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Jeanmarie Schiller's koi story began 25 years ago.

Now 46, Schiller saw her first koi at the Japanese Friendship Gardens in San Jose, Calif., when she was 21.

"These huge fish acted like friendly puppy dogs," said Schiller, who works in property management and now has about 20 koi of her own. They swim serenely in a 4,000-gallon pond outside her north-side home.

Some of the fish are friendly and will eat out of Schiller's hand. Others remain more aloof. Koi are hardy, docile and schooling fish, so they do best with a buddy.

At the free koi show Nov.14 -15 (see box), people are encouraged to learn about koi, which are specially bred carp that have been rumored to live up to 200 years.

Schiller owns koi ranging from 9 to 28 inches. The species can grow up to 3 feet in length.

While she bought her first koi for $10 at a pet store, she said today you can buy a nice pond-quality koi for less than $50 on the Internet. Schiller is willing to pay much more for the right one, and some will spend tens of thousands of dollars.

The Southern Arizona Koi Association is a nonprofit group of about 50 members. This will be the 30th annual show for the association.

"It's an opportunity for people to see high-quality koi," said Schiller.

She described the association as an educational club for those interested in koi and pond fish. Dues are $25 a year.

Two judges will award various titles to koi. Vendors representing koi and pond-related businesses, as well as food vendors, will attend the event.

According to Garden Railways magazine, ponds are becoming one of America's fastest-growing hobbies. Almost 13 million households in the U.S. keep ornamental fish, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.

Next weekend's entertainment highlights include:

• Kodenkan's Japanese martial-arts demonstrations at noon and 2 p.m. next Saturday.

• A taiko drum show by Odaiko Sonora at 4 p.m. next Saturday.

• Presentation about Chinese face readings by Those Feng Shui Guys at 1 p.m. next Saturday.

• Traditional Japanese dance by Suzuyuki Kai at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

• Koi auction at noon Nov. 15.