Koi are part of the Carp Family (Cyprinus carpio) and are native to the Aral, Avon, Black and Caspian Seas located in Eastern Asia.
Koi were fish brought to Japan by the Chinese in approximately 500 BC, when the Chinese invaded Japan and released Koi into their waterways.
The colorful Koi we know today were started from Black Carp with mutated red and white scales.
The easiest way to distinguish a Koi from a Goldfish is that a Koi has a pair of barbels located on each side of the mouth.
Most Koi are ready to breed when they are approximately 12” long and 3 years of age.
Female Koi may deposit up to 400,000 eggs during a spawning.
Spawning is naturally induced by seasonal changes in water temperature; in Michigan Koi typically spawn in May and June.