首先，需要了解锦鲤的分类，它共分十三大类，一百多个品种。这些品种的分类主要依据其不同的色彩及花纹。接下来，我们将分别介绍具代表性的品种。

一、红白

红白的定义：白底上有红色花纹者称为红白。

红白的历史：最早发现具红白二种颜色的鲤鱼是一八零四年至一八二九年间。当初由真鲤突然变异产生头部全红的“红脸鲤”，再由其产生的白色鲔与绯鲔交配，产生腹部有红色斑纹的白鳌，之后逐渐忙改良成背部有红斑的锦鳌。一八八零年左右，红白在日本新泻县山古志地方普遍饲养，经过不断改良，已经有相当好的品种出现。

斑纹应具条件：

白底要纯洁，没有或不带黑点。

红色愈浓愈好，但必须是格调高雅明朗的橙色基盘。

蛇皮边际要清晰分明，但靠近头部部分有时会模糊不清，这是由于鳞片覆盖着下层色彩结果，即“插彩”。这种插彩别具风格。

斑纹位置条件：

(1) 头部：一定要有红斑。如果没有，则被视为“和尚”，没有观赏价值。头上越大的赤面越好，但不可渲染到眼、颚、颊、嘴吻，以免影响美观。

(2)躯干部：花纹必须左右对称，最好靠近头部肩膀处有一块大型斑纹，这是整条鱼观赏焦点。头顶与躯干之间必须切入，有利于增加视觉冲击力。但不可渲染至尾巴部分。

红白类型：

(1) 段紋（段状）：呈一般一段分布者称为段紋，可以分为二段、三段、四段等不同类型，每一种均衡美丽且受欢迎。

(2) 一条紅（闪电）：自頭至尾结只由一條毫無變化的一條紅斑紋构成者的紅青石，是一种特殊而独特的地位之宝石鱼。

观赏时应注意的事项：

底色一定要洁净，而近纯净者最优，如泛黄或带黑点则评价低劣。

红色的边界需清晰，不可模糊不清或杂乱无章。

不论大小斑都须在头顶存在，并且不能全身都是单调直线形态，只能以折返形态更佳显得生动活泼。

七、大正三色的魅力

大正三色的定义：White base with red and black spots, known as Big Three Color.

大正三色的历史：Developed by Staruo Yoshinobu in the Taisho era, it was later improved to create "Shibee", "Tora", and other excellent bloodlines.

斑纹应有的条件：

White base should be pure white without any speckles or discoloration.

Red spots must be evenly distributed, clear-cut edges for a better appearance.

4 大正三色的类型:

口尖、三目、三体: Mouth spot with small red spots on the lower jaw of a fish; eye spot with three black stripes on the fins; body shape similar to that of a catfish.

5 观赏大正三色时应注意的事项:

The color of the red and black spots should be vibrant and richly colored.

The white background should be as close to pure white as possible.

Head has to have some red patterns; chest has to have some black stripes.

8 昭和三色的独特之处

1 昭和三色的定义: Black base with orange-red scales, known as Showa Three Colors.

2 昭和三色的历史: Developed by Yoko Hiroshi in Shōwa Era by combining orange-red scales from Ryūkō scale fish and Hidaka Akira's yellow-white scales from Taiyuan scale fish.

3 斑纹应有的条件:

Black base must be deep in color without any specks or discoloration.

Orange-red scales are preferred over bright orange ones for their more refined look.

4 昭和三色的类型:

(1) Red-yellow-black tri-colors: Fish having both yellow-orange colors mixed together on its back side and dark brown-black colors on its belly side form this type of tri-colors which is considered most beautiful among all types due to their contrasting colors forming an interesting pattern when viewed from different angles while swimming around underwater aquarium tanks at home offices workplace etcetera so keep watching closely then you will see what I mean!