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I got several koi fishes. But i tink they got parasites.. One after another, they will have injury, like a cut or a poke. However, it dun heal. Yet, the cut start to spread like their flesh r eaten ur slowly.. HELP

2007-07-24 08:22:26 · 5 answers · asked by KenGOh 1 in Pets Fish

5 answers

It sounds like what you have now is a secondary bacterial infection that may have been initially caused by a parasite of some sort (flukes come to mind - they weaken the fish, then septicemia sets in....).

First, make sure you've got good water quality (take care of the water, and the fish take care of themselves!). Then, when we have had similar problems in the past, we have done the following: bacteria sounds like the worst problem you have, so treat it first. AP Ponds makes a very good anti-bacterial medication that is readily available via the internet, and also in places like Petco and Petsmart. Use that first - maybe even two or three times (I think you have to wait like 10 days or something between applications - follow the instructions on the bottle!). Also, start feeding medicated food like Medikoi, also readily available.

Then, once you've treated for bacteria, I would do a "shot-gun" treatment for parasites. Use a combination of Praziquantel (Prazi) and Pro-Form C, both mixed and applied according to their package directions, except use them simultaneously. I would do a three-course treatment of this, too. If parasites were, in fact, the original problem, you will see your fish flash and scratch like crazy with the first dose. Subsequent doses should not affect them quite as strongly, however, and this mixture will kill just about everything except anchor worms. I have never seen either Prazi or Pro-Form C anywhere but online, but it readily available from all sorts of sources (like Drs. Smith and Foster, Petsmart, etc.). Prazi is expensive, but it is also very good, and well worth it, in my opinion.

Follow all package instructions regarding treatment quantity, days of waiting, water changes, etc. Then, if your fish still look red or have sores that don't heal, you can even net them (gently!) and swab an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin on the sores. If you do this quickly (it helps to have more than one person - one to catch and hold at water level, the other to swoop in, blot the sore with a kleenex, dot on the neosporin with a Q-tip, then release back into the pond!) it hardly even fazes the fish. You may want to treat for bacteria (AP Ponds) one more time, too.

Finally, put some salt in your water (NOT table salt - nothing with iodine in it!) until the relative salinity is about .3%. You can go higher for salt dips for the fish, which can also be helpful for bacteria but I think might stress them a little bit more than the quick swab with cream. There are all kinds of calculators on-line to help you figure out how many pounds of salt will get you to the .3% based on how many gallons your pond has. Read your medication labels carefully, though - some (the Pro-Form, maybe?) are incompatible with salt so you want to make sure you are all done medicating before you put the salt in!

Also, I would direct you to www.koivet.com. It is by far the best website I have seen on the care of koi and goldfish - especially when it comes to diseases and cures. It is run by a veterinarian, Dr. Erik Johnson, who specializes in koi and goldfish care and has been a lifesaver more than once.

Hope this helps - I know how disheartening it can be when you have massive die-offs. Good luck!

2007-07-25 07:55:51 · answer #1 · answered by Poopy 6 · 0 0

This really sounds more like a bacteria infection than a parasite. I would in this case actually suggest you take one of the fish to a vet or have a pond care expert / vet come to you. Ponds care very expensive to treat for bacteria problems and you wouldn't want to waste a treatment based on incomplete information. Also, it could be almost impossible to give enough informaiton through this means to properly diagnos the fish and get a proper treatment in place.

MM

2007-07-24 09:03:23 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2 0

When was the last time you cleaned your pond and also why do you not have a pond expert come in and take a look Koi are great fish they live way past 50 to 60 years for them to have problems you need to call in someone to look at the problem.

2007-07-24 08:34:44 · answer #3 · answered by aaricka 4 · 0 1

Change the water, and add some salt, not table salt though the aquamarium kind. And buy Melafix is works great.

2007-07-24 10:18:38 · answer #4 · answered by Preb 3 · 0 0

there is a VERY BAD bacterial infection, I can't remember if it's aeromonas or a type of septicemia (sp?) that is a flesh eating bacteria, please don't add any more fish as it is very contagious, contact your local supplier or vet and treat your pond

2007-07-24 20:04:28 · answer #5 · answered by Loollea 6 · 0 0

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