The Pond Doctors

12:31pm Friday 1st February 2008

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A HEYSHAM couple is bringing a small taste of the orient to the Morecambe Bay area.

John Winstanley and Denise Cooper have more than 40 years combined experience and knowledge in Koi carp keeping and the art of Bonsai.

The couple, of Lister Grove, Koi, pond and bonsai hobbyists have turned their passion into a small family business - Konomi Koi and Bonsai.

From the bottom of their garden John and Denise run a small retail outlet supplying quality Koi carp, Sturgeon, Bonsai and related dry goods.

They import bonsai from China, Korea and Japan and stock more than 300 bonsai throughout the summer months.

Says John: " We have over 40 years of combined experience and knowledge in Koi keeping and the art of Bonsai, and feel this has enabled us to achieve an excellent reputation as stockists of quality Koi and bonsai.

"We import quality Japanese Koi through reputable importers and stock a wide variety ranging in size from six to 20 inches.Our Koi range from good quality Koi through to high grade specimens, with our intention to stock Koi to suit everyone's budget."

Konomi Koi & Bonsai has grown steadily, now boasting its own label in Ornamental pond fish foods, known as "Konomi ichi", Konomi meaning "favourite" and ichi meaning "one". Konomi ichi fish foods were introduced on to the ornamental coldwater fish food market towards the end of the 2006 season, through the help of Koi' and Koi carp' magazines.

Says John: "The success of Konomi ichi since its launch has been overwhelming, as Koi and pond hobbyists, as well as professionals within the ornamental aquatic industry, have given positive feedback and excellent reviews, on amazing results achieved from feeding their fish with this high performance diet."

The pair has enlisted the help of local veterinary surgeon and partner in Archway Veterinary Practice located in Grange-over-sands Jeremy Voakes.

Adds John: "Jeremy, a keen Koi hobbyist himself, very kindly offered his guidance with regard to the use of antibiotics, further enhancing our knowledge of antibiotics in fighting aquatic bacterial infections.

"We are now very proficient in taking skin scrapes and swabs from fish to then analyse and diagnose under the microscope so we can now offer a complete fish health service to Koi and pond hobbyists throughout the South Lakes and Bay area."

The pair, which offer a pond callout service to advise hobbyists, believe that five thousand households within Morecambe, Heysham, Lancaster and Carnforth will own either a pond or aquarium and help is now on hand to anyone wanting help and advice as John will be writing a page to help locals on all things koi and bonsai.

He adds: "The growing popularity of Koi carp, goldfish, ponds and general water gardening, has created an ever increasing number of hobbyists and enthusiasts, with a thirst for knowledge on this subject. At times this subject can be quite complex."

Nicked-named the Pond Doctor, John will be posting help and tips on thelancasterandmorecambecitizen.co.uk, so keep logging in to keep updated.

Feel free to click on the comment tab and leave messages and questions for John and Denise.