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Amazing pond story, believable?
Went to a guy's house today to do some work, had very small pond, the smallest of those pre-fab HD deals. 30 gallons. THIRTY gallons. The water was crystal clear and there was a very nicely manicured growth of green algae (yea, the bad stuff) on every surface. It was so well cropped and so emerald green it actually looked great. What I saw in that pond stunned and amazed me. There were 8, yes EIGHT, of the fattest, healthiest looking and most beautiful 10" ( TEN INCH!!! ) butterfly koi I have ever seen. What was really eerie about it was that they were nearly identical except for color and markings, as if I was looking at the same fish painted up eight different ways. I of course assumed that the fish had been added yesterday, or maybe this morning, and was working on a tactful way to discuss appropriate stocking densities, water quality parameters and so forth. Before I had a chance to insert my foot too far into my mouth the fellow told me that he had set up the pond six years ago. He had no intention of keeping fish, just wanted a nice water garden with some plants. He bought some water hiacynth from a local nursery, I know the place. Huge pond with giant koi (they don't sell) and full of plants they do sell. He bought a few plants and noticed a blob of eggs in the roots, thought nothing of it. He says he had twenty survivors for many years and only two summers ago lost another twelve to hot weather in August. The eight fish I saw have lived in that 30 gal pond for six years, and they look great. Now this guy didn't strike me as a bull****ter and I can't immagine he would dream up such a story just for my benefit, so for now I'm gonna believe it. Wadaya think?
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