What Is A Butterfly Koi?

Butterfly koi are unlike the normal type of koi you see everywhere. They have very special, distinctive characteristics that set them apart, and in some people’s opinions, above the rest of the koi in terms of aesthetic appeal. Having a butterfly koi in your koi pond would be like having a bold, yet elegant, accent to your koi collection, as they can grow to be very impressive indeed. With their unique look, they are certainly a conversation starter and a wonderful addition to your koi pond. Whether this is your first time hearing about the butterfly koi or you have the very same fish in your pond, there may be something for you to learn still about this wonderful species of koi.

The Origins Of Butterfly Koi

In the early 1980s, a special type of long finned brown and grey carp were found in Indonesia. A company in New York heard about them and bought some, but eventually decided that they were not appealing enough and could not be sold. People found them odd-looking and ugly, and they were deemed to have no market value.

However, some adventurous breeders at Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery were curious about the new type of koi, and decided to order some of their own long finned koi, which they bred with the finest of their traditional koi. The results were spectacular: a fish with the colorful markings of a regular koi, but also with the uniquely long, wispy fins of the long finned carp it was bred from. On top of that, the new koi was robust, healthy and disease free, and could also be bred in many different beautiful colors – making them perfect for breeding and have high commercial value.

One of the breeders, Wyatt LeFever, showed the new breed of koi to his young son. When his son saw this new cross breed koi, he said, “Dad they look like butterflies.” Hence, the name “butterfly koi” was birthed, and has lasted until today.

Characteristics Of Butterfly Koi

The first distinctive characteristic of the butterfly koi that you would notice is of course its long, wispy fins. As the koi grow bigger, the fins also keep growing bigger and look more impressive. Essentially, the fins would grow in size and length until the blood vessels can no longer sustain the fin growth and it reaches its maximum length. Hence, the older the fish, the more impressive their fins. In fact, a full-grown butterfly koi gliding through the water with its long fins can even look like a long, slinky dragon. While butterfly koi do not generally grow as large as some other traditional koi, they can reach 36-40 inches if well taken care of with a clean pond and the right fish care products.

Controversy

Some Japanese koi enthusiasts sparked controversy over the butterfly koi, as it is not a pure breed and in fact is the product of cross breeding. In some purist circles, the butterfly koi may not be seen as “real” koi fish. However, many products today, some as common as bananas and watermelons, are also products of cross breeding in order to achieve the best of its breed. With the increasing popularity of butterfly koi, these fish are gaining more support within the community of koi enthusiasts.