Variety
Also called: skeleton koi
Scaleless (doitsu) koi with a shifting black-and-white pattern that can literally change with seasons, water temperature, and diet — the 'nine-tattooed dragon'. Some develop striking skeleton-like white markings on black, earning the nickname skeleton koi.
| Grade | Typical price (6–10″ unless noted) |
|---|---|
| Pond / garden quality | $70 – $535 |
| High grade / import | up to $1,000 |
| Show grade | $2,500+ |
Pattern instability is part of the appeal — buy the fish, not today's pattern.
Size, body conformation, and breeder line move prices more than variety alone — see the full koi price guide.
North Hollywood, CA Ships nationwide $$$ show
Cali Koi is a North Hollywood, California dealer, founded in 2004, that imports Japanese nishikigoi through relationships its owner built directly with breeders and agents in Japan. Alongside retail koi sales spanning pond-grade to high-end show fish, the business also offers pond and lake management consulting, koi rescue, and pond maintenance and installation services.
Enola, PA Ships nationwide $ $$
Koi Fish USA is an online-only koi and butterfly koi retailer operated by Cumberland Valley Koi, LLC out of Enola, Pennsylvania. It focuses exclusively on live fish, offering next-day nationwide delivery, a 14-day live-arrival guarantee, and over 100 standard and butterfly koi varieties, though it does not publicly disclose whether stock is bred in-house or sourced from other farms.
Upland, CA Ships nationwide $ $$ $$$
Mystic Koi & Water Gardens is a family-owned shop in Upland, California that has operated since 1996 as, by its own description, the largest Southern California specialty retailer of imported Japanese koi and water-gardening supplies. The three-quarter-acre property carries an unusually wide range of named varieties sourced from Japanese breeders including Sekiguchi, Omosako, and Sakai Fish Farm, alongside plants, filtration, and pond-care products.