One of the more confusing factors of Koi keeping for the beginner hobbyist is all the different Koi breeds on the market.
With all the magical colours available today one might be surprised that most of the different Koi breeds on the market are descendent from the plain black Carp (Cyprinus Carpio).
As a hobbyist you need to decide which Koi breeds are for you.
There are no official records of the first colour mutation from the original black carp; it is however believed that the first mutation was a red Koi found in the rice paddies amongst its black counterparts.
Some time later, possibly a descendent from the red Carp a white mutation was found, and it was from the crossing of these two that the first red on white Koi was bred.
The Kohaku as we know it today was then simply called Hara-aka, around the 1930's the Kohaku was first documented as a breed of Nishikigoi and marked a beginning of many more Koi breeds.
Today there are fourteen official Koi breeds with a great many 'sub' breeds.
At your local dealer you will see a wide variation of breeds, many of which are more attractive to you than what you see on posters and in books.
These fish are normally not officially categorized and your local dealer will probably tell you that it is a mix between two or three different variations but can not tell for certain.
From this information you may conclude that it could be a new type of breed or perhaps that it is worthless and not worth the trouble or money.
You should consider the reasons then why you keep Koi, in most cases it is for the serene affect you receive by watching them, or for the beautiful colours that you enjoy.
If this is indeed the conclusion of your thoughts, that breed which is of no importance or fits into no specific category could be exactly what you want and need for your pond.
There are many Koi breeds available and a great deal for the beginner to learn about them and how to recognise them.
The important thing you should remember is to look at the breeds that are attractive to you! Even if they fall into no category at all, you should find the Koi breed for you! Keeping Koi is about a whole lot more than prize winning breeds, it's about personal enjoyment!