Koi Questions, Genetic questions Options

[Malti]

I'm setting up a couple of ponds for Koi, and obviously thinking of breeding, but I have a couple of questions.




1.) Do Koi breed true to their colour - for example, Platinum Ogon X Platinum Ogon (coming themselves from PO x PO) produce 100% Platinum Ogon or there can be variations?

2.) Are butterflies (long finned Koi) seen as inferior fish?

3.) Koi are known to change in colour...at what size/age can one safely assume there won't be changes?

[Malti]

I'm setting up a couple of ponds for Koi, and obviously thinking of breeding, but I have a couple of questions.




1.) Do Koi breed true to their colour - for example, Platinum Ogon X Platinum Ogon (coming themselves from PO x PO) produce 100% Platinum Ogon or there can be variations?

2.) Are butterflies (long finned Koi) seen as inferior fish?

3.) Koi are known to change in colour...at what size/age can one safely assume there won't be changes?

[Malti]

I'm setting up a couple of ponds for Koi, and obviously thinking of breeding, but I have a couple of questions.




1.) Do Koi breed true to their colour - for example, Platinum Ogon X Platinum Ogon (coming themselves from PO x PO) produce 100% Platinum Ogon or there can be variations?

2.) Are butterflies (long finned Koi) seen as inferior fish?

3.) Koi are known to change in colour...at what size/age can one safely assume there won't be changes?

[David Marshall]

Hey Malti

You have asked some difficult questions.

Butterfly Koi are like Red Parrot cichlids - you either love or loath them.

There will be variations in Koi spawnings.

Changes in Koi colour are hard to predict. Some will change at an early and others a late stage in their lives.

Dr. David Ford wrote an excellent article on Koi for Aquarium Gazette Issue 6.

Regards David