Do you think it's working?

[Mudsow]

I've posted my gill saga on koivet, I was hoping anyone interested could pop over and take a look at the gill infection I have going on.

I lost my favorite fish (and avatar) to a bacterial gill infection and I'm trying to save my 2 other big koi. Both have an infection although not NEARLY as bad as the one I lost.

I've been giving baytril injections, I'm on day 5 with one more injection to go on Thursday. I'm leaving for a week on Saturday, I'm hoping they'll be ok. They are still schooling and eating although still prefer a bit of shrimp to the medicated food. (just want to make SURE they are still eating)

Has anyone ever had luck with curing this? How much gill damage is too much? Even if I do rid them of the infection, how much will actually "heal"?

Just curious, thanks for looking,
http://www.koivetforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20820

Mudsow

[Terri]

Mudsow, very very sorry to hear about Cheerio :( and the gill problems with your other fish.

Terrific photo's you've taken! I do hope they help in the long run to get a good answer for what this may be...? I do think that your cronicle of events may have been a contributing factor as you mentioned in the KV thread. Really wish I could share something with you that might help but I've not seen anything quite like the photo's you've posted. I do hope the antibiotic injections help, there does appear to be improvement in Ochie's gills. I do not think he's past the point of no return... not sure about the other fish, but keep at it, there's always hope!

Just from reading, what's been said about gill regeneration is positive if the effected fish is given a very good environment in which to heal... it does take time, and the fish may be prone to further health issues in the future depending on circumstances.

Just one small note to share - our vet insists that the injection protocal be followed every day until 'noticable' healing occures, I realize this goes against Doc J's method...

[Jackie Ramo]

Mudsow, as you know I have been following your thread and I do think they look better than before. Healing always seems to take longer than getting sick. You are doing what you can do. Personally I have not had to deal with an issue like this one so I'm not much real help with your questions.

Do you have any idea where the infection came from?

[Mudsow]

Jackie, I can only speculate since the smaller koi don't seem as effected as the larger ones.

I'm thinking overcrowding, I try my hardest to keep up with those nitrates, but they are always on the high side. Plus, I've treated with prazi in the past and I've since treated the new quarantine fish I've gotten, however, it had been a few years with Cheerio & Skeletor (both pet store fish) and about a year with Ochie BEFORE I ever treated with prazi, I used to just salt in quarantine and watch them.

So I'm thinking, maybe there were gill flukes at one time, and that did some damage, combine that with the higher nitrates, and then my spawn!

It all went downhill after the spawn. I think it created a funk in the water that took a hold of the bigger fish's already damaged gills.

Now it's a waiting game.
I guess though, without a 28" fish in there (it looks empty :( ) the others will have MUCH better water quality.

I've been battling with a cloudiness since the spawn, since Cheerio died, and I did that big water change, the water is now once again crystal clear.

I've been doing HUGE water changes since the spawn, and still cloudiness. I wonder if Cheerio's poor condition upset the whole system.

Funny thing tho, she was still one of the first ones to come to eat until only about 4 days before her death. She was one heck of a nice fish, she will be VERY missed!! :sad:

But boy, now that I've knocked fish out, scraped and injected, LOOK OUT! Anything that gets into my quarantine system will now have to be squeeky clean!!!!!!!

But for now, I'll try to focus on getting these guys as healthy as I can, and let little "Joe" grow into the cool looking fish he can be, since he will be the one with the best gills :grin:

Mudsow

[Jackie Ramo]

Mudsow, I understand how hard it is to lose the heart of the pond. My old Sweetie at 12 years old went a couple of years ago and frankly the pond or my heart still hasn't recovered. His evil twin Tweet is a pale imitation.

My fish had a horrendus spawn this year and I did water change after water change and still had nitrites and cloudiness and green water... I vacced and cleaned the skimmer 2-4 times a day. I cleaned the biofalls which turned out not to be dirty... so I PP'd the pond at a very low level for 2 days. Water and fish seem much happier. Their appetites have improved and believe me they were always hungry before but now they are eager for food. Even Tweet came to hand last night, 15 years and that fish has never come to hand.

I do not use the peroxyde to clear the water so I still can't see the bottom but at least I know the fish are happier. I'm hoping this will bring the colour back to poor Itzi who was a beautiful shiro itsuro (sp?)