Above is a graphic of most of the common diseases that plague most
pond fish, and are treatable if caught early. The main reasons fish become sick is usually a result
of the environment they are being kept or a lack of education about pond ecology. Typical reasons are
overstocking fish in a small pond. For new ponds only stock 1" (inch) of fish for each sq.' (square
foot) of surface area. For more in-depth info on stocking Click Here. A pond
filter can only remove so much fish waste. Once that capacity is exceeded the end result is high ammonia
levels, which is deadly to fish. High ammonia levels in your pond will either kill some of your fish,
or stress them out to the point of easily getting bacterial infections or parasites.
Most diseases of fish are in 2 categories.Parasitic infestations
and bacterial infections. Other considerations are Sunburn and a whole host of hard to treat
diseases that usually lead to fish fatalities like Dropsy and Pop Eye. It is up to you to decide if
the cost is worth the benefit.
Rubbing against rocks, and white dots on the body and fins signifies some
type of parasite infestation. Parasitic infections require that you treat the whole pond with
Melafix and PimaFix.
First make sure you pond has salt in the water. Dose: Salt is typically
used at a concentration of 0.30%. Salt concentrations are easily measured with the
Koi Medic Salinity Meter.
It is important to pre-dissolve salt prior to addition to the pond or
tank to avoid salt burns of fish.
Note: Some types of pond plants may not grow well with salt levels
above 2 lbs of salt per 100 gallons of water. Keep salt at a level of .15 -.18 for ponds with plants.
Put the fish in an isolation tank and raise the salt content to .20%
After the salt content is stabilized add Melafix
and PimaFix.
Bacteria Infections (Ulcers, Fin Rot, Cloudy Eye, Split fins, Wounds,
White Cotton-like Patches) Melafix is the #1 veterinarian recommended over-the-counter
fix. Monitoring your fish on a weekly basis will give you ample opportunity to treat any infections
before they become life-threatening. Your fish will love you for looking out for them.
Fin degeneration or white cotton looking blotches on the body indicate
a bacteria infection.
The best way to treat a bacteria infection is to remove the infected fish
from the pond to a holding area big enough to accommodate it, like a kids swimming pool, or other large
tub. The reason to remove your fish from the pond for treatment is that bacteria infections are an isolated
disease and can't spread from fish to fish. If you were to treat the whole pond you would be wasting
a lot of your medication and get minimal results.
Make sure you have a salt solution in the new holding area of 0.30%. Add
1½ pounds of salt per 100 gallons of water in your holding tub and make sure the salt is dissolved before
you add your fish otherwise it could burn it's gills.
Provide aeration, with a small air pump and air stone that can be purchased
at a local aquarium store.
Add the recommended dose of Melafix medication
to the water. Repeat daily until symptoms go away for a couple days to make sure the cure is effective.
It may take 10-30 days to cure the fish.
Sunburn
Unprotected direct exposure to sunlight may damage a Koi's Finish.
This can be easily prevented by keeping ½ of your pond in aquatic plants. Also if you are planning a
pond, make sure your pond is at least 24" deep. You can also install rock shelves for fish to hide under.
TREATMENT MED - MELAFIX
TREATMENT MED - PIMAFIX
MELAFIX®
All natural antibacterial remedy for treatment of Koi and goldfish
diseases. Treats ulcers and open wounds, rapidly repairs damaged fins, treats fin and tail rot. Use
when introducing new fish. Safe for aquatic plants. Will NOT affect the biological filter or alter
the pH of the pond!
PimaFix
The
all natural antifungal remedy for koi and goldfish!
• Broad spectrum of treatment that effectively clears fungal infections.
• Treats the underlying cause of infection.
• Can be used in combination with Melafix to treat a wide range of fungal
and bacterial infections.
MelaFix and PimaFix
Combo
Kills Fungus - Fin Rot - Wounds
- Ulcers
All natural antibacterial
remedies for treatment of Koi and goldfish diseases. Treats ulcers and
open wounds, rapidly repairs damaged fins, treats fin and tail rot. Broad
spectrum of treatment that effectively clears fungal infections.
Save 10%
PREVENTION - STRESS COAT
Water Conditioner
A must have item for any fish hobbyist.
Use whenever setting up a pond, adding fish or changing pond water.
PREVENTION OF DISEASE - TEST KITS
Master Liquid Test Kit
- This test kit is pretty much the pond owners standard kit. You can get more expensive ones, but
this is all you really need. Tests: Ammonia, Nitrites, Salt and pH. Complete kit for testing pond water
levels of ammonia, nitrite, salt and pH. Kit contains instructions, laminated color cards, four test
tubes and holding tray. 12 kits per case.
A
complete outfit for pond fish culture, ideal for fresh water analysis.
Nine critical test factors can be efficiently and accurately determined
on-site. Designed with field analysis as a priority; all reagents,
components and accessories are arranged in pre-drilled ethafoam. Short
form instructions are provided in a handy lid label for easy access. Long
form instruction booklet provides detailed instructions and test kit
diagram. Unit is supplied complete with labware, accessories, sampling
bottle, and reagents for 50 tests of each factor.
These test kits are ideal for schools, fish farms, hobbyists, retailers
and ornamental fish culturists. Lamotte has combined the most popular
tests into a convenient, easy to use, easy to carry package.
Sick Fish Treatment Plan
First decide how much the fish is worth to you. If the fish is not that
expensive take it out of the water and put the fish down humanely before it infects the other fish.
Treat the rest of the fish with a preventative dose of medication. One sick fish can damage the rest.
