Michelle's son is a goshiki. Pronounced in South Texas "go-she-kee". Pronounced in Japan "goesh-kee".
The goshiki are reticulated all over the body. That means the edges of the scales are darker, making a netted pattern. Reticulated fish are called matsuba.
The color of the goshiki comes from an overlay of brown-blue-red-white-black. Making a purple kind of color. The purple ripens to a purple-brown as they get older. The purple overlays a basic white-red pattern, and produces remarkable colors.
The goshiki are also hariwaki. That means they have metallic skin. They glow in the water.
With the basic pattern of a kohaku.
With all that happening on the fish, a good goshiki looks like burning coals in the water.
They ARE very special fish. And in my opinion, the height of the color variation you find in koi.
Of course, a traditionalist will tell you that the kohaku are the heighth of the breed - because they have been working on the white-red for 2,000 years. And a really good kohaku is really rare.
Goshiki are not so refined. But they are so beautiful...
