SOS ~ Flukes I Think?

[Koidaddy]

Hi Ponders,

Well, simply put, I think I have an outbreak of flukes in my pond. As mention in a previous post on Reflections I had noticed one of my koi jumping out of the water a couple of times. Ian had suggested that it could be a sign of parasites... well I guess he was right. Now, several of my koi are "side-winding" / "twisting" quickly towards the water surface. All my water parameters seem to be fine. I can't help but thinking there is a relationship between my starting the use of koi clay and this outbreak.... call me crazy, but I'm not sold on the stuff ~ The koi clay seemed to turn all the healthy green algae fuzz on my liner brown and cakie, causing it to flake off ~ But all that to say, my water clarity as you may have seen in my recent photos posted is excellent.

I've never had more than on sick fish at a time and they've always been my goldfish, never koi. So this is where I am right now, (apart from feeling hopeless depressed) My QT is occupied with Julie's fish at the moment, (their doing fabulous) I decided on my own two days ago to introduce salt into my pond (third dose done, now reading @ .03%). Whether this was the right thing to do remains to be seen by results and of course your opinions/advice. I've just read on the net, that if indeed I have flukes, treating them with salt is ineffective? True or false?? They seem to have improved somewhat since yesterday.

Your guidance at this moment would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Regards,
KD

[Jackie Ramo]

IMO, Jumping isn't really a first sign of flukes. Lethargy, sitting on the bottom, isolating and spitting food are all fluke signs. Now will a fish jump if it has flukes, sure maybe but mine don't even flash a lot with flukes.

Costia will cause them to flash and jump, it is also a quick killer where flukes take a long time to kill a fish.

Did you do a scrape and scope. Do not salt until we determine exactly what parasite you have. Salt really doesn't do as much against parasites as more current medications.

HOw long did you Q those new wakin and koi????? Fish always have parasites but stress, like moving and a new environment, can give the parasites the opportunity to multiply and attack.

Also please post the exact numbers for the tests and water temps.

[Koidaddy]

Thanks Jakie! I will scrape and scope tomorrow or Saturday, keeping you posted with all test results.

Thanks!!
Chris

[Merlin]

As Jackie mentioned lay off the salt, some meds wont work effectivly with salt.

Flukes as also mentioned would display different signs to what you have observed. Post the water results and if possible get one of the fish scraped and scoped so you can see what you are dealing with.

[Koidaddy]

As Jackie mentioned lay off the salt, some meds wont work effectivly with salt.

Flukes as also mentioned would display different signs to what you have observed. Post the water results and if possible get one of the fish scraped and scoped so you can see what you are dealing with.

Thanks Merlin, will do.

KD

[carcha koi]

Chris
Take A Look In Am And Pm. See If Any Are Being Chased. You Will See A Fish Jump Or Two. This Could Be The Lead Up To A Spawn.
Your Fish Looked Healthy, You Had Just Done A Clean, We Both Know Where The Fish Came From. You Know That They Are Fine.
If They Were Flukes You Can See Them If You Look Close. Unless You Have Added Some New Fish From Somewhere Else Or Some New Plants I Don't Think You Will Have Flukes Or Gill Flukes.
Try Putting Some Spruce Bows In Your Pond. There Is Some Hot Weather Headed Your Way Followed By Rain.
You Maybe Surprised Some Am To Find Some Clear Dots All Over And All Your Fish Eating Them.{eggs} If You Don't Put Something Soft In The Pond They May Lay Their Eggs Against Your Water Lily Pots Or On/against The Rocks. This Will Cause Them Damage. They Are Not Gentle. It Is A Free For All/ No Romance/straight Breeding.

[Koidaddy]

Hi Reflectors!,
Well, here is an update on the status of my fish... they seem to be doing better! :grin: I don't know whether it's the salt I added or just maybe there was nothing wrong with them in the first place? I beginning to think that perhaps it was just a case of overreactionitis :wink: I'll be watching them closely for awhile.

I still don't like how my koi clay is causing layers of algae to flake off everything... very messy!! Poor little KD doesn't have a skimmer (bummer!) so lots & lots of netting of the brown tihs!! (spelt backwards) I plan on clearing out some, if not most of my small river rock next week ~ will use the opportunity to hose all flakes away! I'll keep you posted.
Thanks Terri for the Koi hotline conversation!! (that girl is so dedicated to the cause!!). Thanks for your two cents, Chris, much appreciated.

Have a good weekend everyone!
KD

[Terri]

Always nice to speak with you Chis :-) Sorry I was a bit occupied when you called... BTW Ian really liked his 'surprise', will see if I can get him to pose for a pic later :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Keep an eye on them, one shouldn't jump at every little thing. I didn't get a surprise... :frisbee:

[Jackie Ramo]

BTW KD, just how much clay are you adding? I'm doing 2 cups because I want to kill the aglae but normally it is a tablespoon per 1,000 gallons once per week or waterchange. This should have no effect on your algae.

Did you check your pH am and pm?

[Koidaddy]

BTW KD, just how much clay are you adding? I'm doing 2 cups because I want to kill the aglae but normally it is a tablespoon per 1,000 gallons once per week or waterchange. This should have no effect on your algae.

Did you check your pH am and pm?

Why yes Miss Jackie... AM & PM pH are about the same (7.8) Also, using koi clay as directed - 1 tbs per 1000 gallons. I'm convinced koi clay isn't right for me. I've always had a green velvety layer of algae on my liner, OH, but not this year!! It looks likes cornflakes, all brown and nasty! I'm doing a thorough cleaning of my pond this coming week. I plan on hosing down the liner and starting from scratch. In the past I've used liquid vegetable based bacteria to get my pond cycling, I swear by the stuff! Going back to using it. I'll keep the koi clay for seasoning moistened pellets... at least it won't go to waste.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
:grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

For 2 years I had blue slime aglae and nothing got rid of it. cornflakes aglae sounds good after that :-P This year I just have, thankfully, plain old string algae. Terri has slime algae I think.

Be careful doing a big clean of the pond, sometimes it brings more problems than solutions. Stop using the clay, although i do not think that is the problem. Algae changes with the enviornmental water conditions. Yeah I had the nice carpet for years I wonder where it went to.....

[Swamprat]

For 2 years I had blue slime aglae and nothing got rid of it. cornflakes aglae sounds good after that :-P This year I just have, thankfully, plain old string algae. Terri has slime algae I think.

Be careful doing a big clean of the pond, sometimes it brings more problems than solutions. Stop using the clay, although i do not think that is the problem. Algae changes with the enviornmental water conditions. Yeah I had the nice carpet for years I wonder where it went to.....
Prolly acid rain screwing up the algae mom... You're pretty hot on water changes too.. try skipping a few when it warms up ( july 3) and start heavy changes when it gets cold again ( July5)
:-P

[Jackie Ramo]

Prolly acid rain screwing up the algae mom... You're pretty hot on water changes too.. try skipping a few when it warms up ( july 3) and start heavy changes when it gets cold again ( July5)
:-P


Son, I am hot, and water changes or summer have nothing to do with it :lol:

Where have you been you bad boy?