Koi fish are actually one of the most beautiful, fascinating creatures in the world, and if you take the time to explore the culture and traditions surrounding keeping them, you will be surprised at just how much information has been compiled about them.
It would take a lifetime to learn about all the different subvarieties of ornamental carp alone, and that's without even getting into the history and data surrounding the curation of ornamental carp.
Check out the gold ghost koi, one of the most stunning and controversial varieties of koi, and find out what makes it extraordinary, interesting, and potentially controversial.
In what way are gold ghost koi different from other koi?
Gold ghost koi are ghost koi with gold coloration.
The resulting fish exhibits a solid tone in either cream, silver, or gold, with long fins and a stunning overall body shape.
It is said that these koi are hauntingly beautiful as they glide through the water, hence their name.
Gold ghost koi are truly unique, displaying a brilliant golden hue that makes them appear to be pulled straight from molten gold, thus creating a gilded and glistening effect.
Ghost Koi - The Naming Ceremony
Upon first glance, it may seem obvious that an all-white Japanese koi would be called a ghost koi, but the naming of this sub-variety is more interesting.
The first ghost koi that were bred were not white at all;actually,as their scales glittered through the pond while the depths of the water shrouded their form,resulting in their scales glittering through the water while the depths of the pond obscured their forms,making their fins appear ghostly with no visible connection.
As breeding progressed, breeders began breeding for other solid colors, such as these. Because of their long fins and stunning, brightly metallic coloration, they don't have quite the same ghostly impact as their dark-toned predecessor, but they are still impressive!
Fish like these are so enchanting.
The Gold Ghost Koi Controversy
As a result, gold ghost koi are receiving quite a bit of controversy.
In spite of the fact that gold ghost koi or any ghost koi are undeniably gorgeous and interesting, the koi fish community does not entirely accept them as legitimate koi fish.
Because of the way they were bred, they are like this. Due to the fact that they were created by mixing wild-caught mirror carp with metallic ornamental koi fish, they do not contain completely ornamental koi blood. Many traditional breeders do not recognize ghost koi fish as actual koi fish as a result of this deviation in lineage, and they refuse to breed them and cull the babies born from wild-caught sources.
In traditional breeding, deviations are generally not accepted, leading to some conflict and contention between traditional and modern breeders.
Ghost Koi Attributes
Apart from being one of the most controversial koi fish sub-varieties, ghost koi are also a little different in terms of their body shape, personality, and overall health. Since they adopted many characteristics from their wild mirror carp heritage, their body composition is very different from what you would expect from a typical ornamental koi carp bred through selective breeding based on bloodlines.
This breeding decision has led to some astounding results, not least of which is the longevity of the gold ghost koi and their strong immune system.
In general, ghost koi, including gold ghost koi, have extremely durable immune systems and are sick much less often than traditional ornamental koi. The wild populations developed a much higher level of resistance to infections and other illnesses because they were exposed to much more than their handraised traditional ornamental counterparts.
Unlike most ornamental koi, ghost koi grow quite large. Their growth rate is much faster as well, reaching a weight of forty pounds in some cases! They inherited the genetic code for their growth from mirror carps, and as a result grow faster.
It is possible for wild carp to grow larger than captive ones for a variety of reasons, including diet and a reduced likelihood of being eaten by predators.koi for sale , therefore, has become extremely popular among those who want large koi or who wish to experience fast growth.
There are also ghost koi that are very active and friendly. Since they inherit this from both of their parents, ghost koi have a great fascination with humans and will swim along the top of the water in search of food.
As one of the most visible fish in the pond, they are frequently a favorite among fish keepers of all skill levels due to their all-around fun and interest.
Ghost Koi Quirks
The fish's translucent skin is one of the strangest aspects of ghost koi care.
In white ghost koi, especially when they are young, the skull is usually visible. Eventually, the skin thickens and becomes less see-through, but for a while, they look creepy.