Asagi Koi
We continue our Variety Spotlight blog series with a look at our blue and orange koi friends, Asagi.
A traditional Asagi, with blue net pattern and orange/red accents.
Asagi are the grandfather of koi varieties, and are one of, if not the, oldest variety seen in the koi industry today. It is thought that all modern koi varieties descended from a type of fish known as "Magoi". Asagi were the first variation to be bred out of Magoi stock. Meaning that most of the koi varieties you see in a pond today were bred from Asagi, including the Gosanke and Utsurimono families.
Asagi are characterized by a blue, reticulated net pattern on the body, with red or orange accents.
What To Look For
As with all koi, body conformation is first and foremost when determining the quality of a fish.
After body conformation, an Asagi should have a clean, uniform reticulated net pattern. Any serious flaws or blemishes in the net pattern will detract from the overall quality. The hi (red) markings should appear on the head, pectoral fins, tail fin, gill plates, and on the body. The hi of the body should not extend up above the lateral line. The hi should not cover the entire head. When choosing young Asagi, be careful not to choose one with too much red, as the hi patterns will move up the body and grow larger as the fish ages.
Variations of Asagi
Unlike some other types of koi, Asagi is one of few variations.
Gin Rin Asagi, with sparkling, reflective scales.
One of the more popular variations, and one of my personal favorites, is Gin Rin Asagi. Glittering, reflective scales combine with the blue and red coloration to produce a vibrant, stunning fish.
Asagi Butterfly, with the long and flowing fins typical of Butterfly Koi.
Asagi Butterfly Koi have also gained immense popularity in the koi industry. We have put countless hours into the breeding and picking of our Asagi Butterfly stock, and the Asagi Butterfly that we offer each year are some of the best in the industry.
That's it for this week. Leave a comment on the blog to let us know what variety you would like to see next.
