Also known as Taisho Sanke, or often simply abbreviated to Sanke, the taisho sanshoku is genetically a white koi with red and black markings.
It is named for the time in which it was developed, the Taisho period in Japanese history. The body appears primarily white, and the colors that sit on the white should be in a spotted formation rather than banded, and there should be no black on the face.
For many of us, our ponds are beginning to warm (or will soon be). Water temperature, not the ambient air temperature, is the gauge for what to do and when to do it in regards to your pond. Water temperature should be checked at approximately 1 foot of depth. Avoid feeding your fish until the water temperature is consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This will also be the time to start adding spring maintenance bacteria and enzyme treatments.
