Tancho Kujaku combine the metallic ground and dark-centered scale pattern of Kujaku with a colored marking restricted to the head. The body retains its reticulated appearance without the usual colored plates along the back. Finish and scaling are as important to identification as the head mark itself.
Tancho Kujaku Photos
How to Identify Tancho Kujaku
- A metallic light ground with dark-centered scales.
- A red or orange-red marking restricted to the head.
- No additional colored body plates forming an ordinary Kujaku pattern.
Compare Similar Varieties
Compare Kujaku when colored markings continue along the body. Tancho Goshiki has a non-metallic netted background, while Tancho Kohaku has a clear white body without Kujaku reticulation. Check the skin's continuous luster in several views before using a red head mark to identify a metallic variety.
Choosing and Observing Tancho Kujaku
Look at luster, reticulation, head-mark placement, and body quality as separate features. A circular marking cannot compensate for a poorly documented or unsuitable purchase. Avoid urgent buy-it-now advice based on claimed scarcity. A dated photograph and a normal swimming video provide more useful information than an assertion that a particular Tancho variety is automatically a great find.
For the complete visual directory, see koi varieties. Before purchasing, review buying koi and quarantine.