Fish Care and Treatments

 

Follow these simple preventative measures:

Water Quality – The majority of issues are caused by poor water quality.  Make sure the fish population is under control and don’t be afraid to do partial water changes often and consistently.  The general formula for the quantity of fish in a pond is determined by the square feet of your pond and that means 1″ of mature fish per 1 square foot of garden. However, established gardens are sometimes able to handle 1.5″ to 2″ of MATURE FISH per 1 square foot of garden.  Make sure when adding water or when doing a partial change that you treat the water with Pond Detoxifier to eliminate chlorine/chloramines and chelated heavy metals.  Aerating pond water is also something that can potentially increase water quality dramatically.  When speaking of mature fish, Koi can grow to 24 to 36 inches and most gold fish with fins get 6 to 9 inches. It takes close to five years for Koi to reach maturity.

Buy Your Fish from a Responsible Retailer – Never buy sick fish and, if possible, quarantine new fish for a few days to a week before adding them to your pond.  Always ask how long the retailer has had the fish.  If they have just received them in, ask the retailer to hold the fish for a few days to make sure the fish recovers from stress related to transport and new water chemistry.

Keep a Close Eye on Your Fish – If any signs of disease are seen, start using Pond Salt immediately and start feeding with medicated fish food.  If things look like they are getting worse, immediately treat the pond with the appropriate treatment.  The longer you wait to treat the problem, the less chance you have of saving your fish. Quarantine your sick fish.

Test Your Water – Test it yourself or have your local retailer test it for any signs of a problem.  It is also important to test the water coming directly from your tap as it is increasingly common to have issues including ammonia coming directly from your water source. Click here for test kits.

Feed Your Fish a High-Quality Food – Feeding a high-quality food will not affect water quality and will ensure that your fish are getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need to maintain proper health.

 Symptoms/Diagnosis/Treatments

Note Click here at TREATMENTS to see the products available to treat your sick fish.  Isolating sick fish in a separate tank is the best approach since you can treat the fish more adequately and not affect the water quality.

THIS IS GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TREATMENTS.  YOU MAY HAVE TO RESEARCH FURTHER FOR THE EXACT TREATMENT YOU MAY NEED.     SECURE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM        www.koivet.com    Having access to a microscope is helpful.

Pond Salt information – Is a proven staple in the health care and maintenance of Koi.  Pond salt maintained at a 0.2% solution will reduce fish stress and enhance their slime coat and will improve gill function.  During periods of stress and disease, healthy gill function is disturbed.  This can cause a loss of electrolytes, leading to serious health problems for fish.  Pond Salt provides the essential electrolytes fish need to survive.  In addition, a salt solution will do a great job at controlling certain protozoan parasites, such as Trichodina, Ich and Chilodonella.  Caution:  A>0.2% salt level may threaten some more tender aquatic plants.

 

Symptom: Erratic movement, flashing or rubbing on rocks and surfaces throughout the pond. Fish has white discoloration as if dusted with small white dots. May be flashing, like scratching gills.

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Parasite Problem           There are several type of parasites.

Solution:

General Treatment:  Pond Salt Treatment and Isolation

Targeted Treatment:  There are several types of parasites.  Removing with Tweezers is a simple solution however, there may be other types of treatments.  Such as  Parasite and Ich Treatment, Praziquantel Treatment, Using Medicated fish food helps.

 

Symptom: Growths that look like “cotton balls“. Fish may have white starburst on mouth or body.  Loss of Appetite.

Most likely Diagnosis:  Fungal infection

Solution: 

General Treatment:  Pond Salt Treatment         

 Targeted Treatment:   Aquascape Fungus Treatment

 

Symptom: Open Wounds or ulcers. Fish fins or tail has white discoloration on the edges, may be accompanied by red streaks in fins or tail.  Sometimes appears as trailing slime.  Fish may be lethargic or without appetite.  May swim with fins or tail collapsed.

Most likely diagnosis:  Could be Bacterial infection:  Tail Rot, Body Slim

Solution: 

General Treatment:  Pond Salt Treatment 

Targeted Treatment:   Ulcer & Bacterial Infection Treatment and  Medicated Fish Food

 

Symptom: Red Streaks in the fins

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Could be Bacterial Infection, Parasite Problem, Ammonia Poisoning

Solution: 

General Treatment:   Medicated Fish Food,  Pond Salt and water change using  Pond Detoxifier

Targeted Treatments:   Parasite & Ich Treatment,  Praziquantel Treatment, along with the general solution

 

Symptom: Fins appear to be rotting away

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Fin Rot or Bacterial infection

Solution: 

General Treatment:  Pond Salt

Targeted Treatments:  Ulcer and Bacteria Treatment, Medicated Fish Food,  Pond Salt

 

Symptom:  Small white spots that look like salt stuck to the body of the fish

Most Lightly Diagnosis:  Ich or Parasite problem

Solution: 

General Treatment: Pond Salt

Targeted Treatments:   Parasite & Ich Treatment and  Pond Salt

 

Symptom:  Gasping at the surface of the water

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Oxygen Depletion

Solution: 

General Treatment:  Aerate the pond & agitate the pond surface – Reduce fish load

 

Symptom:  Bulging Eyes – hard to cure or no cure

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Bacteria infection

Solution:

General Treatment:  Pond Salt

Targeted Treatments:  Ulcer & Bacterial Treatment, Medicated Fish Food – Pond Salt

 

Symptom:  Scales protruding from a swollen body like a pine cone

Most Likely Diagnosis:   Dropsy – Bacterial Infection  – Difficult to treat

Solution: 

General Treatment:  Difficult to treat: isolation and pond salt and/or treat the pond as a preventative measure

Targeted Treatment:  Ulcer & Bacterial Infection Treatment and Pond Salt

 

Symptom:  Difficulty swimming underwater floating at the surface upright

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Swim Bladder Disease

Solution:  If the fish is still feeding, feed fish with canned peas or Spirulina-based fish food

 

Symptom:  Red or swollen gills

Most Likely Diagnosis:  Parasite Problem

Solution: 

General Treatment:  Pond Salt

Targeted Treatment:  Parasite & Ich Treatment,  Praziquantel Treatment & Pond Salt

Information provided by Aquascape Inc

Remember:  It is sometimes best to isolate the sick fish so that you can salt the holding tank with the proper solution and treat the sick fish and not the whole pond.  Remember pond plants are sensitive to salt treatments. 

Also you can additionally consult:       www.koivet.com

 Pond Salt Dosage Rates:  2 cups = 1.0 lbs. approx.

0.1% solution uses .83 lbs. of salt per 100 gallons of water

0.2% solution uses 1.67 lbs. of salt per 100 gallons of water

0.3% solution uses 2.5 lbs. of salt per 100 gallons of water