Buying Koi (Part 3)

In previous parts of this series Buying Koi Part 1 we have seen that four things are important when assessing and purchasing koi; Body in Buying Koi Part 2 : Skin Quality, Pattern, and Elegance. In this part, we delve deeper into skin quality.

Skin quality

When judging koi, skin quality accounts for 30% of the points awarded. This makes it the second most important criterion after body (40%). It's also a very important aspect when buying koi. Factors that fall under skin quality include:

The mucous membrane.

This should be thin and transparent. It makes the koi glow with health and accentuates the underlying colors, as if it were a still-wet oil painting. A thick and/or cloudy mucous membrane disrupts this appearance.

The intensity of the colors.

Pigment cells determine the color of the pattern and the underlying base color. Pigment cells exist in only a few types (colors), the combination of which can produce many hues. Compare this to a printer's toner, which can also print a range of colors from just a few base colors. The more intense the colors, the more attractive the fish is to look at.

The Uniformity of the Colors.

When a particular color appears on the fish, it's important that it's consistent throughout. So, for example, not dark red on the front of the fish and light red on the back. This uniformity creates a sense of calm, making the fish more attractive.

The Color Gradients.

The transition from base color to pattern should be as smooth as possible. Ideally, a complete color change from one moment to the next, so no "transition areas" with some kind of intermediate color. For a kohaku, for example, not "red > pink > white," but "red > white."

The Shine.

Shine isn't exclusive to metallic (Hikari) koi. Every koi should exhibit a beautiful sheen. The intensity of the color and the mucous membrane play a significant role in this. This is even more important for metallic koi, as it's one of the most important characteristics of this type of fish.

The Fukurin.

Fukurin is a term that describes the skin between the scales. Not all fish have this. In most non-metallic fish, the scales overlap (like roof tiles) and there is no intervening skin (Fukurin). This phenomenon is present in all metallic fish, because Fukurin is what gives them their metallic sheen. The more sheen and the more uniform the sheen, the better.

The GinRin

Some varieties have a specific sheen (reflection) on their scales, which we call GinRin. This can be a silver sheen (on black, white, or gray backgrounds) or a golden sheen (on red, orange, or yellow backgrounds). The more uniform the GinRin (both in intensity and distribution across the fish), the better.

In the next part I will delve deeper into patterns.