The Big Three — Gosanke Foundation Varieties
The Gosanke ("big three") refers to the three most prestigious and widely kept koi varieties: Kohaku, Taisho Sanke, and Showa Sanshoku. These three varieties form the foundation of competitive koi keeping and are the benchmark against which all other varieties are judged in Japanese koi shows. In Cambodia's growing koi scene, Gosanke fish command the highest prices and are most often seen in the premium ponds of serious collectors in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Kohaku is the most recognized koi variety — a pure white body with red (hi) markings. The quality of a Kohaku is judged primarily by the kiwa (sharpness of the red-white boundary), the depth and consistency of the red color (which should be deep lacquer red, not orange), and the pattern balance. Classic Kohaku patterns are named: Nidan (two-step), Sandan (three-step), Yondan (four-step), and Inazuma (lightning bolt). In Cambodia, entry-level Kohaku cost $5–$20 USD while show-quality specimens from Japan can reach $500–$2000 USD.
Taisho Sanke (commonly called Sanke) adds black (sumi) markings to the Kohaku pattern — white base, red pattern, black accents. The sumi on Sanke appears as solid black patches on top of the red or white, never on the head. Showa Sanshoku (Showa) features the same three colors but with a fundamentally different pattern structure: the black is the base color, with red and white layered on top. Showa typically has black on the head and black wrapping around the body, giving a bolder, more dramatic appearance than the elegant Sanke.
- ✦When buying Kohaku, look at the red color in natural light — orange-red indicates lower grade than deep lacquer red
- ✦On Sanke, the sumi (black) should have clearly defined edges — blurry, faded sumi reduces grade and value significantly
- ✦Showa sumi continues to develop as the fish ages — buy young Showa knowing the pattern will change over 2–3 years
Metallic Varieties — Ogon, Hikari Muji, and Hikari Utsuri
Metallic koi varieties are among the most popular in Cambodia and Southeast Asia for their brilliant, mirror-like sheen that catches sunlight dramatically. Ogon is the foundational metallic variety — a single solid color with a metallic lustre across the entire body. Common Ogon colors include Platinum (silver-white), Yamabuki (golden yellow), Orange Ogon, and Mukashi Ogon (cream). An Ogon is judged on the uniformity and depth of its metallic sheen — any dull patches or scale irregularities are serious faults.
Hikari Muji refers to single-colored metallic koi in the base colors of other pattern varieties. Hikari Utsuri combines metallic sheen with the bold black-and-color patterns of the Utsurimono group — producing varieties like Kin Showa (metallic Showa) and Gin Showa (silver metallic Showa). These metallic Gosanke variants are particularly prized because they combine pattern complexity with dramatic metallic brilliance, making them visually spectacular pond fish.
In Cambodia's bright sunlight, metallic koi are particularly striking — the sunlight reflection from a well-kept Platinum Ogon in a clear pond is one of the most visually impressive sights in the hobby. Metallic varieties are also generally considered hardier than some pattern varieties, making them a good choice for beginners who want beautiful fish without the pattern-judging complexity of Gosanke varieties. Prices in Cambodia range from $10–$50 USD for domestic-bred metallic koi to $200–$800 for imported Japanese specimens.
- ✦Clean pond water is essential for metallic koi — the metallic sheen is dramatically reduced by green water or poor visibility
- ✦Ogon scales scratch easily — avoid rough handling and use smooth nets to prevent scale damage that ruins the metallic finish
- ✦Under bright Cambodian sun, metallic koi may need partial shade to prevent color bleaching on light-colored varieties
Bekko, Asagi, and Shusui — Classic Pattern Varieties
Bekko koi are defined by a solid-colored base (white, red, or yellow) with black sumi markings. Shiro Bekko (white with black), Aka Bekko (red with black), and Ki Bekko (yellow with black) are the three types. Bekko are judged on the clarity of their base color and the quality of the sumi — clean, well-defined black patches on an immaculate base. Shiro Bekko is sometimes confused with Sanke (both are white with black), but Bekko has no red pattern whatsoever, making the distinction clear.
Asagi is one of the oldest koi varieties, featuring a pale blue-gray body with a red-orange pattern on the belly, fins, and cheeks. The scales on the upper body create a characteristic net-like reticulation pattern called "pine cone" scaling — each scale has a dark edge producing a beautiful geometric pattern visible from above. Asagi are prized for their elegant, understated beauty compared to the bold colors of newer varieties. In Cambodia, true Asagi from quality breeders are relatively rare and command $30–$150 USD.
