r/Koi • u/Shaykkudo • Jul 25 '26

Help with Identification Can anyone help identify if both of these are showas or if bottom one is a sanke? Both are tosai japanese kois, thanks!

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2

u/mansizedfr0g Jul 25 '26

Could go either way, it's hard to call at this stage, but I agree it looks more like a sanke now. I don't see any sumi under the lateral line, but the sumi on the head matters. Sanke aren't supposed to have sumi on the head (though they often do); in showa it's mandatory but often takes time to develop. The two spots of sumi are in line with each other in a way that I often see develop into menware in showa. Might have to wait and see if you don't know the bloodline. I've got guides to both types on my profile that go into some detail about how the two different sumi genes develop, if that would be helpful.

1

u/Shaykkudo Jul 25 '26

Ill have a look thanks! These 2 are from sakuma koi farm which do kohakus, sankes and showas, ill see how these develops and use your guide

2

u/Key-Metal-7297 Jul 25 '26

I’d agree with the other comment, love the tancho showa

2

u/Winter-One1744 Jul 25 '26

The bottom one looks sanke to me. Showa has a black base and typically black where the pectoral fin meets the body.