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Thu, Feb 18, 10 at 5:54
| One by one koi are dying this winter. A have a small pump to keep the water from freezing. The largest fish was 14 inches long, and I noticed reddish-brown colored scales on it. After that, another fish died, that one had slime on the body.Two more died today, about 9 inches long. A have had the pond for 13 years but never lost fish in the winter.I tested the water for nitrate and it is ok. PH is 8. Is there anything I can do to keep the other fish alive? The pond is about 6000 liters, the deepest area is about 3 feet. Please someone help. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by sleeplessinftwayne z4-5 IND (My Page) on Thu, Feb 18, 10 at 14:48
| My guess is there are either parasites or some other irritant in the water. While most parasites are not active in cold water they could be very active if there is debris like dead leaves or mulm on the bottom. Fish often settle there because it is warmer so they are resting exactly where the parasites are. First get rid of the leaves and other debris then as soon as the water warms up to where the meds will work you can begin treating the water for parasites. Sadly you may lose more fish before all this is over. Did you check for ammonia? A test for nitrates is not a test for ammonia. It sounds like you have a lot of fish. Is the pond overstocked? Can you check for oxygen? Since it appears the larger fish are being affected first, it could be that they are not getting enough oxygen. How is the "small pump" set up? Does it splash so that more oxygen is mixed into the water? A bubbler such as the ones used for aquariums is an inexpensive way to increase oxygen and reduce toxic gases that form even without an ice cover to the pond.. I hope you find the solution soon. It is a terrible thing to lose your fish and not be able to help them. |
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| T hank you for your advice. You might be right about too many fish, I cannot count them but there must have been about 30, as well as some 12 subunkins. So far nine koi died, all over 12 inches long. Two had eggs. I cannot see any smaller fish, but there is still ice over most of the surface. I am letting water in, hoping to save any fish that might be still alive. There must be a lot of dead leaves at the bottom, I planned to clean them up this spring. I do'nt know how to test for oxygen. I have to get an ammonia test kit.13 years ago I bought 6 koi, all the rest were their offspring. I gave away many fish that were born here, keeping only the nicest ones. It will be difficult to replace them in Hungary. |
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