About APA Koi

A passion for Japanese koi

Built on experience and authentic connections.

Our Story

The story behind APA Koi

APA Koi South Africa (Pty) Ltd was established in February 2021 in Alberton, Gauteng, by koi keepers who wanted South African enthusiasts to have access to genuine, carefully selected Japanese koi and the expertise to keep them well.

Today we combine premium koi sales, online auctions, professional pond equipment and specialist pond services, serving customers across South Africa and in Botswana.

APA Koi team member carrying a freshly harvested koi in a bag in Japan

Our Japan Journey

Twice a year, we go to the source.

Twice every year the APA Koi team travels to Japan to visit established koi farms in person. We walk the mud ponds, watch the harvests and spend time with breeders whose families have raised Nishikigoi for generations.

These relationships are the foundation of everything we offer: we know where every fish comes from and who raised it.

Personally Selected in Japan

Every koi, chosen by hand

We assess each koi for body shape, skin quality, pattern balance and health before it is selected. Fish are then carefully quarantined and monitored before they are offered for sale or auction.

Kohaku and Sanke koi being selected at a Japanese koi farm

From Japan to Alberton

Every shipment, collected by our team.

When our koi land at O.R. Tambo, we collect them ourselves and take them straight to our facilities.

Every fish then goes through a strict 4-week quarantine before it is offered for sale or auction, so it arrives in your pond healthy and settled.

Japanese koi packed in an insulated box for delivery — Our koi travel home in oxygenated bags inside insulated boxes

Heritage

Japanese koi heritage

Nishikigoi, “brocaded carp”, have been bred in Japan for around two centuries. That tradition of patience, discipline and respect for the fish shapes how we select, care for and present every koi.

Recognition

Official members of the Shinkokai.

APA Koi is officially part of the Shinkokai, the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association, dedicated to promoting and preserving the beauty and excellence of Nishikigoi worldwide.

Twice a year we travel to Japan to visit koi farms in person and select every fish ourselves, so you know exactly where your koi comes from.

Gallery

Our Japan gallery

Snow-covered hills of the koi farming region in Japan

APA Koi visiting a Japanese koi farm in winter

Snow-covered trees at a Japanese koi farm

APA Koi team standing beside deep snow in Japan

Our Japan trips: winter selection and autumn harvest

The Complete Koi Experience

Everything in one place

Japanese koi

Hand-selected specimens with full details and video.

Koi auctions

Monthly online auctions with transparent bidding.

Pond equipment

Professional filtration and pond products.

Pond services

Maintenance, construction, repairs, testing and fish health.

Our Philosophy

Quality koi, responsible care, lasting relationships.

We would rather sell fewer, better koi and help every customer keep them healthy for years than chase volume. That commitment guides every fish we select and every pond we work on.

APA Koi

Meet your next koi

Explore the koi currently available or speak to us about what you are looking for.