Koi Problems   12/11/06
Hello,
<Greetings>
We seem to be having many problems with our Koi this year after the water turned cold.
<Many problems manifest themselves at the years two main season changes>
We have an outdoor pond which is about 1500 gallons. It contains 7 large Koi (9 years old), 6 young Koi (1 year old) that were introduced about 2 months ago,
<Mmm... a note to browsers... This is not a "very" large system... I would just stick with the nine established Koi... and there are often difficulties (pathogenic disease, social dynamic readjustment) with introduction of new fishes to an "older" grouping>
6 goldfish, and 2 turtles
<These are incompatible...>
which we have recently removed to separate them from the fish. We have not had a sick fish in about 7 years, so we are not very prepared to handle sick fish.
<Understood>
Most of our fish are slowing down due to the cold water temperature and have settled down at the bottom of the pond. In general the fish looked stressed out. In the lighter-colored Koi, you can see the red blood vessels in their body showing through their scales. Also, we have found a few scales lying at the bottom of the pond but can not see which Koi they are coming from.
<Missing scales are a very bad sign... perhaps a predator... some types of zoological parasites>
We noticed last week however that one fish was laying down sideways instead of upright and its mouth was stuck open.
<Very bad...>
We read from other sources online that the mouth could be stuck open due to something behind lodged in the mouth. We did a visual inspection of the fish and could not see anything in its mouth and nothing wrong with the body of the fish either. So we did a salt treatment by giving it a salt bath
<Good move>
and the mouth problem seemed to go away, it can now open and close it's mouth. However, it still turns sideways when it stops swimming and it seems like it's gasping for air from time to time.
We have quarantined this fish
<Also good>
for fear that whatever it has could spread to another fish. We are not sure what is wrong with the fish.
Yesterday, I noticed one of the fish had Ich and one was beginning to develop Ich, so we went out and bought some anti-fungal medication (Malachite Green) and treated the water. I was told to treat the entire pond since the fungus
<Mmm, Ich is a protozoan... not a fungus... but Malachite Green is efficacious here.>
was present and all the fish were vulnerable and that it would be fine to use at colder water temperatures (about 50F)
<Mmm... cold...>
but now I see conflicting reports online saying that this medication is not effective at lower temperatures and might not work.
<Along with salt, it should do for the cold weather period. Very likely you will need to address this parasitic problem in the Spring as well>
So we have a concern as to what we should do in this situation. Should we continue on with the treatment or stop?
<I would continue>
The bottle says to re-treat the water after 48 hours if the fish are not getting better.
<Yes>
Also, today our fear came true. I woke up to another fish with the same symptoms as the first fish. The fish was lying sideways in the water. When I came outside and started talking though, it heard me and turned itself over and started swimming again. At this point, we don't know what is causing the fish to turn sideways and what to do about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Tracy
<The side-turning behavior leads me to be concerned with general environmental issues... like dissolved oxygen, some chemical contamination... You do have water quality test kits? What do they read? You have "put to bed" your biological filtration for the Winter? And/or thoroughly cleaned this before the end of Fall... You've ceased feeding I trust... You have read on WWM re Koi/Pondfish disease? Bob Fenner>

