Kohaku

Kohaku koi Merfolk

A kohaku mermaid of the straight "Hi" categori

These merfolk are naturally peaceful and conflict avoidant and possess a natural beauty and grace.

They may be slightly more sensitive to how others perceive them compared to other kohaku species . Although their patterning, unlike in their fish counterpart, is not as important given the merfolks mutable nature they may still put care in being well groomed as well as what image they present.

May merfolk perceive them as being delicate, and unable to handle hardship, and perhaps this is true for the younger kohaku koi merfolk. However, like all other koi, inside hides a hardy preservernace and adaptability. You'll find that among the more experienced kohaku koi, merfolk wisdom and a keen emotional intelligence are a common trait. There is no telling what hardships they have gone through.

A Tancho Kohaku mermaid

Kohaku Fish

Perhaps the oldest breed of ornamental koi.

These koi are highly prised, their name meaning "red" and "white" possessing a white body and distinkt red to orange markings known as "Hi".

The kohaku koi, naturally occur in all white colouring or all read. However in the world of many breeders, the pure red and pure white colouration are often considered undesirable and will be culled, along with a battery of other requirements for the "Hi". Where the koi's patterns should be more or less symmetrical and be able to fit into predefined aesthetically pleasing categories.

Kohaku categorisations

The varieties of kohaku koi based on patterning which has little to do with ancestry

Among the kohaku there are also sub categories known as Doitsu (german) and Gin Rin type

It is common for the doitsu variety to retain a line of scales along the dorsal fin
-Doitsu varieties are (mostly) entirely scaleless fish. They originate from carps which were specifically breed for ease of descaling (yes, for culinary purposes), which have been crossbred with the koi.

A gin rin kohaku of the tancho category. Grin rin koi must have at least 3 compleate rows of glittering scales.
-The Gin Rin , refer to the Ginrin (silver) scales which are deformed scales that reflect light, causing a sparking effects. Although single gin rin scales may appear on koi, it may be considered as a fault unless the they possess at least 3 complete rows of it to be able to categorise in the ginrin category.

Kohaku particularities

Kohaku fish have a peaceful and friendly temperament. Like most koi the possess a long term memory and are able to learn and adapt to their environment and develop their unique personalities.

Although like most koi the Kohalu is a hardy fish able to live in cold waters. It's colouration is the most sensitive the conditions of their environment, developing black spots if the diet possesses too much krill or spirulina (colour enhancers) as well as if the water temperature it too cold.