Sick Koi? -- 03/09/07 Hi, <Bonita> We have had
our koi pond for just over one year. When the ice thawed about 2 weeks
ago, it started getting full of stringy moss.
<Seasonal... to be expected... and a note to all... I would NOT fool
with a pond this early out of the "cold season"> The koi
have been kind of dormant (not moving around much) which seems to be
the case whenever the water starts getting colder (going into winter).
<Yes> Anyway, one of the koi was particularly dormant and seemed
to have moss growing on it. <!> Now the rest of the koi are
moving around a lot, but this one has a big patch of green on its back
and a small patch over each eye. It looks just like the moss
(same color and looks stringy). My husband picked the koi up
and rubbed his thumb across the green patch on its back. It
didn't come off at all and he said it felt really slimy. <Mmm...
healthy koi, pond fish... are slimy... not "dry"... but not
"too" slimy either> Can you tell me what this is and if
there is anything we can do about it? <Likely nothing... really. I
would leave this fish be... and if you do "anything" with the
pond... do it s l o w l y> I have been trying to find information,
but everything I read about fungus and other things seem to be white or
red in color. Also, I have read something about putting salt
in the pond and someone told me I could treat the fish with salt???
<I would not at this time of year...> Any advice would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks! Bonnie & Rusty Wilson <You
should read... here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/Pond%20Sub%20Web.htm
scroll down to the tray on Pond Maintenance... the articles by
myself... and the related/linked FAQs files. Don't fool with the
pond or livestock... until it's much warmer, consistently. Bob
Fenner>
"Flipping" fish? Hi, Jim here. <Bob here> Saw
your website and read/searched for information on my situation but
didn't see it addressed. <Okay, let's address it now> I
have an outdoor pond, 3 years old, approx. 2500 gallons with a small
waterfall. There is a 1250 gph pump, UV sterilizer and gravity filter
that runs year round - I'm in North Carolina. I have 3 shubunkin
and 14 koi. The shubunkin and most of the koi were all transplanted
into the pond 3 years ago and purchased when about 3" long. Four
of the koi have been hatched in the past two years in the same pond.
<All right> In the past few weeks we've noticed that a few of
the larger koi (14-15") have been darting around the pond and
rolling onto their sides while swimming. Not for long, only a moment
when shooting down the length of the pond, almost like "watch me
Dad!". I did notice one of them fanning the bottom of the pond for
a couple of days with his tailfin; he hasn't done that since (near
as I can determine he's one of the males - long and sleek). I
haven't noticed any milt in the water and the females that I can
identify still seem full with eggs. <Tis the season> I had
written it off to spawning behavior or just plain old Spring fever but
last night one of the shubunkin wasn't feeding. She - Daryl Anne -
[Larry, Darrell & Daryl until Daryl laid eggs and became Daryl Anne
;-)] was off by herself and didn't swim with the rest all evening.
Very unusual behavior for her as she's always the first to feed and
very sociable. <Could be all the goldfish/shubunkins are females...
or that the male is "not mature"> The pond wintered over
very well, water is clear and the colors/markings of the fish look
bright and blemish free. I added water yesterday as it was down about
10% - treated the city water with Prime as I always do with no adverse
effects. Does this behavior sound at all familiar? Thanks! <Does
sound familiar. You know that the goldfish and koi are separate
species... but can cross-breed (not usual in your setting)... I do
think the koi were/are just feeling spunky with the warming weather. Do
keep your eye on them should they clear the side of the pond and need
to be placed back in... Bob Fenner>
