Loading ...
Backyard ...
Other
7
0
Try Now
Log In
Pricing
<p>26 Sarasota/Manatee Pet By Lisa Burns Backyard Getaway Y Lisa and David Burns, owners of Backyard Getaway in Myakka City our Koi are acting funny; they seem to be scratching themselves on the pond bottom, and they are gasping at the surface. Could it be parasites, a bacterial infec- tion or fungus? You have been careful not to overfeed, you perform routine maintenance on your pond and you add dechlorinator when adding tap water. You even have added beneficial bacteria. You tested the water quality, and it is fine; there is no sign of ammonia or nitrites, and the pH level is right were it should be. Still, your fish are flashing. The truth is, every pond has some form of parasite or bacteria. Even a healthy pond is susceptible to these annoying little bugs. They are brought in on plants that you have found in the wild or on new fish, which is why it is so im- portant to quarantine new fish before adding them to your pond. As Seasons Change In autumn, it is common to see changes in your pond’s water quality. Leaves from nearby trees are falling in the pond. The accumulated decaying plant life mixes with fish waste on the bottom of the pond and becomes the perfect breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria and parasites. Anaerobic bacteria will cause foul odors or yellow or foamy water. Ammonia or nitrites also may be detected. There are many treatments on the mar- ket today to help cure most parasites and bacterial and fungal infections, but before you can treat your fish, you need to identify what is causing the problem. Of course, good water quality always helps to prevent most problems. Parasitic Infections External parasites are the most common problem and require a host, like your Koi, to survive. Identifying external parasites is easier than identifying internal parasites, because you can see a visible change in your fish. Some, however, are not visible, and a skin scraping of the Koi is needed to view them. Parasites that are visible to the eye in- clude: Ich, which are tiny raised white dots • on the fish Argulus, or fish lice, which cause • round brown spots on the fish Anchor Worm, which looks like a small • worm under the scale. Skin Flukes is another common parasite that can affect Koi, but, unlike the others, this parasite cannot be seen by the naked eye. Symptoms of different parasites are generally the same and include flashing or scraping on the pond bottom, gasping at the surface and/or jumping out of the water. Again, it is important to rule out changes in pH, chlorine poisoning or not enough dissolved oxygen before diagnos- ing your Koi with parasites. Treatments for parasites vary and, in some cases, a simple salt bath will kill the parasite. Bacteria in Your Pond It may surprise you to know that not all bacteria are bad. Beneficial bacteria in your bio filter helps to keep your pond in balance. Bacteria are microscopic in size and, in most cases, live in the pond without caus- Common Koi Conditions If your fish is lying on its side until you disturb him, and then he swims a bit but • goes back to lying over, or if he stays at the bottom of the pond and is acting lethargic, these are signs of stress. It could be parasites but, most likely, it is poor water quality. When Koi are hanging or gasping at the surface, this is another sign of stress, as • with a pH level that is too low or not enough dissolved oxygen in the water. If fish are hanging at the surface and/or they have a milky film on them, perform a major water change immediately, because the pH is too low. The water change should bring the pH level to normal, but you may need to add a stabilizer. Gasping at the surface usually means there is not enough dissolved oxygen in the water. Poor water quality will also affect oxygen levels. Once again, a water change and salting would be in order. If your fish begin flashing, jumping and scratching and normally do not display • this kind of behavior, then you can assume there is a parasite issue. Perform a water change and contact your local Koi professional to learn about salt treatment and an over-the-counter parasite treatment. Swimming by itself, swimming head down or pop-eyed, bloated fish are all signs of • a bacterial infection. If you see a fish swimming alone, not eating or swimming with its head down, these are early warnings of an infection. Treat the water with an anti- bacterial medication and get antibiotic food to the fish. If you notice the eyes bulging or the entire body becomes bloated and the scales seem to be sticking straight out, then it is most likely too late for this fish. Signs of a Parasite Problem or Water Quality Issue Sarasota/Manatee Pet 27 Backyard Getaway is a family owned and operated pond service and retail pond and water garden supply business offering professional and personal- ized water garden & pond design, installation & pond maintenance services. Open by appointment only, Backyard Getaway is located at 2807 S. Duette Road in Myakka City. For more information or an appointment, call 941- 752-POND (7663), or visit www.backyardgetaway.net. • Pet Sitting • Overnight Stays • Dog Walking • Pet Taxi • Mobile Grooming • Administer Medications & Injections • Gift Certificates Available More Than Just Pet Sitting… Licensed • Bonded • Insured Veterinarian Recommended A Great Service for Pet Owners Common Koi Conditions ing a problem for your Koi. They attack the Koi usually when the condition of the pond changes enough to stress the Koi or enter the Koi through a cut or scrape or after a parasite infection. With a bacterial infection, it may be too late before you notice a problem. A bacterial ulcer will seem to appear overnight. Treat- ment will depend on the severity of the infection. Some cases may require a topical treatment or medicated bath, while others may need antibiotics. Dropsy and Pop Eye are symptoms of an internal bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics added either in the food or through injection along with your pond treatment. In most cases, if a Koi develops dropsy, it is already too late to save it. Facts About Fungus Fungus can live on decomposing matter or on live fish. Just like parasites, some fungi are only visible through a microscope, while others can be detected by the naked eye once they have reached an advanced stage. Like bacteria, not all fungi are bad and some will help break down decomposing matter. Fungus infection on a Koi will appear as a fluffy white tuft similar to a cotton ball, usually on an existing damaged area of the fish. It is best to treat the underlying problem before treating the fungus, otherwise you will be wasting your time. When in doubt, always consult a Koi professional. </p>