If you decide to save and treat the sick fish then you need to isolate it for treatment. This can cost
you some money if you don't have someplace suitable to treat it.
How to put a fish out of his suffering? The most humane way to do this
when you decide that the fish is out of options, is to place him in a bag of water and then place him
in your freezer. As the water temp falls he will not suffer. Then dispose of the bag.
So, you decided to save your fish, I did too. Get $$ out of your pocketbook,
or make this ahead of time. It takes time and effort to build, but you
have a treatment tank and a isolation tank.
Or this is a much quicker way in an emergency. Purchase a 300 gallon stock
tank from Rubbermaid. You can get one at any Tractor Supply store or Farm and Fleet store. Basically
any place that sells animal feeds will tell you where to get one. Here is a picture of one. Prices vary
from $170 - $250. Get a filter from an aquarium store that will supply enough filtration for a 300 gallon
tank. Fill the tank with water and secure the filter so thrashing large Koi won't disable it. Duct tape
everything so it looks like MacGyver was there. Duct tape is your buddy today.
KOI WILL JUMP OUT OF THIS TANK! - Make a cardboard bib around the top
at least 12" high and use duct tape to keep it in place. Now you can fill the water all the way up to
the top and get maximum use from your available water space.
Dilute 3 pounds of salt into the water. 1 pound of salt for every 100
gallons of water. Premix the salt in a 5 gallon bucket with water.
Treat the water with Water Conditioner (See Below) to get rid of chlorine.
Put DesaFin and Melafix in the water according to directions. Now you have a tank full of great water,
with broad spectrum medications to put your fish into.
Get a clipboard and paper and hang a patient chart somewhere close. You
are going to record your observation notes (like sore clean, but red and swollen) dates and times and
anything you notice. Record your water condition readings as well.
Get your Koi out of the pond and hold it in a wet towel. Bring it to the
tank and inspect it in a good light carefully. If there are open sores or wounds see if they are white
around the edges. That white is infection (puss) and needs to be cleaned off. Carefully wipe the puss
off with gauze pads. Cover the wound with some triple antibiotic petroleum jelly lightly. Put the fish
into the water and let him swim. This new water will be good for him, but it will make him scared. He
WILL try to jump out so you better have that cardboard up. Remember to check for new puss developing.
You will have to keep the area clean and retreat with triple antibiotic. Mother Nature won't take care
of the fish as his immune system is compromised. It is up to you.
Inspect the rest of your fish one at a time and look for scales that are
flared up from the skin. (scales rising like a pine cone) This is the first sign of an infection starting.
If you even think the scales are starting to rise treat them as if they are infected. Bring them one
at a time into the treatment tank to get treated. See the picture at the top of this page for more clues.
Check the fish twice daily. Feed the fish sparingly. Clean ANY signs of
fish poop and sediment out of the tank bottom. This tank won't have time enough to build a bacteria
farm and clean the water. It is up to you to keep the water clean. Test it daily for ammonia. Any sign
of yellow on your test strips is DANGER. Do a 25% water change if you see ammonia. If you still get
readings after the water change do it again in an hour. Readjust your medications and salt levels.
When the fish is clear of all signs of infection for a week then put him
back into your pond which has been treated with salt.
If the infection is not clearing up, you may need to go to a vet and get
some antibiotic injections for it. Ask the vet for something powerful. Ask the vet the correct dose
for the weight of your fish. You can inject the fish in 2 places. Get your wet towel and have someone
hold the fish on a table.
Place 1: Insert the needle into the left or right front fin where it goes
into the body (like your arm and shoulder) and inject the antibiotic into the meat of the shoulder,
not the fin meat, but the body meat where the fin muscle attaches to the body. You want the injection
in the body meat.
Place 2: Just above the anus of the fish, and behind it, inject the needle
flat to the skin getting just under skin and move the needle towards the fatty gut area. If you have
ever cleaned a fish to eat you will remember that just behind the open gut cavity, at the start of the
tail, is a huge chunk of meat. It is thick and it is the best place to inject. You don't want to poke
the gut cavity or the antibiotic will go into the intestines or other organs.
You should repeat injections as the vet tells you. If after 2 weeks of
injections the fish is not responding you should get mentally prepared to put the fish out of his agony.
That call is up to you, but if the fish is starting to swim sideways, sinking to the bottom or looking
paralyzed do the right thing and put the fish down.
Save yourself the misery of having to do to put a fish down or the hassle
of treating one. Keep your pond clean, the filter operating efficiently, the water pumping at a good
flow rate, and test-test-test your water at least every few days. Keep your salt level up in your pond
to .15 -.18 Salt and good test readings are the best insurance you have for healthy fish.
It would be a smart thing to find all the products below locally, or
purchase them from us to have on hand, rather than have to scramble around looking for them in a fish
emergency.
Understanding the Basic Nitrogen Cycle can
help you avoid problems in the future.
* Restricted Pond Plants: Some states have restrictions or bans on pond plants. Contact your local government for a list of restricted plants. The buyer needs to be aware of any regulations on plants that may be restricted.
** Pond Plants grow differently depending on where you live: If you took pond plants of the same species and planted them in different climates each plant would grow differently. This is Mother Nature at work. We guarantee all of our plants will arrive alive and healthy. We cannot guarantee that your specific location will support long term growth. Over time and experience you will find which pond plants thrive in your USDA Zone
*** We reserve the right to substitute with like plants of equal or greater value unless you specifically request otherwise in the remarks section of your order you submit. This happens almost never though, and if it does happen it is usually in regard to floating and submerged oxygenation plants.
