Longfin. Hirenagagoi. Water Dragons. Butterfly. The Koi with the long, flowing fins that resemble silk being moved through water goes by numerous names. And as many names as it has, it has opinions about it, too.
Origins
So where do Butterfly Koi come from? It seems like it is a tale of similar ideas in two different countries. The Japanese genesis story involves a Prince who brought back a gift of Indonesian long-finned carp which were then bred with traditional koi. The idea of one of the primary drivers of the crossbreeding, Atsushi Suda, was to try and increase size while adding hybrid vigor (heterosis), not to select the fins. But it happened and the results were deemed quite pleasing.
The beginnings of Butterfly Koi in the US come from roughly around the same time that the Hirenagagoi in Japan were making an appearance. These new types of koi were born from the marketing genius of Randy LeFever and Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery, who saw the commercial potential in breeding some advertised “long-finned koi” with his own koi stock. The result were what he dubbed Butterfly Koi and have gained in popularity year over year. (You can read the full story here.)
Opinions
The debate on Butterfly Koi divides enthusiasts’ sentiments. There appears to be a purist bias for the more traditional style of koi. In a sense, Butterfly Koi are essentially the sparkling wine in the champagne world of nishikigoi.
Many Japanese breeders don’t consider Butterfly Koi to be koi at all. In fact, they are considered to be a different type of fish entirely—which might explain why they are referred to as “American Koi.” Wikipedia goes as far as to say that the word “koi” is incorrect when describing long fin koi:
“For clarification, the word koi is wholly inaccurate for describing these fish; Koi are, as dictated by the Japanese breeders, Nishikigoi, these long-finned carp are Hirenagagoi. The word koi has been given to these fish to increase their resale value and popularity in garden centres and the like.”
As important as the practice of crossbreeding is to the popularity of the koi and the reason for awesome variety we see today, it seems a little hypocritical to denounce butterfly as not a koi, especially since the idea of “traditional” stems from a practice that really only gained widespread recognition and support in the 1800s. And even more interestingly is that awards at some of the Japanese Koi shows have been given to koi that have Hirenaga in their bloodline—sometimes as near as a parent!
Perhaps some of where the less than positive global opinion could be as a result of the judging standards that the ZNA use—especially when it comes to the fins themselves. Joe White, an American Koi Judges Association (AKJA) Senior Certified Judge explains:
“When judging koi the long fin becomes a conformation issue. So much of the longfin standard is tied to the length, proportion, and non-shredded aspect of the fins that the variety is in a separate class judging-wise. Many longfins develop twisted pectoral fins with age, so much so that they can no longer propel their body to the surface to feed on floating pellets.”
As to the overall perceptions of Butterfly Koi in general, White discusses how judging (or the lack thereof) might explain why longfins are not highly regarded:
“For judging standards and many other things about the hobby we look to Japan. I think there in Japan the short answer is that they view longfin as a separate type of fish from koi. The Japanese shows do not have longfin and the Japanese ZNA judge group do not have longfin judging standards. From a hobbyist standpoint in Japan, there is appreciation on some level for the longfin by some Japanese. Suda-San, the original Japanese breeder, said when some of his customers saw the longfin they wanted them as they seemed powerful swimming with their long fins.”
In fact in an article, History of the Longfin, Vance Schulze suggests that the newly bred butterfly koi were a big hit in Japan until such time as it was decided that they were ineligible for judging at major shows in Japan. It was at this point that their popularity plummeted.
However, White also offers an objective perspective as to why Butterfly Koi weren’t added to the rolls at shows.
“In all fairness to those who have not jumped on the longfin bandwagon, it is important to understand that when the longfin first started coming to shows there was not much to appreciate other than finage, that is, there were very few with color or pattern, and most of no particular type such as longfin Kohaku or Sanke.”
White also explores how Doitsu, similarly also fall victim to the exacting nature of how traditional koi are judged.
“Doitsu do not enjoy the same status as standard koi in judging by the Japanese, nor do Ginrin. This goes more to tradition somewhat, however, one rarely sees large doitsu or Ginrin at larger sizes as the quality of these types tends to drop off with age sooner than with standard koi. Therefore, less value in the long run compared to standard koi.”
Butterfly On Show
But that doesn’t mean that Butterflies are completely out in the cold. In the U.S., the appreciation of this koi (whether or not it is seen as such in other parts of the world) has lead to many shows including a longfin category (usually divided into over and under 16”) to the judging. There is even a separate criteria for judging.
This article from Florida Koi explores the background and ideology behind how butterfly koi are judged. It maintains that the defining characteristic of the butterfly—the fins—hold more weight as to what makes them prize-worthy.
The general judging criteria is similar to traditional koi, however once the overall body conformation checks out okay, finnage is most heavily weighted in the criteria for judging butterfly koi.
This means that the fins have their own unique set of standards and guidelines as to what makes one example more desirable than another. The fins’ judging standards include:
- Proportion (or how they balance the fish)
- Whether they are badly split, torn, “thin” or excessively frayed (which can happen in older koi)
- How the “shoulder” supports the fin
The “shoulder” (or the portion that extends from the body to the fin and supports the overall balance) is an important feature in how fins are judged. Ideally, the shoulder should hold the fin at a right angle to the body so that the fin doesn’t become twisted or lead to jerky and erratic movements.
Ultimately, it seems to come down to a question of taste. Coke and Pepsi. Relaxed fit and boot cut. New enthusiasts that aren’t party to the debate or do not follow the show circuit might be more swayed by the flowing and mesmerizing elegance of the longer fins. Then there are the more sophisticated enthusiasts who might be more inclined to follow the traditional line of thinking that predominates in Japan.
Either way, you should fill your pond with whatever makes you happy. And so, happy koi keeping wherever you are.