About
Tucked away in Bothell, Washington, Play It Koi has built a devoted following among pond keepers across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This isn't your typical pet store — it's a specialized pond supply operation that ships plants, koi, pumps, and fish medications nationwide, with a staff that genuinely lives and breathes the pond world. The heart of Play It Koi is its people.
Ben, Derek, Ivan, and Kristen are names that come up again and again in customer reviews, each praised for their deep knowledge and willingness to spend real time with customers. Ben has helped buyers hand-select specific Japanese koi varieties — Tancho, Kujaku, Ginrin — and Derek has guided first-time pond owners through the complexities of filtration, pump sizing, and plant selection without charging consultation fees. When one customer called about a SeaSide RDF setup issue, Ivan had an answer from the manufacturer within ten minutes.
Their aquatic plant selection is a major draw. Water hyacinths, iris ensata, lotus, water lilies, and various floating plants ship quickly and consistently arrive in excellent condition. Multiple reviewers have noted that plants from Play It Koi outperform what they've received from other suppliers, with one customer reporting that 18 water hyacinths purchased in spring grew to "absolutely insane" proportions by summer.
The team also stocks pond pumps, pond kits, and fish medications, making it a genuine one-stop resource. A few customers have reported shipping issues — damaged products or plants arriving with hitchhiker snails — and the return policy has frustrated some buyers. 9 rating that reflects real earned trust.
For pond enthusiasts in the Bothell area, the in-person experience offers hands-on guidance. For those farther afield — including customers who've relocated hundreds of miles — Play It Koi's online store and responsive shipping team keep the relationship going strong.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
- Pond
Highlights
What makes them special
- Specializes in Japanese koi varieties including Tancho, Kujaku, and Ginrin
- Ships high-quality aquatic plants nationwide with fast turnaround
- Staff provides free pump sizing consultations and personalized pond advice
- Carries pond pumps, kits, fish medications, and filtration equipment
- Owner and staff (Ben, Derek, Ivan) consistently praised for deep pond expertise
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Ben took plenty of time to educate me and select the koi I wanted for my pond. He is very knowledgeable:) I certainly will use play it koi for my future needs 😀 A++++”
— John Marcus5.0a month ago“Ivan really knows his stuff!”
— Brent Goldman5.03 months ago“Most of the plants I ordered have arrived and are doing well. A couple arrived looking pretty rough. The company has been good in working with me on that problem. This is a reliable and conscientious company!”
— Doug Folland5.0Edited 4 months ago“Amazing customer service! I ordered some plants and needed them by a specific time. Kristen and the shipping team made sure it happened. I am grateful and the plants were beautiful and very large.”
— Diane M5.05 months ago“So impressed with the iris ensata starts which I ordered. Beautiful quality. Shipped quickly to ensure healthy plants. I can’t wait until next year to see them oerfoem!”
— Catherine Durboraw5.06 months ago“My plants shipped quickly and arrived in good condition”
— Rebekah Chance-Revels5.06 months ago“Thank you for my water hyacinth. I started my first small porch pond and had the hardest time finding them in stock. Looking forward to trying the lotus or water lily next :)”
— Euni S5.08 months ago“Wonderful service — Even though I only ordered "one" plant (H. Elizabeth), it still arrived quickly, within three business days, and in beautiful condition. The owner, Ben, was very thoughtful and emailed me a thank-you letter to make sure everything was perfect. I'm truly impressed — Play It Koi is trustworthy, consistently ensuring quality and carefully selecting their suppliers. Whether it's a big or small order in the future, Play It Koi will definitely be my top choice!”
— Hank D5.08 months ago“Update to your response 1. You shoul list your product with a warning of snails,.... and or from wildlife growing. 2. Customer support : she only sent me general infos that can be done before put the plants in . Then left me there abandoned , there was no help . What I need was helping to solve the issue not having replace the new pond , buy new plants , follow her tips shared at the chat for safety. Do you understand ??? ======----‐---‐-----------------======= Bought some float plants from them . Then this comes with snails which they do not notice or warn that . Chatted with support team, told them the problem. They left me . Wont buy again for sure, such a bad customer service and at your own risk”
— Thien Bui1.0Edited 8 months ago“I ordered some fish meds from them, it has been weeks and still not received! Very upset, I contacted customer service which was to no help and could not provide me with proof of shipment.”
— Teagan Torok1.08 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (206) 350-7580 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Play It Koi.