Difference Between Sanke And Showa

Gosanke Koi Meaning

This is one of those classic questions newcomers to koi need to know the answer to. To the layperson, sanke and showa might seem like the same variety of fish. They’re tri-colored koi after all: white, red, and black! And don’t beat yourself up if you’re struggling to tell them apart, even the initiated can … Read more

Doitsu Koi – Meaning Of Doitsu

“Doitsu” koi are a variation of koi that have no scales or very few scales. And if they do have any scales, because of the mutation, they tend to be over-sized and positioned along the fish’s lateral line and across the back of the fish. Also, sometimes the over-sized scales cover more of the body, … Read more

Angelfish And Betta Together?

It’s always worthwhile to talk about the merits of mixing commonly available fish. Being so readily available means that, inevitably, somebody out there wants to mix an X and a Y. And in the case of this article, the X and the Y are angelfish and betta fish. And to keep things accurate, I want … Read more

Lutino vs Albino Oscar – What’s The Difference?

In the wild, oscars have a brown base with orange stripes or patches. But in our fish stores, I’m sure we’ve all seen oscars with a white base instead of a brown base. Naturally, we might think “oh, a white form of a fish I know… it must be an albino form!” And with oscars, … Read more

Color And Color Changes In Goldfish

The intent of this article is to explain goldfish coloration and why your goldfish might be going through significant color changes as time goes by. For example, did you buy a goldfish with inky black patches only to watch them slowly recede to orange? Or maybe you’ve had a nice red and white goldfish, but … Read more

Are Shubunkins With Black Eyes Blind?

Shubunkins with black eyes can be striking fish, can’t they? Most of us have seen them before. After all, they’re such a common sight at the fish store. In almost every batch of shubunkins for sale I’ve seen at least one or two with black eyes. But, I’ve heard the question a hundred times—are shubunkins … Read more