Koi with a Bump in the Night 7/18/05
Hello, You have helped us tremendously in the past and we thank you.  So here goes.  5 fish in a 200 gallon indoor tank.  One Rena X3 bio filter (largest) one Fluval 404 bio filter (largest).  Water tests zero for Ammonia and Nitrites, Nitrates appear high and PH is about 8+. 1/3 water vacuumed off to remove all debris on bottom of tank once every 7 days (water added back in at EXACT temperature of tank and is country, well water that tests normal) and filters gently flushed every 14 days at same time water is vacuumed off.  The product Cycle added with each water change. New carbon every 3rd cleaning or 6 weeks.  Approx. 1/3 aquarium salt of recommended dosage.  All winter and spring, tank temperature was approx. 68 degrees F.  Now this Hot Summer, temperature is pretty stable at 76 degrees F.
    Two small Comet Goldfish (about 3 inches), 0ne 6+ month old Koi (about 6 inches) one 16 month old Koi (about -12 inches) and one 17 month old Koi (measured at 13 inches by floating plastic ruler on water and getting him to line up with it as he is a pet and easy to handle).  Koi are growing at an incredible rate, appear very healthy, very good color, very tame, not stressed, eat well and always hungry, etc.
    Two weeks ago, I noticed on the biggest one and our favorite Koi:  On the left side, approx. mid of his body (both from top to bottom and from head to tail) a raised scale.  Thinking he must have brushed to hard against one of the 4 large rocks positioned down the center of the tank.  Then 5 days ago, he had a very thick, snow white ribbon sticking straight out of the damaged scale.  In 3 days time it was more 1/3+ of an inch long and very thick.  NOTE: size description is pretty accurate.  By thick, think larger than a pencil lead by 2+ times.
    I searched numerous pictures on the web and it looked to thick to be an "Anchor" worm and "Did Not" match the various pictures?  It also "Does Not" match a "Fluke" picture, especially of attachment to fishes body?
    On advice from local Fish Store, bought "Melafix" and added according to label directions last night.  While doing so, saw the snow white, thick spike was gone.  Went to add it again today as says to do so for 7 days and noticed a tiny bump of white showing again on damaged scale.
    Is this a worm that does not match what I can find on Internet or could it possibly be some kind of "Purulent Discharge" (called Pus on us humans and animals)???
< Possible.>
    Last Koi was added 3.5 months ago after being kept in a separate tank for 14 days.  Was supposed to be parasite free when I bought him???
< Seriously doubt there is such a thing.>
Once again, pure white and thick coming straight out from tip of slightly lifted and/or damaged scale on the fishes side.  Fell off but appears some is notable today AGAIN!!!  That scale appears to be very reddened in color (he is a "Kin Matsuba" so kind of yellow/orange with the Pine Cone black edged scales on the top and coming part way down the sides) so the reddened scale/pure white thing is very easy to see as below the Pine Cone effect if that maybe helps you in location?
    We do not have a Quarantine Hospital tank for a fish his size.  Plus he/she is the dominant fish and we doubt even if we got a larger hospital tank and got it (water) properly conditioned that he/she would be happy alone???  Sorry, so entire tank of 5 fish are being treated.
    Please help as this is our Pet and means a lot to us.  I can pet his head and he will come up and kiss me on the nose when I bend far enough over the tank so my nose is only about an inch from the water.  He knows his name too.  He actually does not come until you sweet talk him using his name.  Don't use his name and he does not come up to respond.  Crazy but true!!!  Thank you again for now and all your help in the past. Trixie
< The summer temps have elevated the water temp in your tank and have stressed you cool loving Koi. If you have a worm type parasite then treat the tank with fluke-tabs. It sounds like an external bacterial infection that may have started with a bump or scrape. Treat with Nitrofurazone, increase the aeration and watch for ammonia spikes because antibiotics may affect the good bacteria that break down fish waste.-Chuck>

Dropsical Koi
I've got an 18'' Israeli Bekko whose got Dropsy, she's had this since the summer, but due to my pond being heated I believe this is what has kept her alive, and happy, sadly it look's a lot worse, the scales are not only lifted   but red too. She's still feeding, and seems happy, all other Koi are fine.  Can I just leave her in peace? I don't want to upset her by messing as she's  never liked being messed with.
Yours
Jaime Chrisfield
<I would move this fish to another "large-enough" container to ease treatment, and add a level teaspoon per ten gallons of Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate)... monitor water quality daily, dilute ammonia by water changes... This might just "do the trick" by itself. Are the scales at right angles to the body? Perhaps this is something other than bacterial in origin... egg-blockage... Bob Fenner>
 

