Tancho

Koi with a red head patch are called Tancho. Most common are Tancho Kohaku all-white Koi with Tancho. Tancho Sanshoku white Koi with Sumi similar to Shiro Bekko, and with Tancho, and Tancho Showa -Showa Sanshoku without red markings except for Tancho, etc. However, Tancho Goshiki -Koi of five colors with Tancho, and Tancho Hariwake are rare.

Tancho do not form a single, independent kind of Nishikigoi, they all can be bred from Kohaku, Taisho Sankshoku or Showa Sanshoku. Their red patch happen to show up only in the head region. Tancho, therefore, can not be produced in bulk even if you so wish.

The essential point for appreciation is the red patch in the head region, of course. The red head patch sitting right at the center of the head region is the best. The white skin is also important as it is the milky white color that sets the red head patch off to advantage. The Sumi of Tancho Sanshoku and Tancho Showa are the same as Bekko and Shiro Utsuri respectively.

More Koi Varieties

Asagi

Asagi are fairly classical from a genealogical point of view, and constitute a very tasteful variety. They usually have blue on the entire back and Hi on the belly, pectoral fins and gill...(click on product image for more details)

Doitsu

Doitsu lineage does not mean Nishikigoi bred in Germany, but rather those Crossbred with Japanese Koi and black carp imported originally for food from Germany. They differ from ordinary Nishikigoi (or...(click on product image for more details)

Hikari Muji

This category includes all Koi with shiny body but devoid of any markings. Hikari-muji are divided into Yamabuki Ogon -with pure yellow, metallic sheen on the entire body- Platinum Ogon -with shining...(click on product image for more details)

Hikari Utsuri

Hikari utsuri are Koi of Showa Utsurimono group -Showa Sanshoku, Shiro Utsuri, and Hi Utsuri, etc.displaying Hikari -luster or glitter- and include Kin Showa -with lustrous gold color- Gin Shiro Utsuri...(click on product image for more details)

Kohaku

The Kohaku is the most popular variety of Nishikigoi. So much so that there is an expression, -Koi avocation begins and ends with Kohaku.- There are various tones of -red-color - red with thick crimson,...(click on product image for more details)

Showa Sanshoku

Whereas Kohaku and Taisho Sanshoku have red and/ or black markings on the white ground, Showa Sanshoku have red markings on white patterns formed on the black background. We have discerned such...(click on product image for more details)

Shusui

Shusui have been crossbred between Doitsu Koi and Asagi, and their points for appreciation, therefore, are basically the same as those for Asagi. Shusui also have the tendency to show black spots in...(click on product image for more details)