Swim Bladder Disease in Koi
Hi,
<Hello Don,>
I have a rather large Koi...approximately 18 inches long, and around 4
pounds in weight.
<Good size.>
He appears to have swim bladder disease and can use some help. I have
read several articles about this over the past 4-5 days and still remain
confused about what I can do to try and bring him out of this.
<Hmm... do understand that most swim bladder disorders (I don't like the
word "disease" in this context) are more to do with other issues,
particularly constipation. See here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/gldfshmalnut.htm
>
He began irregular swimming about 5-6 days ago. I live in an area where
the outside temperature has been fluctuating ranging from moderately
cool nights 40's and 50's to warmer daytime temps in the 50's to low
70's.
<Take care not feed these fish while it's cold; here in England at
least, Koi aren't fed between late October and the beginning of March.
Temperatures below 10 C (about 50 F) prevent their digestive systems
from working properly, and any food in the gut rots and promotes the
growth of bacteria.>
My pond has been established for 8 years, and I have never lost a fish.
<Great!>
The other 5 fish in the pond are smaller, no larger than 9-10 inches in
length and no more than 1 pound in weight. None of the smaller fish are
experiencing any problems.
<May be a clue... bigger fish eat more, have longer digestive tracts,
are perhaps more sensitive to water temperature/digestion issues?>
On the warmer days, I have lightly fed the fish (a high quality Koi
staple food), but not on a daily basis.
<Good.>
Over the past few days, the evening temps have fallen into the high
30's, but still warming during the daytime into the 60's on occasion.
<Much too cold for feeding.>
With the exception of an elevated Ph level, all water conditions are
excellent. I have slowly reduced the Ph level to normal about 6.4.
<That's actually pretty low for carp. A neutral to basic pH is optimal;
aim for 7.5.>
I have also been treating the pond with Tetra Pond Treatment which
contains Quinine Hydrochloride.
<Do be careful not to use a "scattergun" approach: medications are
poisons, and if used without reason, can end up causing even more
problems. Always identify the problem first, and then medicate.
Medicating first, and hoping that cures something tends not to be a
viable approach.>
I am not sure that my Koi is not simply constipated or really does have
swim bladder disease, and I realize from reading it isn't always easy to
distinguish one from the other.
<Quite so; but if the fish is defecating (easiest seen in a holding
tank) then constipation is unlikely.>
My fish has a swollen abdomen, and there are some slight areas of blood
streaks on the swollen area, and also on one dorsal fin.
<Ah, I see. Again, cold can cause problems, especially if you have any
water features running (these cool the water further). Frost damage in
the fins leads to inflammation and eventually Finrot-type infections.>
He remains mostly laying on his side and does not move much at all.
<Yikes!>
He has not been feed for the last 5 days, and I have to tried to get him
to eat any peas, which I understand could relieve the constipation, if
that is the problem.
<Do also add Epsom salt to the water, as indicated in the above article
and associated FAQ. Epsom salt relaxes the muscles, allowing blockages
to pass out more easily. Possibly easier to do if the fish can be moved
to an aquarium or holding tank.>
Is there a water treatment I can try that may kill a bacteria infection,
if that is what is causing the problem.
<Generally, adding antibiotics to ponds isn't practical or especially
effective. There's just too much "ecology" going on there for such drugs
to work. Antibiotic foods can be better, since they're going into the
fish, but for things as big (and as valuable!) as Koi you need a vet to
comment on this. He/she will either calculate the appropriate food
dosage, or else inject the fish directly. If there is one fish on the
planet that veterinarian science has a good handle on, it's the Koi, so
finding a vet able to do this shouldn't be too hard.>
Something that I can use in the pond along with the other fish?? I do
not have a hospital tank (but could set up something if it may help).
Also, with a hospital tank, how much trouble will this cause give the
change in water temp.
<Don't expose the fish to massive temperature changes, but by all means
fill the tank with water from the pond, and let it warm up slowly as
needs be.>
The pond water temp has to be around the mid to high 40's or low 50's at
this point, and I don't want to traumatize the fish with a large temp
change to warmer water.
<Indeed.>
Any assistance you can give me with this would be greatly appreciated,
as I do not want to lose my prize Koi.
<I bet. These are lovely fish, and worth going the extra mile for.>
Thanks
Don
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Swim Bladder Disease
in Koi (RMF?)<<You're spot on>> - 11/07/09
Neale,
<Don,>
Thanks so much for the reply.
<My pleasure.>
I agree that "disorder" is a better term when talking about swim bladder
issues. Your comments have caused me to think more about my Koi's
problem.
<Very good.>
I realize there are a number is things that can cause the swim bladder
to malfunction, such as constipation, a tumor, a bacterial infection,
injury, genetic defect, just to name the most obvious.
<Indeed. A vet can narrow these down some more, but from my vantage
point on the other side of the Atlantic from you, the best I can do is
mention some of the possibilities.>
I have to some degree examined my Koi's abdomen and it feels pliable, no
hard spots that may indicate some sort of injury or tumor.
<That's good to know.>
I believe I am ruling out a bacterial infection, since the other fish in
the pond show no signs of any issues.
<Hmm... would be careful about this. Genetic variation in fish, as in
humans, does affect predisposition to disease.>
Unless the large one's immune system was somehow depleted, I would think
if it is bacterial, viral, or some other organism causing the problem,
the other fish would also be effected.
<Perhaps. Broadly, yes, it's true that if water quality was bad, several
fish would show signs of a suppressed immune system (e.g., Finrot). But
this doesn't have to be the case.>
I have also looked at some different pictures of examples of
Dropsy....and my Koi doesn't look like any that I have seen. There is no
overall swelling of the body, and only a very few scales that are
slightly protruding on his abdomen where the swelling is located, but
not to any degree it gives the appearance of Dropsy.
<This is also good news. Dropsy tends to be difficult to treat, since by
the time it appears (it's a symptom rather than a disease) whatever
disease is at work has progressed a very long way. Again, vets can help,
particularly where Koi are concerned since they're big enough to treat.
But even with Koi, the prognosis is mixed, at best.>
This brings me back to the constipation, and since I had given then food
during more colder weather than I normally do (on those warm days) when
they were swimming around giving me that look like, don't just stand
there give us a bite to eat!!
<Resist! Or at least, provide high-fibre foods that'll get shifted
through the gut quickly. Plant material is the obvious thing, and a
clump of Elodea thrown into the pond would make a find snack for them.>
If I create a hospital tank using the colder pond water...would it be ok
to bring in side and allow to warm to room temp?
<Yes, this is fine. Do put the tank somewhere cold though, like a
garage, shed or basement. Or even an unheated spare bedroom (which is
where, funnily enough, I overwinter my carnivorous plants that, like
Koi, need a cool winter).>
Or should I be more gradual than that?
<The more gradual the better, but don't get paranoid about this.
Provided filtration and if necessary aeration are adequate to the size
of the fish and the aquarium being used, Koi handle this sort of thing
just fine.>
I will have to figure something out as far as filtration and
circulation....and I think I have enough resources to get the proper
amount of Epsom salt in the water.
<You certainly can add Epsom salt to ponds, but you'd need an awful lot,
and getting it out again afterwards would mean changing all the water,
and that really isn't practical with most ponds. That's why it's better
to do this using by moving the fish to a hospital tank. Good luck,
Neale.>