Is this Hemorrhagic Septicemia? Sick pondfish  1/31/06 Hi Robert, I am a novice at Koi keeping and am trying very hard to learn very quickly! My fish have all been fine since the pond was established about 7 months ago but  I am now experiencing my first fatalities. It is actually my husband's pond but  he is away at the moment. About a week ago one of my platinum Koi was found floating dead on the top of the pond - although I gave it a thorough examination I could see nothing wrong  with it. <Frightening... and, as you know, will know, though all Koi/Nishikigoi are the same species, Ohgons are typically very hardy comparatively> Then yesterday, one of my ghost Koi was swimming a little strange - the  only way I can describe it is as 'wobbling' and swimming very slowly near  the top of the pond. However, when I went out to watch the fish for a while it  appeared to be swimming as normal. By today it was just floating on the top of  the pond listing to one side and struggling to breathe. I have isolated it and it seems to have red streaks in between some of it's scales on just one side and all it's fins except it's pectoral fins are tightly  clamped. I will be surprised if it survives to be honest. Obviously, I am now very concerned for the health of the rest of my fish. They are all exhibiting normal behaviour at the present, but so was Pip, my ghost, up until yesterday. Unfortunately, with the cold weather none of the fish are moving about much at all which doesn't help matters. What does this sound like to you and what is my best course of action? <... I take it you have not added any new fish or other life during the cold weather months just present? I suspect the root cause/issue here is environmental... is this pond relatively stable, thermally? Chemically? No automated make-up water system?  The fish that are in most apparent stress, were/are they amongst the larger/smaller Koi? Do you have an electrician who might come and investigate whether there might be an electrical leak present? Do you have tests for water quality, particularly ammonia, nitrite... I take it you are not feeding, but what had you been offering? How often? The protein count please> My pond is roughly 10ft x 4ft x 4ft. It is fully filtered (by what I would call a normal filter with a UV light in it) and it has a fountain. I have 2xplatinum Koi, 2xghost Koi and 12 'goldfish' in it. <Mmm, just a comment re the last. Best not to mix the two... however, if have been in long-contact, not such an issue> All the fish are approx 6"  long. I look forward to hearing from you again soon, Best regards, Linhez <We will hopefully solve this mystery. Cheers, Bob Fenner> Re: Is this Hemorrhagic Septicemia?   2/1/06 Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply. In answer to your questions: No, we have introduced no new fish since the beginning of September. I presume the water is stable thermally - we have no heating system installed. I presume the temperature is just following the air temperature  trend. <Mmm, you might want to invest in a suitable thermometer... the shape, size of your basin sounds okay, but if not near "structure", it might well vacillate too much> The platinum that died and the very poorly ghost were probably the largest ones, but that is only by a matter of millitimetres. There is very little difference in size between all the Koi. <I see> I never thought of an electrical leak. The pump provides the power for both the filter and the fountain. We do also have an set of 3 underwater lights. Should  I switch them off? <Yes... I would. Such lighting in biological systems is a bit "tricky" period... Bothers the life. I do hope/trust that all of these (the pump, lighting) are wired through a GFI protected circuit> I was feeding them twice every day, then slowly decreased as the  temperature dropped. The food we use is Tetra Pond Floating Koi Sticks, with  protein content of 31%, oil 5%, Fibre 2% ash 7% and Moisture 7%. <This is a very good food. Please see WWM re a standard/rule of thumb re feeding and temperature... below 55 F. none... 55-65, once per day...> I have watched the rest a lot today,  and they are all deep in the  water as it is a bitterly cold day but are showing no signs of distress and  their fins don't look clamped. I cannot get water test kits until tomorrow. Which ones? Ammonia and pH, I presume. <These are the most important... next would be nitrate (as a measure of when, how much water to change mostly)...> What about nitrite/nitrates? If it is water quality, why are only some fish affected? <Individual variation likely> As for mixing the fish - this is the first problems we have had since the pond was established in June. They have all seemed ok up until now - should I separate them? Look forward to your reply. Regards, Linhez <I would not separate anything, or disturb the system period till the water warms substantially. What "ping-ponging" of vectors occur twixt these minnows/cyprinids is a post-issue at this point. Bob Fenner>

