What To Look For
As with all koi, body conformation is of the utmost importance. The head should be symmetrical and proportional in size to the rest of the body. The body itself should also be symmetrical, with a torpedo-like shape, meaning thick behind the head, and tapering down evenly toward the back of the body and the tail fin. The fins should be full and symmetrical, with no deformities.
Typically, Ochiba have the grey of Soragoi as the base pattern, with the brown of Chagoi appearing as a pattern over top of the grey. The highest quality Ochiba have a Kohaku-like stepped pattern.
The edges between the grey and brown areas should be clean and sharp, with each color stopping at the edge of the scales that form the pattern. The color should not bleed over into a part of the adjacent scale, as this will create a blurred look to the pattern. Ideally, the scales of an Ochiba should display a uniform reticulated-net pattern. Beware of any missing or misplaced scales, as this will detract from the beauty of the koi. Additionally, look out for any blemishes or discolored scales. These will only become more apparent as the koi ages toward maturity.
