Common Ailments

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Every pond owner with fish, at some time or another, will probably have to medicate their pond.

Though Koi are extremely hardy, it is very important to keep a watch on their environment to keep them at their healthiest.
Attention should be paid to the quality of water and balance of the pond (i.e. pH levels etc.). However, if problems do occur, 
the first step is to remove the individual fish or decide whether to treat the entire pond. It is sometimes difficult to be aware of a 
problem with a fish until its too late. Be aware of your Koi's behavior patterns so changes can be detected early. A change in your Koi's behavior is usually the first sign that that your Koi are stressed or ill.

Here are some tips to avoid health problems:
Koi Health

* Good water circulation - Water within the pond environment that is stagnant or slow moving is an ideal environment for bacteria to flourish.

* Fresh water - To dilute ratio of bacteria to water, replace approx. 10% of water on a weekly basis.

* Crowding - Do not overcrowd.

* Water Conditions - A good filtration system will help keep the pond balanced.

* Stress - Like humans stress is a major factor in inducing disease in fish. Try to avoid stressful situations and conditions.

* Nutrition - Make sure are fish are receiving a good diet. Feeding should be adjusted for the correct seasons & temperatures.

* Injury - This is a common sense one. If the fish has an apparent injury treat it immediately.

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PRIMARY CATEGORIES OF KOI DISEASES

Bacterial Koi Diseases
Fin & Tail rot. (Flexibacter Columnaris), Holes. (Aeromonas), Vibrio.

One of the prime causes of fish mortality is bacterial disease. With the exception of "columaris" nearly all bacterial infections 
occur after another problem has occurred, stress is a prime factor with bacterial disease. Most are gram-negative organisms.

Treatment can be varied but some treatments are Acriflavin, chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, salt, etc. as a dip, topical, or in 
feed.

Fungal Koi Diseases
A secondary infection in the area of some other fish injury. Also affects damaged or disturbed fish eggs. Treatments include: 
Acriflavin, iodine, malachite green, salt, formalin as a bath, topical, or in pond.

Parasitic Koi Diseases
Anchor worm, Fish lice (Argulus), Flukes, Ich, Internal parasites.

Most fish carry parasites, but older fish develop a degree of resistance that prevents problems. Parasites like anchor worms and 
fish lice usually are a problem whenever present. Young fish are more susceptible to illness caused by parasites. Stress situations 
and seasonal climatic variations can bring on infections.

Treatments include: Dylox, Masoten, Demilin, Formalin, Malachite Green, potassium permanganate or salt in the whole pond or 
in a bath.

Viral Koi Diseases

There seems to very little in the way of effective treatments for viral infections other than to remove growths by scraping. More 
often the infected fish, if severe, will be subjected to further stress when the anesthetic wears off and inevitably die. Success 
rates increase dramatically with early detection and subsequent quarantine.

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Common Koi Disorders

Flashing, Scratching, Jumping -You have parasites in the pond. Use De-Los for a 4 week treatment. Make sure to run the 
medication through your filter during the entire treatment.

Red sores, Hole in the side disease - This is a gram-negative Bacterial infection caused by Aeromonas. Mix up a 
medicated food with Oxolinic Acid Powder. Use 2 teaspoons of medication per pound of feed. Feed it to the fish for up to 2 
weeks. Also use Forma-Green, or...Potassium Permanganate in the water.

Red streaking in Fins & body - This is a gram-negative Bacterial infection called Hemmorhagic Septicemia. Large ulcers, 
similar to Aeromonas will appear in severe cases. Use Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Powder in the feed. Use 2 teaspoons of 
medication per pound of feed. Feed it to the fish for up to 2 weeks.

White cottony puffs grow on Skin and turn into sores - This is a Saproglenia Fungus that is common in pond fish. Separate 
the affected fish if possible to medicate them. If you cannot separate the fish, treat the entire pond with Forma-Green for 5-7 
days. Fish gasp for air and do not eat.

Fins are frayed and the water is cloudy - You have an Ammonia problem in the pond. Start doing partial water changes 
immediately and test the water for Nitrites and Ammonia. Use Sodium Thiosulfate to de-chlorinate your water and add Aqua 
Gold to establish the nitrifying Bacteria in the pond.

Fish gasp for air and hang just beneath the waterfall - Sounds like Gill Flukes. To make sure, look at one of the fish's 
Gills. If it is brown/green in color, this could be Bacterial Gill Rot, and needs to be treated with Benzalkonium Chloride. If the 
Gills appear to look almost normal, or slightly reddish, this is probably Flukes and needs to be treated with De-Los.

Excessive slime covers entire fish - Make sure your water is not Over-Salted. This makes the fish produce more slime 
coat. If this is not the case, they could have a protozoan infection and need to be treated with Metronidazole or Quinine 
Sulfate.

One or both Eyes are popped out - This is called pop eye, and is caused by a Kidney Infection. Treat the fish with 
Erythromycin for 10 days or Oxolinic Acid according to directions. This could also be the start of Abdominal Dropsy.

Fins are eaten away and covered with a white coating - This is a gram-negative Bacterial infection called Columnaris and 
should be treated with a sulfa drug combination. Try: Triple Sulfa -or- TMP Sulfa -or- Sulfa 4 TMP. Treat the fish for a 
minimum of 10 days.

Fins are red and eaten away - This could be a couple of different diseases. It could be a gram-negative Bacteria, or a 
parasitic infestation. Fin and tail rot is the most common. Try treating the fish with Forma-Green.