Albino Catfish in pond, winter health question  04/17/2006
We have an Albino Catfish in an outside pond, approx 500 gal pond, he has been out there all winter with our Koi fish,
<Mmm, likely a channel: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/ictalurids.htm>
after doing our spring cleaning of the pond, cleaning leaves and such out, we noticed the catfish has this reddish color rash on the top of his body and somewhat on the sides. He is normally all white, didn't know if our water quality is still needing some fixing.
<Mmm, careful here>
The red rash looks like it is under his skin all the way back to his tail fins. He swims around really well, so don't know what to do for him or her. Can you advise?  Should I be feeding him something different then what we feed the Koi??
<No>
  Thanks for anything advice you can give us.  
Connie McCunn
<I would not "do" anything here other than allow the water to warm up, keep treating this fish as you have been. Likely the reddish coloring is due to environmental stress... the cold, perhaps a degraded water quality over the winter. Adding medicine, salt will do this fish no good. It will "cure" of its own accord. Bob Fenner>

Koi w/ scrape
hi,
About a week ago I bought a new Koi. Now I see what seems to be a scrape.
That's fine enough but I don't know if it is infected. It seems to have a tannish appearance around the scrape. Also has a little thing hanging off, possibly skin?
<Does the "thing" look like two little strings arranged at an angle hanging off the fish?>
It doesn't look like a fungus. My water quality is: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, pH 7.6, Nitrate 5, salt .23
With .23 salt in the water I tend to believe that an infection is unlikely, but the tan appearance seems odd, I think. My question is do you think that it is infected and also should I raise the salt level to .3 to treat for a bacteria or something that could be in there. Thanks for your help now and in the past. this site has been a great help.
ed
<I would definitely raise the salt content... and keep a very sharp eye on the affected specimen. Do please read over the piece on Furunculosis: http://wetwebmedia.com/holedispnd.htm
I do hope this sore is just the result of a physical trauma... perhaps evidence of an Fish Louse (Lernaea sp., a copepod parasite of fishes)... and not signs of an acute or chronic Ana aki problem... I would inspect the other fish in the pond, and if only the one is marked, place it in a separate system. Bob Fenner>

MY GOLDFISH ARE DYING
Hi.
<Hi Todd, Sabrina with you today>
My name is Todd and I have put 24 common goldfish in my outside pond about 2 weeks ago.
<That's an awful lot of fish to add all at once....>
The pond is about 7 feet deep and 10x10.  Rain water fills it and I run cold well water to keep it full.  They have been dying off 1 or more a day and have tried to feed them bread, peas, goldfish crumb food but they don't seem to eat anything.
<Don't try bread.  It's an inappropriate food for them really.  But I'm surprised they didn't take peas?!  Every goldfish I've ever had is insane for peas.  They may just be scared of you still, being in a new environment and all.>
The well water temperature is around 50 degrees f.   They swim off scared with I come to the edge of the pond.
<That's normal, until they start associating you with food.  Then you won't be able to keep them AWAY from you!!  :) >
I also  tried to feed them live cut up  worms but they didn't want any. Is the pond temperature to cold for them to eat???   
<Possibly.  You said the well water is 50F, right?  What's the temp in the pond itself?>
Any response as to why they are dying would be appreciated.  
<Well, there are definitely a few important things I'd like to bring up.  Do you test for ammonia, pH, nitrite, and nitrate?  If not, please invest in test kits (liquid reagent type) so you can know what's going on in your water, and see if there's something wrong that might be causing your goldfish to get sick.  I wouldn't worry too terribly about them fasting, as there are plenty of organisms for them to feed off in an outdoor pond - especially a large one like yours.  There should be plenty of stuff naturally available for them to munch on.  I would imagine they're not starving to death, but rather, dying from some unseen factor in the water (ammonia, nitrite, perhaps).  If you can't get test kits now, take a sample of your water in to a local fish store, and they should be willing to test it for you.  Do please find out and keep us updated.>
Thanks, Todd from  Canada

