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Thread: "BigBoiKoi" not too well.
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01-06-2023, 03:47 PM #1
"BigBoiKoi" not too well.
Hello
With temperatures rising, most of my Koi are feeding steadily (although not eagerly).
"BigBoi" is large (relative to the other fish), he is about 30" long and got big by being a greedy fish - he is not an old fish. This year he is off his food and is not too active. He's not short of air - I have a moving bed filter and separate diffuser in the pond both bringing air into the water.
Principal water parameters are OK. and there is no obvious parasite visible by eye (I don't think I could net him easily and I'm not confident about identifying any parasite with a microscope).He has flashed a couple of times but not frequently. My wife thinks he looks a bit swollen, but I'm not sure - also I can't see any raised scales. He's been like this all spring and I was hoping that a return to higher temperatures would have improved his appetite.
Someone has suggested that the problem might be due to a low level bacterial infection, are there any recommended test kits to see if there is any unwanted bacterial infection in the pond?.
I am finding it impossible to find any koi health consultant to do a pondside visit - can anyone recommend someone?. I'm near Hatfield in Herts. I have18 fish (most about 20") in a pond of 6,000 gal which has been established for about 25 years.
Many thanks for any advice
Rob
Last edited by RobG; 01-06-2023 at 03:48 PM. Reason: Typo
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01-06-2023, 04:49 PM #2
Hi/Have you got any clear photos?
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01-06-2023, 05:05 PM #3
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01-06-2023, 05:16 PM #4
Have you checked your filters for any muck buildup?
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02-06-2023, 10:01 AM #5
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02-06-2023, 03:01 PM #6
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02-06-2023, 03:09 PM #7
Thank you for your message. No build up in filters. System is gravity fed. I have a drum filter that leads to a large fluidised/moving bed with K! and returns to pond via 2 55W UVs. I regularly pull the drains, most of the muck is extracted by the drum filter. I did turn off the moving bed for a while to see if there was any settlement of waste, when I drained off some water from the bottom of the filter it ran clear.
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02-06-2023, 03:24 PM #8
Many thanks for your message. Readings fairly steady over past month. I have been slowly building up water return rate over the past several weeks with increase in post-winter feeding. Main parameter steady over past 8 weeks as follows:
Nitrite about 0.01mg/l, Nitrate about 10mg/l, Ammonia is zero. I have replaced some of the plants in my floating island so it will take some time to balance with some nitrates leaching from aquatic compost Will also take some time for filter to continue to mature after winte. I have some live bacteria to boost filter but am waiting for improvement in fih before doing that.
thanks for your help
Rob
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02-06-2023, 05:25 PM #9
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02-06-2023, 05:35 PM #10
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02-06-2023, 06:19 PM #11
Hello, Panic over .. (well subsided anyway)
A koi care professional had a look over the fish this afternoon and reassured me that there is no cause for alarm.
He said that whilst some days are warm now, the water temperature is still overall coldish because of low nightime temperatures, as Maddog1 was probably leading to.
( Re question of K1 clumping - I think it's unlikely as the moving bed filter I made has air bubblers above and below a mesh that sepatates the K1 from a space that I intended to form a sump that any heavy muck or accretion could settle into. The water from the sump runs clean but I'm taking Maddog1's warning very much to heart - Ill give the K1 a stir tomorrow and have a look to see if the water from the sump stays clear.
It was also pointed out that "BigBoi" is actually "BigGal" and the bloated appearnce is due to eggs!.
So panic over for now. I would very much like to thank the members of the forum for so quickly getting involved, especially Maddog1 and Scamp. Thankfully my problem was not a rapidly developing one, but I have heard of situation that can rapidly get critical and it's good to know that members of this forum are so ready to get involved.
Many thanks
RobLast edited by RobG; 02-06-2023 at 06:22 PM.
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Maddog1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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02-06-2023, 07:18 PM #12
Great News Rob, Were always here for one another.
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02-06-2023, 09:54 PM #13
The BigGal (doitsu karashigoi?) is certainly beautiful with a wonderful body conformation!! The amazing fact is she keeps eating but grows longer/thicker as opposed having a hanging belly like some greedy fish do.
I can just make from the first and second pics that her pec and fail fins look a tad pink - assume you weren’t trying to net/stress her - this COULD be early signs of bacteria infection. Better safe than sorry. If you have some Virkon or Chloramine T - it won’t be a bad idea to put in a single dose and repeat after 3-5 days. You have a big pond and water will take longer to warm up. Do you know water temp? Mine is 18D at warmest time of day but I have a smaller pond
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02-06-2023, 09:54 PM #14
Pec and tail fins
The Daily pond temp thread
Pond still covered, currently 11.6C Been really mild this year as far as pond temps go. ...