Missing fish - please help!

tnttucker · 18-08-2009, 09:13 PM

Hi

We recently moved and our new home came with a lovely pond and last month we purchased two new koi to go with the 20 ish goldfish and koi already in the pond.

All the fish are fine but last week one of the new koi (a 10 inch gold with black tiger like stripes (sorry not sure of the correct name)) stopped eating and just started sitting at the top of the pond by the lilies. Then for the last four days I have not seen him at all, the rest are feeding and look fine but this one has disappeared. I have a large reed plant that all they all like to hide under and I was hoping he was hiding under there but it has been a few days now since I have seen him.

I have a net over the pond so I sure a predator has not taken him. It has been quite warm and the local fish shop said that might be the problem but I'm getting more worried as each day passes.

Is it normal for a fish to spend this long 'undercover' or is it likely to be dead and if so should it float to the surface?

Sorry for the long post but I'm new to fish keeping so I'm not sure what information is relevant.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

koimaster · 18-08-2009, 11:48 PM

sorry to be to the point but if you cant se your fish thats a bad sign to start with. if you fish was sick and has got sicker yes it might well have died.

some more info on the pond gallonage etc and readings might help 20 goldfish and the koi sounds to me like over stocking

bcfc · 19-08-2009, 08:09 AM

hi,have u got air pump running? have u tested ur water? wot test kit u useing?

tnttucker · 20-08-2009, 09:41 AM

Thank-you for your replies.

The pond volume is around 1000 gallons and I have an Oase Filtoclear 1500 that runs down a waterfall feature.

I have also have a fountain but I do not use this much - would keeping this on during the day help to aerate the pond on should the waterfall be sufficient?

I will need to but a water test kit but what should I be testing for ph, nitrogen or ammonia & nitrates?

Due to the sunny weather I'm losing around 1 inch of water a week and refilling this with tap water - would this be causing a problem?

Still no sign of the koi - if he were dead should he float to the top?

bcfc · 20-08-2009, 12:27 PM

hi,first thing put ur fountaian back on.if u dont wont that on get a air pump.second,do a water change,and put some dechlorinater in.next,get a test kit off ebay,api are the best,£20 test and post ur results.