi utsuri butterfly koi Utsurimono is a class of koi that, by definition, is a non-metallic black color combined with a secondary color. Shiro Utsuri is a black and white koi with a checkerboard design. Most koi enthusiasts can correctly identify a Shiro Utsuri with its bold, two-colored block pattern.2
A red Utsuri butterfly koi fish is called Hi Utsuri butterfly koi, white type is called Shiro Utsuri butterfly koi, and the yellow is ki utsuri butterfly koi fish
Hi Utsuri butterfly koi, a member of the Utsurimono family, are koi with a black body and areas of red or orange pattern overlaying the black. While a dark, vibrant
Hi Utsuri butterfly koi Coloration and Characteristics
The Hi Utsuri butterfly koi is a black fish with red (hi) coloration, similar to a Showa Sanshoku without the white. Like the Showa a high quality Hi Utsuri butterfly koi will have black facial markings like the menware or lightning pattern across the head, and will have an attractively balanced combination of sumi (black) and hi (red) across the body of the fish. The pectoral fins can be all black or a mixture of black and red.
Traditionally the Hi Utsuri butterfly koi lacked both in overall size and length and in color when compared to Gosanke (Kohaku, Sanke & Showa); however, more recently breeders have begun to cross Hi Utsuri butterfly koi with both Kohaku and Magoi in order to improve the Hi Utsuri butterfly koi. Crossings with Kohaku has greatly improved the red (hi) of the Hi Utsuri butterfly koi, where it is more of a scarlet red and less of a reddish-orange color of past generations. Additionally, the reintroduction of some classic Magoi genes (black koi) back into the line has helped to both increases the girth and length of the Hi Utsuri butterfly koi without sacrificing body shape or quality of the color pattern.
The following traits are essential for quality Hi Utsuri butterfly koi specimens:
The black base coloration of the Hi Utsuri butterfly koi should be as close to lacquer-black as possible and should have smooth edges where the black and red colors meet. Small black dots or blotches where the colors meet is a flaw for this variety.
The foundation of an Utsuri is the sumi (black), thus it needs to a solid dark black color and be well balanced across the entire body and face of the fish. Black on the face of the fish covering the eyes or the mouth, in a v-shape pattern or a menware lightning pattern is essentially a requirement for a high quality Hi Utsuri butterfly koi
While Hi Utsuri butterfly koi can be either orange/black or red/black, the redder the hi the better. Modern Hi Utsuri butterfly koi who exhibit a more scarlet red color are often referred to as Super Red or Red Hi Hi Utsuri butterfly koi, despite the fact that hi means red in Japanese which would imply all Hi Utsuri butterfly koi are red.
The base of the pectoral fins of a Hi Utsuri butterfly koi should be black with the rest of the fin being red. This black base area of pectoral fins is known as ‘motoguro‘, with the more defined and confined to the base it is, the better. All black pectoral fins or pectoral fins that are almost all black are fine as well.
The overall balance of hi (red) with sumi (black) should be either balanced or favor the sumi, as the Hi Utsuri butterfly koi is a black based fish and should have hi that accentuates the deep, lacquer black base coloration of the fish.
hi utsuri butterfly koi people also ask
Do butterfly koi get as big as regular koi?
Their barbels (whiskers) even grow long and can fork into elaborate designs. Butterfly koi seem to lack some of the body size of regular koi, but the overall fish can run as long as 36 to 40 inches in the right pond with plenty of food.
What is the difference between butterfly koi and regular koi?
Where butterfly koi differ from regular koi are their fins. Unlike traditional koi, which have genes that tell their fins to stop growing at a certain point, butterfly koi fins keep getting longer throughout their lifetimes. The result is the long, flowing fins that some pond owners love
Can you keep butterfly koi in a tank?
Can Koi Fish Live In A Tank? The short answer is yes, koi fish can live indoors in a fish tank or aquarium. Just as with any fish, as long as their basic needs are met they will do just fine.
Are butterfly koi hard to keep?
While traditional koi were developed in Japan in the 19th century, Butterfly Koi were hybridized only a few decades ago. These fish can grow up to 36 inches in length and are fairly easy to care for, provided you have the right equipment. Butterfly Koi can be maintained in the same fashion as traditional koi
What is Utsuri?
Utsuri is another very popular koi fish for Japanese koi ponds and water gardens. … Menware is the term referring to a band of sumi which divides the face or head pattern on the koi. The pectoral fins of Hi Utsuri and Ki Utsuri do not show Motoguro in the pectoral joints, instead, they are striped with sumi.
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