Goldfish are STILL dying
Hi.   The letter sent back to me didn't finish.  It ended with  the word INFE.
<I will resend very shortly.  Hope everything comes through, this time.  Also, please do look for this at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/pdh2ochemfaqs.htm .  The day you receive the email, or perhaps the day after, you may see your answer on the Daily FAQs page: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/daily_faqs.htm .>
I think you were going to say inferior quality fish. Right???
<Sorta....  as I said, I will resend it.  Hopefully will clear up a lot of confusion.>
These are from a different pet store than the 24  common goldfish I bought for my pond in which 23 have died.  These 12 new common goldfish were bought from a different pet store hoping for a better quality of fish if that is the major problem in the first place.   The 12 new goldfish I put in my garage fish tank which is in my garage and made from a old chest type freezer with a plastic liner (house vapor barrier poly) on the inside.  A 5 gallon pail filled with medium rocks and filter on top to collect  debris and a   pump filling the filter constantly  and it drains back to tank. 300- gallons approx.   
<I'm pretty confidant that it's a water quality issue - again, not with the water from your tap, but from adding such a bunch of fish all at once.  It is very important to get test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH so you can have an understanding of what the problems are.  Until water quality issues are ruled out, there's really no diagnosis to be made.>
The rocks are said to remove ammonia and toxins and the material on top to remove bigger stuff.   Only 6 out of the new 12 goldfish are still alive in the garage tank after 1 week in there.  I've kept minnows in the tank before and they seemed to do ok.   But since then I've had to put in the poly plastic liner because of leaks. I wonder if the poly plastic could be a problem?
<Doubtful, but possible.  Wild guesses are all I can give you without knowing water quality and symptoms (white spots on fish, lumps, discoloration, wounds, any abnormalities whatsoever?)
The pond outside has the same plastic liner to where the other 23 out of 24 died.   I will take a   water sample into the store where I bought the last 12 goldfish and ask them to check the water quality.  
<Ahh, wonderful.  Be sure to ask them for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.  Please do consider purchasing your own test kits - it's really an invaluable thing to be able to test your own water, whenever necessary, right when you need to know the values.>
I have also added a charcoal filter to the top of the garage tank filter system. I plan to keep all the pond goldfish in the garage tank during the winter IF I EVER FIGURE OUT WHAT IS KILLING THE GOLDFISH!!!!    LOL    LOL      This is starting to drive me a bit insane figuring it out but with your help and going back to talk to the pet store guy, I will find out what I am doing wrong or if the fish are inferior and I have to spend more money for better quality fish since these are only  $4.99 a dozen.     
<Ultimately, if your 'feeder' comets are coming from a good source, they *should* be okay.  Operative word here is *should*.  It's entirely possible that they're all sick, but water quality is always the first suspect.>
The next step up in price is 2 for $5.00, which are not the common goldfish but another breed of goldfish.  
<"Fancy" goldfish?  Shubunkins?  Something else entirely?  You should be able to get 'pond' comets (as opposed to 'feeder' comets - they're healthier and sold at larger sizes) for an inexpensive amount.>
Your help is greatly appreciated in  my    GOLDFISH DILEMMA...... THANKS FROM TODD
<Any time.... Hope this one gets through okay.  -Sabrina>

