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Carp · Ornamental pond fish

KoiCyprinus rubrofuscus

Koi are domesticated common carp bred over 200 years for color + pattern. Categories: Kohaku (red on white), Sanke (red + black on white), Showa (red + white on black), Tancho (single red spot on head), Ogon (single-color metallic), Doitsu (scaleless German strain), Butterfly (long-finned). Domestic-bred koi are hardy in zone 5+ ponds with adequate depth (3+ feet for ice cover). Imported Japanese koi command premium prices ($500-50,000+) for show-quality specimens.

Ornamental pond fish Carp

Stocking quick reference

Stocking rate
1 koi per 250 gallons (40-50 koi per 1,000 gal pond max)
Ship size
4-6" small, 8-12" stockers, 18"+ for adult koi
Adult size
24-36"
Best season
Spring through early fall (avoid mid-summer transit + winter shipping)

Diet

Koi pellet (Hikari Saki, Tetra Pond), vegetables, occasional treats

Compatible with

Pond goldfish, sarasa comet, butterfly koi

Ship-to states

All US states

State legality is enforced at checkout - the Fast Aquatics 52-rule legality engine blocks restricted shipments before payment. Permits + DNR rules vary by state for sport-fish stocking over personal-use thresholds.

Buy Koi

Live Koi listings from approved Fast Aquatics pond + aquaculture vendors. Filter by ship-from state to find the closest hatchery for cold-chain efficiency.

Browse Koi listings →   Pond stocking companies →

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Sell Koi on Fast Aquatics

Fish farms, hatcheries, and pond-stocking companies: list Koi for direct-to-pond-owner sales + wholesale Fast Frags partnerships.

Apply as a vendor