Pondscapes carries the finest of the brocaded carp from Japan. Shipments of these beautiful fish arrive every two to three weeks. We have fish ranging in size from 6 inches to 24. We have specially designed outdoor tanks to maintain the koi in top condition. When you purchase these special pets, you are assured that your koi come from a lineage of careful breeding by people who deeply respect these exceptional fish.

Koi Information and History

Koi are carp, Cyprinus carpio. The dark brown wild type is native to the inland seas of western and central Asia. When these fish were first taken into captivity is lost to history, but the fish were raised in China and introduced to Japan at least eighteen hundred years ago. The wild fish are considered an excellent fare. Koi were kept by rice farmers as a hedge against hunger when winter snows prevented trading.

In captivity, the carp began to show colors not seen in the wild. Colorful carp were first noted in a book written during the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316 CE), but it was not until the early 1800s that Japanese farmers in Niigata prefecture began selecting and breeding koi for beauty and grace.

Even the origin of the name "koi" is lost; some date the word to China to 2500 years ago, others place the word as Japanese. In Japan, they are called nishikigoi, 'brocaded carp'. But koi is now an international word and used as the name for these colorful domesticated fish the world over.

Koi Legends

1. Koi represent courage. High in the Himalayas are two lakes, the sacred Manasrovar and evil Raksas Tal (demon lake) where the waters were poisonous. The Hindu say a brave golden fish, unafraid of the raksas, tunneled from Manasrovar to Raksas Tal and the pure holy water poured into Raksas Tal and destroyed all the poisons.

   Raksas stand in awe and fear of the majestic koi. The god, Guan Yin, found the koi worthy and stands upon his back. If confronted by demons on the path of life, the faithful have only to call upon Guan Yin and his koi. The demons will not dare to harm them.

2. Koi represent perseverance. In China, the ancestors of koi were said to live in China Sea. Every year when the peach were in bloom and the Huáng Hé (Yellow River) was in flood, the koi fought the great current to gather at the Dragon’s Gate. Once there, each attempted to jump the roaring falls.
3. Koi represent grace. As they travel the watery world, even in the turbulence of floods, koi do so with grace in motion.
4. Koi represent success. When a koi won the Dragon’s Gate, the Jade Emperor judged his life and granted success. The colorful fish began a new life, this time as a dragon.

Pondscapes has exotic aquatic plants and waterlilies for every type of pond. Pondscapes can special order hard to find plants and unique hybrids, if you so desire. We will help you select the perfect plants and waterlilies to match your water garden. We carry everything needed to keep your waterlily healthy and colorful.

Waterlily Information

Waterlilies, known botanically as Nymphaea, were named for the nymphs, the graceful nature goddesses who the ancient Greeks believed to inhabit springs, waterfalls, and streams.

Waterlilies are emergents; their roots must be submerged, their leaves float on the surface, their many-petaled flowers stand above the water. There are two main divisions of waterlilies: temperate which go dormant during winter and tropical which keep their leaves year-round. In both types are day-blooming and night-blooming.

Waterlily enthusiasts the world-over have created hundreds of elegant hybrids with colors ranging from purest white to sun-bright yellow to delicate pinks, deep reds, startling blues, and regal purples. No matter what the size of the pond, there is a waterlily which will provide the perfect finishing dash of color.