Variety of Koi
Taisho Sanke koi
Cyprinus rubrofuscus
One of 5 varieties of Cyprinus rubrofuscus · See all varieties →
FreshwaterFish
Varieties · Cyprinus rubrofuscus
See all 5 →
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 39–81°F
- 4–27°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.5
- Adult size
- 23.6 in
- 60 cm
- Minimum tank
- 264 gal
- 1,000 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Very common
- Family
- Cyprinidae
Overview
Sanke is a Kohaku with black added, so keeping the white clean still matters plus one more color can go wrong. The black is often unfinished on a young fish and keeps rising for years. That is why a plain juvenile can improve while a busy one turns muddy. Domestic tank bred Sanke cost far less than Japanese imports and usually carry looser patterns.
In the wild
The variety came out of Niigata during the Taisho era, first exhibited in 1914 by Gonzo Hiroi and fixed as a breed by Eizaburo Hoshino in 1917. Taisho Sanshoku means Taisho three colors, a reference to the reign it was established in. Like every koi class it is a pond selection, and no wild carp carries the pattern.
Good to know
Black comes from melanophores that keep developing long after the fish is sold, unlike the red, which is largely set early. Judges separate tsubo sumi sitting on white from kasane sumi lying over red, and a traditional Sanke carries no black on the head. The pattern is polygenic, so a Sanke spawning also produces Kohaku, Bekko and plain fish.
Did you know
The quickest way to separate a Sanke from a Showa is the pectoral fins. Sanke fins are usually plain white, while Showa carry a black wedge at the fin base called motoguro. The head helps too, since a Sanke's head is normally red and white only.
Common questions
Is a Taisho Sanke koi a different species from the Koi?
No. A Taisho Sanke koi is a variety of the Koi, Cyprinus rubrofuscus, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.
What size tank does a Taisho Sanke koi need?
A Taisho Sanke koi needs at least 264 gal (1,000 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
How big does a Taisho Sanke koi get?
An adult Taisho Sanke koi reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).
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