ANGLING FOR ATTENTION.

Byline: BEN SWAN

By Ben Swan

The New Mexican 

Move over, cats and dogs.

They may not cuddle with you or fetch a ball, but the attention given to a beloved species of the common carp -- koi -- could rival that of any furry household pet.

The national fish of Japan, koi, or nishikigoi, has been celebrated for centuries by collectors, competitors and garden-variety pond owners. Artists have captured the fish's beauty through calligraphy, the Japanese ink-and-wash painting sumi-e and poetry. International shows bring the best and top breeds together for competition that, in some ways, is just as exciting as the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Watching the fish swim, eat or simply frolic in a pond is said to relieve stress and inspire creativity. At the Santa Fe Water Gardens on Agua Fra Street, customers are known to want specific colors to help augment the pond's feng shui.

It's easy to bond with koi, said Mike Northway, the store's operations manager, especially at feeding time.

Thought to originate in the Middle East from a species of fish called magoi, or common carp, the fish were traded as a staple food source and exported to Japan, China and Western Europe.

The dark brown fish was first bred for its color mutations in Japan in the 1820s, initially in the town of Ojiya. Through selective breeding, a red-and-white variety was perfected and the first known modern ornamental koi came about in 1870.

While popular in the Niigata prefecture, koi didn't become a popular collectible fish until 1914, when the varieties were exhibited in the annual Tokyo exposition. The hobby eventually spread worldwide, slowly arriving to the United States after becoming popular in Europe, Northway said.

It's hard to know what became popular first: Koi or ponds, but they follow a similar curve.

People in the Southwest are naturally attracted to water features, according to Northway. The longtime pond designer who now focuses on sales said towns in semi-arid regions like Santa Fe have always been in the top 10 cities for ponds nationally.

"We don't have water," Northway said. "We're attracted to water. It's almost a subconscious attraction."

Santa Fe has also been at the foremost of pond innovation, thanks to Charles Kelty, who created the business in 1986, Northway said. He founded Santa Fe Water Gardens through his mother's pet store, Pet Potpourri, and tested his theories and methods.

Kelty, who sold the business to Dion D'Angelico in 2004, went on to open International Pond Supply, a wholesale distributing company, and Savio, a manufacturer of pond products. Now in Albuquerque, Kelty recently sold his interest in the company, Northway said.

"He started inundating the city with ponds and pond rhetoric," Northway said. "That's how it became so popular."

A Stage 4 drought in 2001, however, created a tough period for pond designers and builders. Northway's own business, Oasis Water Design, couldn't survive. D'Angelico, who was Northway's construction foreman at the time, brought Northway back to run the retail side of business when he bought it.

Last year, the store moved from Siler Lane to the new site, 2791 Agua Fra St., largely expanding its retail and display space. While business dropped off in the fall with the economic downturn, it's back on track, Northway said.

Water features are appealing, whether they're ponds with fish or simply

ceramic pots bubbling up recycled water.

"Everyone wants a water feature of some kind," he said. "Just not everybody knows it."

The average backyard pond in Santa Fe is about 1,500 gallons. That's enough water to keep fish healthy and protected year-round. But massive ponds are not uncommon in the area, including a private pond in Taos that holds 250,000 gallons.

Most new ponds are being built for existing homes, Northway said, and many are constructed by do-it-yourselfers.

Northway recommends seeking out professional advice before constructing a pond. There are plenty of kits available for people interested in building their own ponds.

While most people come into the store with a design in mind, Northway said that's not the right priority. Product is most important, followed by engineering and then design.

"Water does its own thing," Northway said. "It's a living entity. You have to work within the hydraulic parameters and the design will spring from there. If I see a concept sketch, I immediately go into the engineering and mechanics and what needs to change to encompass that."

While some might be intimidated by maintaining a pond as a living habitat, following simple steps will help keep ponds healthy. In the spring, it's all about cleaning and feeding, Northway said. Pumps and filters should be cleaned, plants fertilized and the water itself should be seeded with beneficial bacteria.

With summer here, much of the heavy lifting should be finished, Northway said, although some cleaning and maintenance will always be needed. Generally, though, it's time to sit back and watch the fish grow.

"There is a serenity that comes from watching the graceful and colorful movement of the fish," Northway said. "There is a dance to it; it's like watching a ballet dancer. It's mesmerizing. People will come and watch the fish and just lose themselves in the movement."