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Thread: Is this a parasite?
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16-08-2017, 01:36 PM #1
Is this a parasite?
Hi,
First time poster (hope this is in the right section) as I've never seen anything like this before and was hoping for some help, please.
Could this be a parasite?
I found a dead Koi yesterday morning but didn't photograph it then this morning in the same area there was another dead one this time I could clearly see these markings on the side. They are raised like viens.
It's a reasonably sized pond (22,000lts) with plenty of greenery/lillies etc. Well established approx. 13yrs, with Koi of all sizes up to approx 20"
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
2017-08-16 06.42.04.jpg2017-08-16 06.41.57.jpg
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16-08-2017, 02:51 PM #2
Hi the red marks aren't parasites themselves but are scratches from the koi scraping itself & flashing on something sharp in the pond in my opinion (could be wrong) . To view the parasites themselves you would need to take a mucus sample from the fish & check it under a microscope to determine which parasite it is?. It could also be a water quality issue do you have means to check your water parameters?.
PH,KH,GH nitrite, nitrate, ammonia readings need to be monitored. What filtration do you have what is your cleaning regime. How much water do you change each week & how do you top it up & do you dechlorinate the top up water?. Lots of questions I know but it's information that's needed.
Don't go chucking treatments in either until you have discovered the cause. You could do more harm than good.
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Ian Cleminshaw Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-08-2017, 03:15 PM #3
Thanks for the prompt reply (much appreciated).
I'm not sure that they're scratches as a scratch wouldn't be able to split into two (ie a fork) whilst the fish is scraping along something.
I don't have any method of testing the water, are there any specific kits as I've just looked online and loads to choose from.
TBH I'm not anywhere near as regimental about my Koi pond as I maybe should be but everything ticks along nicely and I can see to over 5 feet deep under the lillies. I know that does not necessarily mean 'clean/healthy' water but never had an isuue such as this before.
I normally clean the main pickup filter every couple of days and the settling tank every couple of weeks. It's a homebrew system I made about 12yrs ago.
But admittedly I haven't been able to do this as often due to work commitments & holidays.
I'd best get a test kit asap.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-08-2017, 03:57 PM #4
Hi Ian try the NT labs or API liquid test kits. The dip strip ones aren't as accurate. I take it your filter is pump fed not gravity fed ie:submerged pump in the pond?.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-08-2017, 04:17 PM #5
Thanks for the info, I've bought the NT test kits
Yes I have a pump in a wear area that takes the surface water and then one at the bottom to remove larger particles.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-08-2017, 12:52 AM #6
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Have you put any new fish in your pond recently?
Do you know the origin of any new fish? What about the existing fish?
Don't be overly alarmed as i am far, FAR from an expert. I have never seen these marks before but they have been described to me by the friend of someone whose pond had a KHV outbreak.
Now then, have you got any more photos of the kois mouth area? One of the identifiers of KHV is a sunken area above the mouth. Just like yours appears to have in one of the photos. In the other image it looks more like a lump than a sunk. So again, don't panic.
Screenshot_2017-08-17-00-40-04.jpg
I hope i am wrong and i probably am but i'm just mentioning it. If you haven't added any new fish then this it is much less likely to be KHV. So don't panic.
I'm going to email your photos to somebody who is an expert. Hopefully they will call me a plonker for suggesting KHV
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Ian Cleminshaw, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-08-2017, 06:40 AM #7
imo those marks aren't scratches, the marks or lines on both sides are quite similar, which wouldn't be the case with random scratches, 1 scratch each side follows the lateral line perfectly from head to tail, and they all join each side at the tail end.
Look more like raised veins to me.
David
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17-08-2017, 07:37 AM #8
Thanks for all the advice Andre,
No new fish or plants have been introduced into the pond. Also I've not witnessed any ducks etc either.
Rest of fish seem ok too.
Agreed Familyman, as scratches can't split and rejoing either.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-08-2017, 09:33 AM #9
I have two doitsu koi withe very similar marks, both of which follow the lateral line with other random marks nearby. I only noticed these on Tuesday but they look very similar to the marks in the photos. Both koi very healthy. Agree they are not scratches. I do not know what they are but the link to lateral line on my fish is very clear.
ian
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-08-2017, 10:21 PM #10
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I emailed the images to a koi expert but they wouldn't speculate without properly examining the koi. Which is fair enough.
Did you have any more images of the mouth area? There appears to be some trauma around the mouth itself.
Did your test kit arrive yet?
To confirm....2 fish lost in a few days. Similar markings? All the others appear healthy? No flicking? Flashing? Lunking? Jumping? Sitting on the bottom?
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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18-08-2017, 10:05 AM #11
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
The Daily pond temp thread
Pond still covered, currently 11.6C Been really mild this year as far as pond temps go. ...