The annual Koi Pond Tour, sponsored by the Southern Arizona Koi Association, is slated for May 5-6 and will feature 13 ponds in Tucson, Vail and Green Valley.
Koi are a domesticated version of wild carp that originated in EuroAsia. The Chinese were the first to breed the fish, but the Japanese have played a big role in raising the current awareness of koi.
While domestic pond fish live on average for 20-60 years, as long as they are provided with good nutrition and water quality and protected from predators, koi can live for 200 years, said tour chairwoman Debbie Shaw.
The self-guided tour is in three sessions: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 5-7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Six ponds, located on the East Side of Tucson, will be featured in Session 1; three ponds — on the West and Northwest sides of Tucson — in Session 2. Sunday's session will feature four ponds — two in Rita Ranch, one in Vail and one in Green Valley.
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Tickets are $5 per person and are available at 14 locations around Tucson, including: Boyd's Equipment Center (Mondays-Fridays only), 3625 S. Country Club Road; Magic Garden,7909 E. 22nd St.; Sheldon's Landscape Center, 4999 N. Sabino Canyon Road; Rillito Nursery, 6303 N. La Cholla Blvd.; and Reptile Specialists, 3459 E. Speedway.
The ponds included on this year's tour range in size from 1,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons.
Tour goers have a chance to get ideas on caring for the fish and ways to landscape water features. Those considering koi can learn what to do and how to do it before they buy their first fish.