UCSB Reflection Pool, near the UCen, and getting our own garden plot

Near the UCSB student center (UCEN) is a reflection pool complete with pond plants and koi fish. Since so many plants and structures break the smooth line of the water, I will henceforth refer to it as the UCSB fish pond.


UCSB fish pond: vegetation

R and I looked down into the pond and saw many of the same kind of small fish. But then a few bright orangey-gold fish that looked suspiciously like goldfish darted in and out. We theorize that some students liberated some gold fish by setting them free into the somewhat murky green waters of the UCSB fish pond.


UCSB fish pond: Illicit gold fish?

Six long koi fish swim around the pool. Two of them are mostly white, two of them are mostly bright orange, and two are darker ones which maybe we should term "carp" instead of koi since they aren't as decorative. Anyhoo one of the orange koi fish, the one with a smattering of black markings, has a crooked ?spine?.


UCSB fish pond: fish with crooked spine

It's hard to get a good picture of the crooked part of this koi fish, which R dubbed "Gimpy."


UCSB fish pond: closeup of fish with crooked spine

Since the fish pond/reflection pool is so close to the UCen and its food vendors, you can bet that the fish have become accustomed to people sitting along the rim of the pool throwing in food.


UCSB fish pond, Sep 1 2005: Gimpy another orangey koi

In fact, as R and I moved our hands closely to the water's surface, the koi/carp would swarm near where our finger tips were. In the below image, you can see how those lazy bums are looking for a handout.


UCSB fish pond: Carp looking for handouts