Hi All,
still can't tell the difference between my sanke's and showa's unless someone has labelled them!! is there an easy way to tell them apart, i know you all are thinking is she for real or just really dumb! but if there was 2 infront of me i still don't know which is what!!!
"an easy explanantion please!!!"

Ok just some basic points that helped me.

The Sanke is a three coloured Koi with red and black markings on a white background. the depth of the colours are important, with a pure white background and uniform red plus black markings. There should be no black markings on the head, looking similar to the Kohaku. The body should have large red markings complimented by an even distribution of smaller black patches. Black stripes can often be seen in the pectoral fins and tail, but not always.



The Showa is also a three coloured Koi with black, red and white markings. It is similar to the Sanke except that the black areas are much larger, covering a large area of the body, including the head. There is normally a solid area of black at the base of the pectoral fins and some black stripes on the tail, again not always

thanks graham for that, think i get it! am going to look at my fish and see if i can tell the difference, may have to use this reply from you as future reference..

Ok for help here guys and girls for Tracy, please post up photo's for Showa and Sanke.

Tracy post up your Koi if you get chance and you give us YOUR thoughts as to what they are and we shall inform you if correct or not, and guide you through it.

Graham

Ok these Koi are two fine examples to ease you off Koibaby. Two beautiful koi from A4Koi so whats what ?

the one on the left is a sanke and the right is a showa???

top of the class

It's as easy as that well done

Ok sometimes markings can throw us off, but if you apply the same principles you should come up trumps each time.

maybe a few of the lads here can put up some "Curve ball" pictures to test us?

Graham

thanks jimbo, graham, did think you used some clear examples to make it easier for me, i think i sussed mine by one not having black on her face, but they both have a heavier pattern, i've just got to think sanke and kuhaku both have a "k" in the name and no black on face!!! so sanke/kukaku are simular so all the rest are showa!!!!

How about this one? A top class Koi from Nippon Nishikigoi