Shusui is the mirror-scaled version of Asagi — the same pale blue body and red markings, but with doitsu (German mirror carp) scaling that replaces the regular scale reticulation with a single row of large, reflective scales along the dorsal line and lateral lines. This combination of soft Asagi blue with the dramatic mirror scales creates a unique visual texture. Shusui and Asagi are both good indicator fish for water quality — their pale coloration makes any deterioration in condition immediately obvious.
- ✦Asagi blue color is deepened by high-quality food containing spirulina and natural pigment enhancers
- ✦Ki Bekko (yellow Bekko) is quite rare in Cambodia — if you find one, it is worth buying as a unique addition
- ✦Shusui mirror scales are permanent genetic features — do not confuse scale damage with the natural scale-reduced pattern
Butterfly Koi — The Southeast Asian Favorite
Butterfly koi (also called Dragon Carp or Longfin koi) are not a traditional Japanese koi variety but a hybrid developed in the 1980s in America by crossing standard koi with Indonesian longfin river carp. The result is a fish with the color patterns of standard koi combined with dramatically elongated, flowing fins that trail behind the fish as it swims. The visual effect is extraordinary — a large butterfly koi in full flow resembles an underwater bird with its long pectoral fins spread wide.
Butterfly koi are enormously popular in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia, often outselling standard koi at local markets and fish shops. Their dramatic fins appeal strongly to buyers who want maximum visual impact, and they are often available in a wide range of metallic and pattern colors. Butterfly koi reach the same sizes as standard koi (50–80 cm for well-kept specimens) and have equivalent care requirements — they need the same pond size, filtration, and nutrition.
One important consideration for Cambodian butterfly koi keepers: the long fins require excellent water quality. Torn, clamped, or deteriorating fins are one of the first signs of water quality problems, bacterial infection, or fin rot in butterfly koi. The fins also require careful net handling — a standard koi net can damage delicate fin tissue. Use extra-fine, soft-mesh nets when catching butterfly koi for treatment or inspection, and work slowly to avoid tearing the elongated fin membranes.
- ✦Butterfly koi fins continue growing throughout the fish's life — the longest fins are on the oldest, best-fed specimens
- ✦In Cambodia, butterfly koi prices range from $3–$15 USD for domestic juveniles to $50–$200 for large imported specimens
- ✦Butterfly koi are slightly more sensitive to low oxygen than standard koi — ensure excellent aeration year-round
Rare and Premium Varieties — Tancho, Doitsu, and Gin Rin
Tancho koi are defined by a single circular red spot (hi) on the head with no other red on the body — a pattern instantly recognizable as the Japanese flag motif. The most classic Tancho is the Tancho Kohaku (white body, single red head spot) but Tancho patterns appear in many other varieties including Tancho Sanke and Tancho Showa. The value of a Tancho depends almost entirely on the quality of the head spot — it should be perfectly circular, centered on the crown, with clean edges and deep red color.
Gin Rin (also written Ginrin) koi have a genetic modification that causes individual scales to reflect light like mirrors — thousands of tiny sparkling reflections across the entire body. Gin Rin can appear in virtually any variety (Gin Rin Kohaku, Gin Rin Sanke, Gin Rin Ogon) and dramatically increases the fish's visual impact. A high-quality Gin Rin koi shimmers and sparkles in sunlight in a way that no non-Gin Rin fish can match. Gin Rin specimens typically cost 2–4 times more than equivalent non-Gin Rin fish of the same pattern variety.
Doitsu (German-scale) koi carry the mirror carp scaling gene that dramatically reduces their scale coverage — typically just a row of large scales along the dorsal line and lateral lines, with the rest of the body being scaleless and smooth. Doitsu versions exist for most major varieties: Doitsu Kohaku, Doitsu Sanke, Doitsu Ogon (often called Hariwake). In Cambodia's market, Gin Rin and Doitsu fish command a premium of 50–200% over standard versions of the same variety, reflecting both their genetic rarity and their visual distinctiveness.
- ✦A Tancho spot that extends past a circle or bleeds into the body significantly reduces value — judge the spot shape carefully
- ✦Gin Rin koi require excellent water clarity to show their sparkling quality — invest in UV sterilization for these fish
- ✦Doitsu koi are slightly more susceptible to scrapes from rough surfaces — use smooth pond walls and soft net materials