RED SPOTS on pondfish
Hello,
<Hi there>
I have searched the internet, researched books, and consulted my local aquarium shop without success. I have a 250 gallon outdoor pond with a 750  gph pump and compatible Bioforce uv filter.  ( which I split into two separate returns )  My pond  is  home  to  7 six inch fancy goldfish, 2 seven inch Pleco, 2 three inch baby turtles, and 6 mystery  snails.  Last week I  noticed  a  very  small  red dot (1/8 inch) on the cheek of one of my pearlscale's. Today I noticed a similar but larger red  spot (1/3 inch) on  the  chin of  one of  my  Orandas. I  would describe these  spots  as  blood vessels or some sort of hemorrhage under their skin but not under their scales. The spots are not close to  the gills and they do not appear to protrude. Could this become serious?
<Could be... but I suspect not... much more likely a "seasonal" change to cooler/warmer weather, even perhaps "nuptial tubercles" (raised and reddened areas on fishes with the physiology and behavior of reproduction... Your fish may have the hots. Seriously, I would not be overly concerned... Keep checking on water quality, routine maintenance and try not to worry>
Can treatment be confined to  a  quarantine  tank  rather  than  the entire pond?
<Yes, could be... with most of water coming from the pond itself... I would only do this if other symptoms (off-feeding, stringy-feces, a lack of swimming activity...) occur>
Any advice you may have concerning this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Pond aliens
I have noticed a proliferation of 2-4mm shrimp-like creatures (copepods, as I have learned) in my pond in the filter net and such areas.  I have not examined my fish.  They don't look like fish lice and don't have a Y shape. They swim around inverted frequently.
<Could very well be a copepod of some sort, like Cyclops, or perhaps water fleas (Daphnia), or one of many, many other tiny critters that show up in ponds.>
Are they bad news?
<Unlikely.>
I am worried that they are parasitic.
<Although there are parasitic copepods, and other parasitic tiny forms of life that will appear in ponds, chances are good that what you're seeing isn't parasitic.  Of course, it would definitely be a good idea to net out a couple of fish just to check on them, make sure nothing's amiss.  Also, while trying to identify pond organisms, I ran across this page/site that may be of use to you to identify what you've got:  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/insects.html .  Play around with the links and other pages in the site, and you'll probably be running out to your pond for a cup of goo to stick under a microscope.  Lots of fun.>
Thanks for any comments,  Roger
<No problem, Roger.  Have fun with your tiny pond life,  -Sabrina>

Sick Koi & Comets
<Hi! Ananda here today while the usual Koi crew are out and about...>
I guess I have been lucky until now, I have a large pond (1600) gallons, this past week the fish all started acting strange, they seem to gulp for air, (not all the time) stay at the waterfall, some have a film
<I'm not quite sure what you mean by "a film"...>
and I have lost 5, the salt level was low, I have brought it up to .2%, the ph, is a little high but not in the alarming range,
<Any change of more than 0.2 per day can be stressful to fish.><<RMF says 0.1>>
the nitrates, ammonia are both ok, the water is on the hard side, well water. We recently put in a new filter system could this have stressed the fish? 
<Perhaps, if you also removed the old filter system at the same time, leaving the fish with no biological filtration, or something similar...?>
I also wonder if maybe the pond now is overcrowded as I have several large Koi and then smaller fish. I am at the end of the rope trying to figure things out. There are several pond owners in town that have problems and have lost fish this past week.
<In that case, a couple of things come to mind. Have you had a heat wave? A sudden increase in water temperature might lead to significantly lower oxygen levels. A sudden change could be especially problematic. Did several of these people do a water change shortly after the city added something different to the water, perhaps?>
We have had a lot or rain.
<What is the pH of the rain, compared to the pH of the pond? Is the difference enough to cause a pH swing in the pond?>
If you have any suggestions I would appreciate them.
Sarah
<Got a pond club or Koi club? If so, I'd get everyone who's lost fish, and several people who have not, to check their water parameters -- preferably with the same test kit (pond tour time) or at least using the same brand of kit. I'd compare those results with each other. I'd also look at any trends the various owners may have noticed in their water parameters. And I'd compare pond maintenance practices. I'd look for patterns in just about anything... it's detective work, but perhaps you'll find something. Wish I could be of more help. --Ananda> 

Pond goldfish pregnant or diseased?
hello,
<Hi there>
just wondering if you could advise me. we have a pond with around 50 goldfish most of which are very young.
Recently (well within the last 2 months) we have noticed that one of the older fish has become bloated.
At first we thought it might be "pregnant" with eggs because we keep seeing new little goldfish all the time! However it doesn't seem to have given birth so we're wondering if it's diseased? It has a good appetite and seems quite happy and joins in the feeding frenzy.
Any ideas would be very welcome and appreciated.
Thanks
Dan and Diana
<Mmm, if it's only one fish affected... seems that some sort of pathogenic complaint can be ruled out... or even trouble with food/feeding... It may be the one fish has what is called "dropsy" or a dropsical condition, but I suspect you are correct in your estimation that it is a female full of roe. If you are concerned that this might be a problem that could spread you might administer Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) at the rate of about a teaspoon per two gallons of water (hope this is not a very large system), or move the one fish to a smaller system and treat it hence... or just wait and see "if this too passes". Likely so. Bob Fenner>

