sick koi

[vidaliaman]

i live in michigan, we have had a mild winter, however my koi and goldfish have been hanging around my pond heater, one koi that i just pulled out today looks sick, it's almost like it has blisters from maybe hanging around the heater too close, i have brought him in but i don't believe he will make it, its fins are also freyed, any ideas what it could be? could it be something else? pond has stayed at 45 degrees

dave
gowen mi

 

[sissy]

have you tested your water ,oops welcome

 

[taherrmann4]

If your pond isn't frozen over I would turn off the heater, you don't need it unless your pond is really shallow and would freeze solid. I only use a bubbler and have a deicer for when it looks like it is going to be a sustained cold snap. Can you post pics of your sick fish?

 

[vidaliaman]

i have not, where would i get a testing kit and what would i look for, i have about 10 koi/goldfish in there now and are doing well

thanks for the response
dave
gowen mi

 

[vidaliaman]

it has been so mild this year it only froze over in the beginning before i put in the 750 watt deicer, my pond is only about 2 feet deep and would freeze solid during a long cold snap, i will try to get a picture, the pond stays at 45 degrees, maybe too warm, i don't know

thanks dave

 

[taherrmann4]

Here is the test kit that I have and several others on here do as well. The last time I checked my pond temp it was about 40, I am sure it has gone up since then b/c it has been in the 50's for the last several days..... If it looks like the fish may have bumped into the heating coil I might just turn it off for a while and if it looks like you are going to get cold where the pond might freeze then you can turn it back on.

http://www.amazon.com/API-FRESHWATE...5NCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328207004&sr=8-1

 

[HARO]

Dave; Google "Koi Pox" or "Carp Pox" and see if it looks like the 'blisters' on your fish. John

 

[Koised]

John is right on track with the blisters actually being carp pox. This wheather is the kind of condition it usually shows up during. Normally it will disapear when the water warms up for summer. With some fish it may return next year when it gets cold again. Only the most severe cases are lethal. Trying to remove the pox while they are this cold is dangerous for them because they do not have much of an imune response at low temps. One of the problems common with raising koi here in Michigan.

 

[vidaliaman]

that is it!!! this was a severe case, the blister on the dorsel area was an inch long starting from behind the eyes, also had 2 small blisters on it's lips and it's fins were frayed, i brought it inside to warm up but it died, this is good to know, thanks for all the advice

dave
gowen mi