Though the original ornamental koi fish were specifically bred for iconic, specific traits.
There are tons of different amazing koi coloration subvarieties that all look absolutely amazing in a modern aquatic pond setting.
Each offers a unique coloration and creates a different effect within the water, be it a pop of color or hauntingly beautiful trail of long, glittering fins.
One of these gorgeous subvarieties is the Kin Kabuto.
As a more recent coloration compared to some of the classics, this stunning fish is an amazing option for any koi pond or enclosure.
Let’s take a closer look at what exactly makes the Kin Kabuto Koi so special and interesting.
What is a Kin Kabuto Koi?
As a sub-variety of the Ogon koi, this fish is described as a metallic black-hued fish with golden accent colorations.
The ogon koi was selectively bred starting around the middle of the Taisho period between 1912 and 1926 when breeder Sawata Aoki noticed some children playing by a brook.
The children caught some black carp with a slight shimmer to the scales on its back.
Aoki was smitten and soon began trying to breed for the specific black shimmering trait.
He began breeding soon after in hopes of creating a koi that had shimmer across its entire body like a literal jewel.
In 1946, he succeeded, creating the ogon koi sub-variety.
Over time, more and more breeders took an interest in ogon koi and soon more colors emerged.
This includes the kin kabuto black and gold coloration koi, along with several others, including golden ogon, platinum white ogon, kohaku ogon koi, and many more.
Though these koi are not considered as valuable as some of the more sought after varieties, they are still absolutely stunning and worth keeping as pond pets or even for specialized competitions.
Judging an Ogon Koi
Ogon koi are not complex in coloration and are, therefore, rather easy to judge for quality as a whole.
Ideally, the kin kabuto ogon will be uniform in coloration without any blemishes.
Since these koi are considered helmeted, the face and head should be clear and the body scales should be even and neatly arranged.
These fish are excellent growers and should be large, bright, metallic, and beautiful in order to be considered a quality ogon koi fish.
Kin Kabuto Personality
Kin Kabuto Koi and ogons in general are very friendly, happy fish.
Ogon koi are naturally more inclined to social behaviors and generally take more of an interest in human interaction.
They are the type of koi that make for great family pets, as they will often surface within the pond and have a good disposition.
Many claims that ogon koi are especially prone to having unique, quirky personalities, too!
These fish are very intelligent and are generally quite entertaining.
Since they are metallic and shimmer as they swim, they are especially fun for children to care for since they are visually enticing and love the interaction.
Many people can even get them to eat directly from their hands with a bit of patience, practice, and sliced fruits.
If you want a koi that is fun to watch and a little bit more prone to accepting handling, these stunning kin kabuto ogon are the way to go, for sure!
Kin Kabuto Koi Health
Like most koi fish, kin kabutos are very healthy and hardy.
This is due to them being derived from wild-caught mirror carp, which are the basis of the breeding for the ogon bloodline due to the naturally reflective and metallic nature of their scales.
Due to their wild-caught blood, they are actually even more hardy and durable than traditional ornamental koi, as they have a lineage of being exposed to various bacteria and other germs that ornamental koi that have been bred to stray entirely from wild traits have not.
The kin kabuto koi are also amazing for those looking for fish that get really big, really fast.
Kin kabuto koi and ogons, in general, are champion growers and get absolutely massive.
This is also due to them being tied so closely to the wild mirror carp, which naturally get much larger than a regular koi as an adaptation to help it survive against predators and other fish that may eat it otherwise.
The downside of this is that sometimes kin kabuto koi are a bit more prone to fatty tumor growths but this can be negated by feeding a well-rounded and nutritionally high-quality diet.
Koi do well with high-quality food in general so try and do your research to find what is the perfect mix for your koi and their unique living conditions.
It is also important to keep in mind that since kin kabuto koi are bigger, they will have to have a bit more space or be stocked less densely.
This is because they also produce a bit more waste than regular ornamental koi, making for water maintenance being a bit tougher and there is a higher toxicity level within the water at any given point.
To combat this, stock your pond with an appropriate amount of fish and avoid overfeeding or overexposing your koi to other outside stimuli when you can.
This will reduce the risk of illness spreading, should it appear, and make sure the fish are all happy, healthy, and comfortable while living in your unique koi pond enclosure.
Big, Happy Kin Kabuto Koi
If compared, ogon koi, including kin kabuto koi, are the golden retrievers of the fish keeping world.
These stunning, sparkling black and gold-colored fish are very healthy and love the interaction and special attention from their owners.
This makes them incredibly fun to keep and even more, fun to watch grow since they get massive as they age.
All in all, kin kabuto koi make for a great pond pet despite not being particularly valuable within the traditional koi trade niche market and would be a great asset to any aquatic space, especially if you have younger children who may enjoy watching these glittering giants and love taking part in feeding and interacting.
You simply cannot go wrong.
