My Koi Garden

Koi variety guide

Chagoi koi

Chagoi is a tea-brown koi with no distinct body markings. Look at the base color across the whole fish first. Soragoi is blue-gray, Karashigoi is mustard-colored, and Ochiba Shigure has distinct brown patches on a pale blue-gray ground.

Tea-brown Chagoi viewed from above in a blue measuring tub, showing the back and rows of scales
This Chagoi was photographed from above in a measuring tub. The view shows the continuous tea-brown ground and the rows of scales. Photo by KoiQuestion · Original Flickr photo page · CC BY-SA 2.0.

What makes a Chagoi?

The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association describes Chagoi as brown all over, without distinct markings. Zen Nippon Airinkai lists Chagoi among its representative Mujimono, the single-color group. Check the rules of the particular show if you plan to enter a fish.

How to identify a Chagoi

  1. Look for distinct patches. Check the head, back and both flanks. A repeating outline around individual scales is different from a separate patch of color.
  2. Check the base color in even light. Look for tea-brown across the body. Reflections and a colored tub can shift how a fish looks in a photograph.
  3. Observe the scales. On a fully scaled fish, follow the rows toward the tail. Ginrin describes reflective scales and can occur over a Chagoi base.

Chagoi and similar-looking koi

Variety or traitWhat to look for
SoragoiA pale blue-gray ground without distinct patches.
KarashigoiA mustard-colored ground without distinct patches.
Ochiba ShigureEarthen-brown patches on a pale blue-gray ground. Look for separate areas of color.
Ginrin ChagoiReflective scales over the tea-brown Chagoi base.

What to look for when choosing a Chagoi

  • Compare body shape and balance as the fish swims.
  • Look at the color from head to tail and check both sides in similar light.
  • Use appearance for identification. How readily a fish approaches people varies between individuals.

References