Carp Pox? 7/20/04
I'm at a total loss at to why goldfish are dying in my 900 gallon pond established 2 years. Water quality checks out on tests fine, and I have a solid UV filtration system which leaves the water quite clear. I action regular husbandry of the pond, using a pond vac at least every 3 weeks. In the past 4 weeks about 7 goldfish out of the 16 I had have died, but none of the 6 Koi I have shown any symptoms yet. The symptoms are
1. White spots on tail fins, but fish continues to swim well and eat well
2. After about a week to 10 days an ulcer like lesion appears on the fishes side just in front of the tail fin. The fish still continues to eat well
3. Within a week though it usually then dies.
I have tried full course of  white spot treatment, ulcer treatment and general pond tonics with no success. I have tried isolating in a quarantine tank fish showing any symptoms, and then using one of the above treatments.
<it does sound perhaps viral in nature. Tough to say for us without seeing the fish and observing them>
I also found a small 4 inch frog dead in the pond 4 days ago.
All of the goldfish are about 3 years old, and were bred in my last houses pond, the Koi have been introduced over the past two years and are between 3 and 5 inches in length as an average
Thanks, Andrew
<its very tough for us to say, my friend... your husbandry and treatments have been sensible and wise. You may need to enlist the help of a local expert for a trained set of eyes. Are you near Shirley's Aquatics by chance? Some great staff there for consult in the UK. Anthony>

Sick pond goldfish
Hi,
I have a small outdoor pond, 90 gal. in NJ. <Hi Lora, Don here in Philly. You're right, that is a small pond. Do you have plans to bring her in for the winter?> My pride and joy goldfish who is about 2 yrs old is suddenly sick.
She seems a bit bent at the tail, is hanging out on the bottom of the pond. When she is still she starts to flip slightly to the side. Can you help with any suggestions? Watched her be born and she is beautiful. Don't want to do the wrong thing by misdiagnosing her with all the different info online.
Many thanks,
Lora
<Lora, do you test the water? If not, take a sample to your Local Fish Store. Get the actual numbers for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Do not accept "Everything's fine". Better yet, pick up a test kit. How many fish are in the pond? How often do you change water? If you do have a tank inside to winter her, I'd bring her in now. Make sure you match pH and temp. Goldfish are so hardy that fresh water is usually all they need. If you see any fin decay, you can add some salt. If she does not improve it will be much easier to treat her inside. But before we can recommend any medication we need to know her water conditions.

Strange Koi behaviour
For the last couple of days I have noticed a large Koi curled around a clump of pond weed in my mud bottom pond. It is right at the surface of the water and part of its body is even above the surface. It twitches once in a while but is otherwise motionless. Any idea what is going on?
<This IS strange behaviour indeed... if this is the only fish exhibiting such, am given to suggest it may have "eaten a bad bug"... an insect or such that got into the water... I do hope/trust it will be okay... If you have other quarters, I might move the fish, treat it with the addition of some Epsom Salt (about a teaspoon per five gallons... in the hope of dislodging whatever this might be.>
Love your Koi info pages... thanks for the providing such good material.
<Ahh, glad it is of service. Cheers, Bob Fenner> 

Pale Koi
Hello:
<Hi there>
I have had a Koi in my pond for about 3 years now and today I noticed it's a pale on the fins. it is not very active and seems to be coming up for air and stays there for a while. it doesn't seem to be its normal self. Usually its very active.
Thanks
Shobna
<Good observation re the fin color... I don't know what this might actually portend... The breathing worries me though. I would test for what aspects of water quality you have gear for... and effect a large water change (25%) and possibly move this fish to all new (conditioned) water if this water change doesn't remedy the respiration behavior. Bob Fenner>

