If this helps anymore it is from a short flyer I made to take to a show this summer.
The Best Fish for Your Pond or Watergarden
The Japanese wakin, pronounced (WAH-KEEN) is ideally suited for fish ponds. It is very hardy & easy to maintain. Any size pond can successfully accommodate wakin, unlike koi which do best in large deep ponds. They are also plant friendly, unlike most koi and goldfish who tend to uproot waterlilys and other water plants gardeners work so hard to maintain & enjoy.
It's a rather odd looking fish when viewed from the side, but from above these fish are gorgeous. With a long body and fancy double tail, they are perfect for ponds where fish are predominantly viewed from above. These fish are fast swimmers, unlike their fancy fantailed cousins, thus making them less vulnerable to predators and they are very capable of obtaining food when competing with other single tailed fish in the pond.
Wakin are great for northern climes. Winter hardy, they remain active under the ice as long as the pond does not freeze totally solid. No ornamental pond fish can survive in a pond that freezes solid, so it is very important to be sure to keep your pond thawed by some means, like a water de-icer, or remove your fish for from the pond for the winter.
Wakin typically come in vermilion red & white with the patterning much like a Kohaku Koi and the added beauty of the patterned double tail. Most wakin display what is called “peducle flash”. This “flash” is right where the tail attaches to the body. As they swim it catches & reflects light & adds another element to their beauty in a pond setting. They normally range from 8 inches to 12 inches but have been documented to grow as large as 18 inches.
Friendly & intelligent, wakin can be tame quickly making them wonderful inhabitants for ponders who love to spend time with their fish. Rare colors are now available to add beauty to your pond setting. Calico & midnight blue black.
