[Jim7631]

Thank you for reading. I have a female koi, variety unknown, that is probably 2 years old. As the weather in Virginia began to warm, so did the kois' tank water. The tank is under shelter and enclosed but not heated. This one fish started swimming at the surface seemingly gasping for air but she would also swim to the tank's bottom sometimes looking normal but other times laying on side. The other fish in the tank (rainbow trout and koi) are fine. Her scales haven't pineconed but her fins are shredded. Moreover, she has two brown lines that run from near her upper "lip" to her eyes which appear to be popping. Her flesh looks good, she is not bloated, and I haven't noted any parasites. Anyway, she is now isolated and I'm heating the water to try and activate her appetite. I'm feeding her thawed frozen peas. I also started treating her with Maracyn-Oxy more than a week ago but I didn't start heating her water until two days ago. The pH varies, 6.2/7.2 - Oxygen is 8.0 Mg/L - Temps are now are 16-17 Deg C or the low 60s F. I exchange her water twice a day to keep ammonia down but I also lose the Maracyn-Oxy so I repeat applications.

Sorry for the long post, I'm new to keeping koi. I favor this one fish because I rescued her after she jumped out of transfer tank last year and went unnoticed for several minutes. Our four koi produced three babies last summer but I don't know if they were hers.

Thank you for any insight.

Jim

[Bandit6]

I would strongly suggest you get a scrape done to check for parasites gasping at the surface could be lack of oxygen but could well be a parasite like Costia.

[Jim7631]

Bandit, thank you. A scrape suggests the need for a microscope, is that correct? Also, how do I scrape without injuring the fish?

Jim

[trickydicky]

Originally Posted by Jim7631

Bandit, thank you. A scrape suggests the need for a microscope, is that correct? Also, how do I scrape without injuring the fish?

Jim

Jim
If you havent done a scrape before then dont attempt it , If you have a local Koi society i would contact them as they usually have members with alot of knowledge of doing such a thing.
It isnt difficult to do but if your not confident it could lead to the koi being damaged.
As you have stated your in virginia (US) you will no doubt have access to medications that we here in good old blighty (England) are not allowed to have because it would put us into the future of medicine .

You stated that the koi's fins are shredded and just wondered if this could be finrot?

Keep us updated on how things go and hope to chat soon

Rick

[Bandit6]

have a read of this for taking a scrape Koi Magazine • View topic - Taking a scrape explained

[Jim7631]

Bandit6, Trickydicky,

Again thank you. She's looking a little better - her eyes are not popping as much and she seems better able to control her swimming. Right now I have a air bubbling up from a section of micro-drip tape rolled and weighted by rocks. She seems to prefer putting her "nose" under the roll, perhaps it helps her stay level. The area between her eyes and barbels still shows two dark lines but they're not as red as they were previously. There seems to be hope that she'll recover.

Jim

[trickydicky]

Keep us updated Jim on her progress...fingers crossed for you