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FAQs on Environmental Pondfish Disease: Physical Damage
Related Articles:
Environmental Pond
Disease,
Koi/Pond Fish Disease,
Gas Bubble Disease/Emphysematosis, Pond
Parasite Control with DTHP, Hole in the Side
Disease/Furunculosis, Goldfish
Disease,
Related FAQs:
Pond Environmental Disease 1, Pond Environmental
Disease 2,
Pond Environmental Disease 3, & FAQs on Pond
Environmental Disease: Prevention,
Diagnosis, Causes:
Cumulative Stress, Predation,
Low/no Oxygen,
Poisoning (Algicides, Metals, Pesticides...),
Metabolite Accumulation, Electrical,
Troubleshooting/Fixing, &
Pond Fish Disease, Pondfish
Disease 2,
Pondfish
Disease 3,
Goldfish Disease, |
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Koi lying on its side 7/28/06
Hi (from South Africa)
<Aloha from Hawai'i>
I have a Koi (sorry don't know what kind) - I have had him in the pond (bio
filter) for about 9 months. We have another 6 - we bought the house 2 years
ago and the outside pond had one Koi so the pond has been established for at
least 3 years. The Koi I refer to started flipping above the surface last
Thursday - he then disappeared to the surface (about 1 meter deep) and I
could not see him. On the Saturday (2 days later) I cleaned the bio filter
and on Sunday saw him lying on his side. I thought he was dead, but he is
not. He moves his side gills occasionally and some how moves around in the
pond. Why might this be happening -
<Mmm, a likely scenario is that the one fish injured itself... perhaps by
splashing about, maybe brought on by a warm water spell...>
the other fish are fine - and please tell me what you suggest I do. Someone
I know with Koi suggested euthanasia
<Mmm, I would hold off here>
but there is no way I can bash a fish on its head, so what is the kindest
thing to do. Please help I don't know where one finds a fish vet. Thanks
<There is a very good chance this fish will self-cure... w/o the addition of
anything here. I would hold off, just wait, monitor water quality to assure
a minimum of ammonia, nitrite... if necessary use means to speed up your
biological filtration... feed sparingly in the meanwhile. Cheers, Bob
Fenner>
Re: Koi lying on its side 7/29/06
Thank you so much for this reply - the fish is still alive. I read a
little on swim bladder - is it possible it could be that as opposed to
hurting himself?
<... could have damaged this bladder>
I have seen the fish move along on its side. I cannot see any problem with
colour or scales or anything external. The question/answer sections
regarding swim bladder mention the addition of salt - you mention not to
add anything so should I not even add salt.
<I would not do this. Too likely to upset the not-yet-established biological
filtration organisms>
You also advise that I speed up my filtration - how do I do that?
<Adding a bacterial culture principally...>
I have cut back on the feeding to 2 times per week - the weather has not
been that warm recently - temperatures in the range of 7 degrees (early
morning) to about 19/20 degrees. Thanks again
Regards,
Yvonne
<"Keep the faith"... patience my friend. Bob Fenner>
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Koi sucked into bottom drain
Hi,
<Hello>
Major problem. 5 days ago one of my small comets were sucked into the
bottom drain of our new pond.
<Yikes>
I found him in the catch basket at the pump system. When I pulled him out,
quite a lot of his scales were taken off and he has lost all of his fins, with
the exception of his tail fin. The bony structures of the fins are still intact
but, the webbing between them is all gone.
<Not good>
We took him immediately inside and placed him into a medical tank and
subsequently into a 30 gallon holding / recovery tank with a Melafix treatment
prior to the final transfer. The Melafix treatment was done at the lower
dose. Today, since the temperature outside is going below 50 degrees, we went
and purchased a 12 gallon indoor aquarium for him. The water was transferred
from the outside tank into this one. He does swim straight although, he spends
99% of his time stationary on the bottom. He did have a problem with buoyancy,
but for the past 2 days this doesn't seem to be a problem. The water quality
and temperature is closely monitored. Since this incident, he has not eaten
anything
<Not to worry... keep trying to offer food twice daily>
and there is white cotton like material beginning to grow on his body. Also, at
the base of his tail, just before the fin, the flesh appears to be turning
white. What should the salt level be for this situation? Should we give him
other treatments? Is this a common problem when a fish suffers injuries like
this?
<I would add some (perhaps two teaspoons per gallon) of "table salt"... iodized
or not to the system water... works as a general anti-microbial... to help this
specimen... and keep an eye on water quality, have some warmed-up pond water to
switch out a good part of the aquarium water if ammonia, nitrite... water
cloudiness present problems>
Can you please help me!!! Is euthanasia needed when something this
traumatic happens and the fish begins to develop symptoms like he is developing?
<Can be... but given the efforts you have exerted thus far, I would hold on,
hope for recovery>
We are first time comet and Koi owners with a 3500 gallon pond. We have placed
plant baskets over the bottom drain and surface skimmer so water can still go
through without capturing any of our remaining comets and Koi's.
Sincerely,
Ken Brock
Douglasville, GA
<I wish you life. Bob Fenner>
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