| Often referred to as "swimming flowers,"
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| | Showa Sanshoku, Kohaku and Taisho
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| koi fish are one of the most popular
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| | varieties. The varieties of koi are
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| fresh-water ornamental pond fish today.
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| | distinguished by their scales, their
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| The word "koi" actually comes from the
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| | color and their patterns.
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| Japanese word koi, which means carp.
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| | Koi are relatively easy to maintain. They
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| Koi breeding rose to prominence during
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| | can be kept in both small containers and
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| the 19th century in the Niigata
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| | large outdoor ponds. A round plastic tub
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| prefecture of Japan. The farmers tilling
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| | is more desirable than the standard
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| the rice fields noticed that some carps
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| | indoor aquarium. Since Koi are cold water
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| were more colorful than the others and
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| | fish, koi owners that live in areas of
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| were attracting predators like birds more
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| | the world that become warm during the
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| easily. Instead of letting the fish be
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| | summer are advised to have a meter or
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| captured by predators, they captured the
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| | more of depth. For owners that live in
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| fish and raised them themselves. By the
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| | areas with harsh winters, it would be
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| turn of the 20th century, the carp had
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| | advisable to have a pond that is 1.5
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| developed a number of color patterns like
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| | meters deep so that it won't freeze over.
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| the red-and-white Kohaku. In 1914, the
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| | It may also be good to keep an open space
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| Niigata prefecture exhibited the koi and
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| | with a horse trough heater and a blubber.
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| introduced this startling development to
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| | One of the greatest pleasures of owning a
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| the rest of the outside world. Some of
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| | koi fish lies in feeding them. It is
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| them were even offered to Hirohito, the
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| | particularly delightful to watch them
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| Crown Prince of Japan. It was during that
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| | eat. Koi fish will eat a variety of foods
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| time that interest in koi spread
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| | such as peas, lettuce and watermelon.
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| throughout Japan. When the plastic bags
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| | They also recognize the person feeding
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| and the shipping of koi became faster and
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| | them and can even be trained to take food
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| safer for the fish, koi hobby exploded
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| | from the person's hand. If they are
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| worldwide. Today, koi fish are sold in
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| | handled properly, koi fish can live up to
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| most pet stores, with the higher-quality
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| | about 40 years. In fact, some reports say
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| ones available from select dealers only.
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| | they can live up to 200 years!
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| Some koi fish sell for as high as a
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| | Indeed, these beautiful "living jewels"
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| couple hundred thousand dollars.
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| | as they are often called, are one of the
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| Koi come in a variety of colors such as
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| | most lovable fish around. In fact, the
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| white, red, black, yellow, cream and
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| | word koi is synonymous to love and
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| blue. The most popular category of koi is
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| | affection in Japan and are often used to
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| the Gosanke, which is made up of the
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| | symbolize love and friendship.
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