Loner Goldfish in Pond Obsessed with Wall Hit the Wall
We have a clear, UV-filtered, chemically well-balanced 1000 gallon pond in our backyard with 3 Koi, 50-100 minnows, probably 150-200 snails, and 6 goldfish, one of which recently died. Question about the strange behavior leading up to the passing of the recently deceased goldfish:
<Okay>
We added the 6 goldfish about 1 year ago when they were tinier that the minnows, and they grew rapidly. The now deceased one grew bigger than the others for a while, and socialized with them normally, swimming with the others in a group as they fed, grazed on algae, etc. However, about 5 months ago the now deceased one stopped hanging out with the others and became "obsessed" with one wall of the pond kind of near the weak waterfall, but not really near enough to be near the bubbles. (We have 2 waterfalls in the pond, one weaker than the other). 
It always just stayed staring at that wall at a normal depth (midway between the bottom and the top of the pond) and once in a great while grazed on the algae growing there. It would do this 24-7 except when it was dark (as far as I know). It would maybe twice a day meander over to the other fish, look at them for a second or two, then go back to the wall and stare at it again. It never seemed to be doing anything but stare at this wall - it didn't look like it was exploring, hardly ever grazing, etc. Meanwhile, the other fish, both Koi and goldfish, would swim in a group and graze on algae all around the pond and eat the Koi pellets we threw in it. The now deceased fish ended up getting scrawnier that its brothers and sisters, when it was once the biggest when it was socializing normally.
<Strange>
Sadly, we found the fish dead this weekend. My dad thinks it starved itself, as it rarely seemed to eat. He also thinks that maybe it became brain damaged in some way,
<I agree with his guesses>
which led to its starving itself and becoming obsessed with the wall. Also, I never saw the other fish ever bullying this fish; it seems that one day he just decided to be a loner. Also, when he did venture over to their group for a brief second here and there, they didn't seem to mind. Regarding food, all the fish seem to get in a good amount - there never seems to be bullying in that respect, although the goldfish hang back when we first throw food in and let the Koi eat a few huge bites before they
start eating.
<Good descriptions>
I am just curious as to what could have been wrong with this fish. None of the other fish have any social problems whatsoever - they act perfectly normal as far as I can tell. They all swim together and seem to have fun. Oh, and I read in your FAQ that lionhead fish tend to be lonely, but this wasn't a lionhead, but a regular looking deep-orange goldfish (I
don't know much about breeds).
<Likely "Comets"... an American development>
I'm pretty sure that it's the sibling of the other goldfish.... however, all of our goldfish, while having the same features, are different colors (one all white, one pale orange and white, one bright orange, another white and really fat), and some are fatter than others. All of them are pretty big though, except our poor little deceased loner fish.
Thanks for your help.
<Thank you for writing. This does sound like some sort of "developmental disorder"... as your father speculated, perhaps best described as a type of "brain or neuronal dysfunction"... As your other livestock appear fine and your system reads as solid, I would not be alarmed, treat the water in any way. I wish you well. Bob Fenner> 

Re: Koi Illness??
Dear Sir
I emailed you yesterday as we thought that one of my KOI Carps could be egg bearing. Just to re-cap the fish had put on a lot of weight put seems to be resting at the bottom of the pond for a short period of time with the pectoral fins flat on the floor. After referring to our KOI KICHI book by peter Waddington we have examined the fish the abdomen is soft and spongy to touch, however we have now noticed that she has blood loss coming from her gills (like short spurts) not constant. Her skin, eyes and fins all seem fine however because she is a HARIWAKE it is difficult to tell if her colour looks paler than usual. 
Your advice would be much appreciated
<The softness of body is trouble, the excretion of blood very dangerous. I would isolate this fish for closer observation, perhaps to slow progression of infectious disease to your other fish/es. Bob Fenner>