Zentangle Meets Koi Fish

What’s elegant, regal, and can be found gracing outdoor ponds and water gardens throughout the world? The koi fish, of course! These big, bright fish have been around for hundreds of years and make a great addition to any suitable garden pond or large water feature.

Koi are an ornamental species of fish that descend from the carp. In the 1600s, Chinese farmed carp in rice paddies, a practice that traveled to Japan, where the Japanese noticed odd color variations in some of the carp and bred them, creating the koi species. Koi used to only be found in red, white, black and blue, but have since been bred in different combinations of all the colors in the rainbow.

Koi fish are quite large and, with proper care, can grow to be between two and three feet in length. They are a heavy-bodied fish with an average weight of around 35 pounds.


Can You Eat Koi?

Chinese farmers originally bred koi for eating, and it wasn’t until the 1800s that the fish was bred as a pet for its unique and striking colors. Though they aren’t poisonous to eat, it’s advised that the types of koi that are kept as pets in water gardens or backyard ponds shouldn’t be eaten.

The Zentangle class today at University Community Library in San Diego, CA was a bit fishy.  Well, I mean we tangled a fish - Koi Fish.  You can never walk by a pond filled with Koi and not stop to watch these beautiful creatures with their stunning colors, and interesting behaviors.  It is almost like they follow you around the pond.  

Tangles applied today:  Printemps, Feathers, Tipple, and Pais.