Kumonryo

The Orca Koi. The Chameleon Koi. Kumonryo are known as many things but the one thing is certain about this unique variety and that is that it will change its pattern far more readily than any other Koi variety. As dealers Kumonryo can be exasperating Koi because no-one really has much idea about what they are going to do in the future.

Kumonryo are doitsu black and white Koi. They can develop an extremely diverse range of patterns and the black that appears on the Koi can change and vary substantially over the period of a few months. Superb quality Kumonryo do have more pattern stability but this is generally only true of much older Kumonryo. Young Kumonryo are thus always a bit of a gamble as to what the fish is going to look like in a few months or years time.

An excellent white background is a necessity when selecting these Koi. The black, if there is any on the fish at all, should be as intense and well defined as possible, but even then this is no guarantee.

As you can see from the picture above Kumonryo have the ability to develop striking patterns. Allegedly the Orca killer whale type pattern is much favoured as per the fish on the left, but who can deny the intense impact of the fish on the right?

Kumonryo can grow large indeed - amongst the largest of all doitsu Koi. They are exciting Koi to own and sometimes challenging when they stubbornly refuse to develop a pattern for you at all! But every Koi pond should own at least one Kumonryo, and some ponds no doubt exist that only have Kumonryo swimming in them which must be a sight to behold.

Beni Kumoryo are the same version as the Kumonryo above but with additional red in the pattern are also very popular. As with the black in Kumonryo, beni Kumonryo can develop red and lose it in interesting pattern changes and development.