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  1. #1

    Puzzled by baby koi death

    I am new to koi keeping and wonder if I can get some insight. I bought 10 koi fry about 5 to 6 cm long 6 weeks ago After week 2 1 died with no warning seemed fine the day before. I examined the body and there was no visible injuries or damage. No sign of fungus I could see. Since then I have lost another 4 of them an average of 1 a week. Same thing I just find them floating with no signs of disease or damage. The water test shows good quality with ph about 7.2 no ammonia or nitrates. All my other fish are fine. My 3 gold fish are also in perfect health. Is this just a thing that happens with small koi or is there something I’m overlooking?



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Simon Fish's Avatar
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    How are they behaving?

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Simon Fish View Post
    How are they behaving?
    I have not had koi for long but they seem to behave ok they are still new to the pond so are still skittish when I approach but when I sit for awhile the swim around fine on the odd occasion the biggest one about 15cm has done a jump almost as if he is taking a look at me. There swimming seems normal although I am not an authority on koi but they seem active

  4. #4
    Hi Steve, what set up have you got? It maybe parasites? If I loose a fish I scrape it to see why I’ve lost it. Microscopes are the only way to find out what’s going on. Where about do you live
    ?

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  6. #5
    have you checked for chlorine? If not then it's worth checking.
    What is water temp and is it stable?

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  8. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Steve5 View Post
    I have not had koi for long but they seem to behave ok they are still new to the pond so are still skittish when I approach but when I sit for awhile the swim around fine on the odd occasion the biggest one about 15cm has done a jump almost as if he is taking a look at me. There swimming seems normal although I am not an authority on koi but they seem active
    It may be parasites. If I lose a koi I scrape it & the microscope is the only way to find out why it’s died. If it’s flukes or other parasites like Trichodina, Costia or white spot etc you can treat quickly to save the rest. Where about do you live ?

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  10. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Shell View Post
    It may be parasites. If I lose a koi I scrape it & the microscope is the only way to find out why it’s died. If it’s flukes or other parasites like Trichodina, Costia or white spot etc you can treat quickly to save the rest. Where about do you live ?
    I Didnt think of that unfortunately I live in South Africa.

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  12. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by deejaysmi View Post
    have you checked for chlorine? If not then it's worth checking.
    What is water temp and is it stable?
    Yeah I did water tests the ph is good no nitrates or chlorine. The other fish seem fine even the fish that died were fine the previous day

  13. #9
    I’m Not sure what treatments you have in South Africa but with one of your koi jumping it may be parasites. FMG is really good for killing most parasites . It would be good if you can confirm what’s caused the koi to die 1st.

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  15. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Shell View Post
    I’m Not sure what treatments you have in South Africa but with one of your koi jumping it may be parasites. FMG is really good for killing most parasites . It would be good if you can confirm what’s caused the koi to die 1st.
    FMG thanks I will look it up

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  17. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Shell View Post
    I’m Not sure what treatments you have in South Africa but with one of your koi jumping it may be parasites. FMG is really good for killing most parasites . It would be good if you can confirm what’s caused the koi to die 1st.
    It seems that FMG is available in South Africa and now that I think of it my fish do flash periodically during the day time which may indicate parasites. How do you use FMG? Can it be harmful if overdosed?

  18. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    i would buy a microscope mate. you need one then use youtube to learn how to scrape and scope. you should nt be treating blind. if you decide on treating with fmg you need to know the volume of water. exact amount
    and follow instructions on the bottle . it will knock your bio filters. so be aware of that.
    fred

  19. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by freddyboy View Post
    i would buy a microscope mate. you need one then use youtube to learn how to scrape and scope. you should nt be treating blind. if you decide on treating with fmg you need to know the volume of water. exact amount
    and follow instructions on the bottle . it will knock your bio filters. so be aware of that.
    fred
    Thanks I agree luckily I went to a dealer and asked him about it he said he can check on his microscope but he said based on what I have told him he is sure it’s fluke and gave me a medication called fluke away it’s their own brand. He also gave me filtration advice and a filter additive. I have started the first treatment and the fish seem to have stopped flashing as much I have to do the final treatment tomorrow after a 20 percent water change.

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  21. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve5 View Post
    Thanks I agree luckily I went to a dealer and asked him about it he said he can check on his microscope but he said based on what I have told him he is sure it’s fluke and gave me a medication called fluke away it’s their own brand. He also gave me filtration advice and a filter additive. I have started the first treatment and the fish seem to have stopped flashing as much I have to do the final treatment tomorrow after a 20 percent water change.
    In the uk. The last few years with flukes.
    A lot of us have had a follow up parasite after treating for flukes. Last year I had follow up of white spot. This year following flukes costia. So keep an eye on them.
    For a week or two after you have treat for flukes lol. Reason immune system is down and stress.
    Where in south Africa do you live.
    Been to Cape town a few times. And Durban. Loved it.
    Fred

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  23. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by freddyboy View Post
    In the uk. The last few years with flukes.
    A lot of us have had a follow up parasite after treating for flukes. Last year I had follow up of white spot. This year following flukes costia. So keep an eye on them.
    For a week or two after you have treat for flukes lol. Reason immune system is down and stress.
    Where in south Africa do you live.
    Been to Cape town a few times. And Durban. Loved it.
    Fred

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    Yeah I have decided that if any of the show signs of anything I’m giving them a 5 minute salt bath. I bought 3 koi today and to be safe I gave them a short salt bath before introducing them to the pond. I live in Johannesburg but have been to both Durban and the Cape. If you enjoy hiking and good scenery look up Clarens in South Africa some lovely mountain ranges.

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  25. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve5 View Post
    Yeah I have decided that if any of the show signs of anything I’m giving them a 5 minute salt bath. I bought 3 koi today and to be safe I gave them a short salt bath before introducing them to the pond. I live in Johannesburg but have been to both Durban and the Cape. If you enjoy hiking and good scenery look up Clarens in South Africa some lovely mountain ranges.
    i went up table top mountain. bloody cold up there lol. by cable car . and walked down. loved it. i only ever went to joeberg to change flights.
    fred

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  27. #17
    Hope you get sorted Steve. Thanks for your advise Fred there’s nothing worse than having sick fish!

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  29. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shell View Post
    Hope you get sorted Steve. Thanks for your advise Fred there’s nothing worse than having sick fish!
    Anytime mate. Been a lot of fish losses this year. I lost 2 fish this year. The parasites are getting immune to treatments. Flukes I got rid of quite easy. But the costia was a nightmare. Had to overdose with fmg for that 3 times. And once they had been cleared of costia. 4 or 5 fish where hanging tail up.
    So I decided to start again. Took all the fish out. And nuked the pond with pp.
    Dumped that. And refilled with all new water. That worked. I believe the balance of the pond water had altered. Enzymes and all that. Plus the councils are adding something because of covid 19.
    My kh has always been 13 drops. For 28 years
    It's now 7. Makes you think.
    Glad to help mate if i can.
    Fred

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