Vivid Gold & Black Leather Skin 23cm *Vgb23/p14.

 Each week we add new koi fish to the website. The koi in the photos are the exact koi fish you will receive when you order!

 Metallic koi are shiny because of a special layer of reflective cells in their skin called iridophores (or guanophores), which reflect light—giving the koi their shimmering, mirror-like appearance.

 Iridophores: Nature’s Reflectors

• These are specialized cells that contain crystalline stacks of guanine (a natural compound found in fish scales).

• These crystals reflect and scatter light, much like tiny mirrors, producing the metallic sheen you see on koi varieties like Yamabuki Ogon, Platinum Ogon, and Kikokuryu.

• Difference From Regular (Non-Metallic) Koi

  • Non-metallic koi rely on pigment cells (like melanophores for black, erythrophores for red) for color.

  • Metallic koi also have pigment, but the addition of iridophores on the skin’s surface creates that shiny, luminous effect, especially visible in sunlight.

  • It’s Genetic

     Metallic koi are part of the Hikari group (“hikari” means “shining” in Japanese).

    • These traits are passed down selectively through breeding—only koi with the right genetic mix produce the metallic effect. At windsor fish hatcheryt

    To learn more about shipping live fish, visit this page. If you want to know how to properly acclimatize your new fish, read the blog.  If you're looking for high-quality food for your koi, we have it here. before your fish arrive match your pH to ours 7.8     Read the blog do i need to quarantine my new fish get the answers