Discover the Most Expensive Koi Fish Ever Sold

Nishikigoi, better known as koi fish, are a well-known variety of the common carp. They are bright red and white and revered for their vibrance and grace. Even other animals, including their predators, are drawn to their beauty. 

Aside from their looks, koi are popular because they are strong, intelligent, and resilient creatures whose lifespan ranges between 25 and 40 years. However, they can sometimes live far longer. For example, Hanako, the oldest koi fish and a native to Japan, died when she was 226 years old!

Many pet owners also like koi because of their gentle and friendly nature. But here’s a piece of even more interesting news: Most types of koi are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some have even fetched almost $2 million!

Itching to know the most expensive koi ever sold? Read on to learn valuable and intriguing details about these fascinating fish.

The Most Expensive Koi Fish Ever Sold

The most expensive koi in history was S Legend, a Kōhaku variety that brought in a whopping $1.8 million in October 2018. Ms. Ying Ying Chung, a highly respected koi enthusiast and collector, bought the 39-inch colorful female carp from the popular breeder named Kentaro Sakai after an intense bidding war in Hiroshima at his fish farm.

Some people couldn’t grasp why Chung spent so much money on a fish when some Kōhaku koi cost as little as $50. But the answer was pretty clear: S Legend was a great investment. For starters, the particular fish species can lay up to 100,000 eggs during one breeding season. Even if only 1% matches the required quality, that’s plenty of baby Kōhaku to help her recoup her investment. In addition, Kōhaku koi can grow up to 50 inches, and their value increases with size. 

Unfortunately, S Legend died in 2019.  

All Kōhaku Koi Aren’t Worth the Same Amount of Money

There are various types of Kōhaku koi, including:

• Dangara
• Akamuji
• Odome
• Makibara
• Komoyō
• Kuchibeni
• Shiromuji
• Ōmoyō
• Zubonhaki

Although Kōhaku koi are generally expensive, these fish have different price tags based on their physical attributes. The most valuable ones have a bright white on their tails and pectoral and dorsal fins.

The value of a Kōhaku koi fish decreases if its sashi — the soft edging of a koi’s color pattern — is thin or looks greyish. Some less valuable subspecies are Komoyō, Makibara, Kuchibeni, and Shiromuji, while Dangara is more valued because of its distinctive pattern.

Sex and Age Affect Coloration (and Therefore Price)

More often than not, the colors of Kōhaku koi depend on their sex and age. For instance, male species develop their coloring early, but the red tends to fade as they age. On the contrary, female koi fish take more time to attain their red coloration, and they retain it even as they grow older.

It’s also worth mentioning that diet impacts the Kōhaku koi’s ability to develop and retain a healthy coloration. You could invest in one with weak coloring and then try to achieve brighter coloring by feeding it food with color enhancers. Ideally, their diets should contain plenty of protein, spirulina, and krill to achieve the best results.

Other Expensive Types of Koi Fish

Apart from Kōhaku, other koi fish varieties have been sold for hefty sums. These include:

Taisho Sanshoku – $341,990

Also known as Sanke or Taisho Sanke, this koi fish is high-priced because of its ancient origins. It was first discovered in 1918 during the era of Emperor Taishō, which is why it was named after him. Unlike some varieties, it has sumi (black) scattered over its body, meaning it has three colors instead of only red and white.

Besides its long lineage, the unique color pattern of Taisho Sanshoku koi contributes to its high value. The most expensive one, a Maruten Sanke, fetched $341,990 at a Sakai Fish Farm auction in 2015. In 2013, another spectacular Taisho Sanke (Shining Rose) fetched $213,223 at the same location.

Showa Sanshoku – $68,000

In 2014, Ryuki Narita of Narita Koi Farms purchased a Showa Sanshoku koi for 7 million Yen ($68,000) from the 6th Dainichi Koi Farm annual auction. Like the Sanke, this variety has its share of sumi; its body is black with white and red patches.

Lineage is the main reason the Showa Sanshoku is costly and popular. The breeder Jukichi Hoshin first developed it in 1927 by matching a Ki-Utsuri and a Kohaku. Back then, the sashi was grayish, the hi was weak, and the sumi was faded. In 1964, another breeder, Tomiji Kobayashi, paired a female Showa with a male Kohaku, but the result was too small and had a weird body shape. Only the combination of an Inazuma Showa and Minoru Mano produced a desirable breed with good color quality and size.

Tancho Kōhaku – $17,000

The Tancho Kōhaku is a popular koi variety bred from different types of Nishikigoi, such as Showa Sanshoku, Taisho Sankshoku, and Kōhaku. Its most distinguishing characteristic is the bright red patch on its head. Since the rest of its body is white, it resembles the flag of Japan, explaining why the country’s nationals adore it.

Intriguingly, the Tancho Kōhaku’s unique color pattern is not a fluke. It took breeders centuries to achieve it, and some still have difficulty attaining it, which bumps up its price. The most expensive specimen sold for $17,000. However, some have an orange coloration near the red circle on their heads and are worth less than $2,000.

Doitsu – $16,000

The Doitsu is a unique fish variety you can put in your pond if you like koi. Thanks to selective breeding and an FGFR1 gene mutation, it lacks scales, so its skin is smooth. Decades ago, this aspect made preparing it easy, and many people relished eating it. Others were captivated by its abnormality and kept it as a pet.

Doitsu koi have been around for more than a century. Since they’re also rare, they can cost up to $16,000, especially if they have attractive colorations, including black, white, and red. Because their gene mutation is hereditary, some koi enthusiasts invest in them for breeding purposes.

Still, various koi farms sell Doitsu for as low as $400, and younger fish can be priced at only $10. Before making your purchase, consider its skin—it should be bright without any blemishes or discoloration. The creature should also have a uniform, torpedo-shaped body and a round head.

Kumonryu – $15,000

The Kumonryu is a striking black and white, scaleless fish, which most people call the flying dragon of koi. But that’s not the only feature that makes it unique. During various times of the year, its skin changes from black to white.

Getting a baby Kumonryu off the market can be tricky because they change their patterns so often that identifying them is difficult. If you want to land a good one, buy two or three specimens, especially if you can care for them comfortably.

Unfortunately, Kumonryu isn’t pocket-friendly because just one can sell for $15,000.

Shiro Utsuri – $10,000

The Shiro Utsuri is a small type of koi that costs up to $10,000. With its balanced black and white pattern, it looks like a dalmatian or Holstein Friesian, explaining why it’s pricey. Most fish are 35 inches long, but you could develop one with a length of 39 inches through selective breeding.

As many koi keepers can attest, finding a good Shiro Utsuri specimen can be challenging. It takes many years for this fish to mature and might undergo unexpected and undesirable changes. For example, because this fish is a black-based species, the sumi may develop in places you won’t like, making it too dark. On the contrary, the longfin koi represents harmony and class.