We think the koi have something wrong with them and heard putting salt would help with their slime coats.. Is this true? The fish also seem to be "flipping" and "rubbing" themselves up against the rock in the tank and think that maybe they have a parasite that they are trying to rub off. does that make sense?
2007-01-21 11:52:13 · 5 answers · asked by poisonchick12345 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
The koi might do better with some salt. Just be sure you use salt without iodine added (salt labelled coarse, sea, kosher, or canning is OK, iodized table salt is not). At anywhere from 1 TBSP/5 gallons up to 1 tsp./gallon to start. It may not cure the problem, but it won't hurt the fish either.
What your fish are doing is called "flashing". They do this when something is irritating them. Here's a website you can use to help diagnose the problem:
http://www.goldfishinfo.com/diagram.htm
Once you know what is going on, you can Google the problem with the word "treatment" to find out what you shoud do.
2007-01-21 12:21:26 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several diseases that can cause a fish to "flash." Anchor worm, fish lice, flukes, trichodina or velvet. Please take a look at this link and compare the symptoms you're seeing to these diseases. Each disease's symptoms is first described, followed by the treatment appropriate for that disease.
You can do a salt dip which will kill at least half the critters living on your koi. Get some pond salt or aquarium salt and mix a dip using 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water. Leave the koi in there for as long as you can. A dip of 30 seconds to 5 minutes is the range. You remove them depending on when they show "stress." When they become still and float at the top, give them a nudge. If they swim again, you can leave them in a little longer. If/when they don't react, take them out. It is very disconcerting, but it works wonders. Then you can add 1 tsp. of salt per gallon of water to the regular tank as a "maintenance" regime. Don't oversalt or it could kill them. Err on the side of less salt. If the salt doesn't seem to be working enough to get rid of all of the critters, you can try medications. Don't mix salt with medications.
2007-01-21 21:33:48 · answer #2 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Venice Girl's answer is very good. I can't remember what the original terminology 4 'fish-scraping' was but do this: siphon bottom of tank and almost 1/4 of the water.Then treat with Aquari-Sol. It's worked 4 me in the past. Good luck
2007-01-22 14:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by antonio bigfish baccala 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont put salt in the tank. there are enough products available on the market that are much safer to use. pet stores will generally have 2 bottled products to offer each covers about 6 possibilities of deseases or parasites to chose from. they will tell you to use one and if it dosent work to come back and try the other. try the one best suited for ick first. it is the least potent of the two, and puts your fish at less risk. are you sure they just arent exibiting some type of routy behavior, or mabey they are trying to dig ? good luck.
2007-01-21 20:25:06 · answer #4 · answered by swan5250 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes its will help mosturize the tank. also fish like it.
2007-01-21 20:02:28 · answer #5 · answered by Grandma Elliot 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