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Top Poster: markf1fan (3,500)
Hi,
I'm new here and need some help..My koi has been flashing and jumping and I am enclosing a picture of what my koi skin looks like..I have been using metafix and its not helping....can someone shed light on what is happening and what I need to do....my parameters of my pond are good....
thanks
Flicking and flashing generally indicates parasites, its difficult to see anything with the photos , what i would do is to take scrapes from at least 3 koi then look at the scrapes under a microscope , treat accordingly to whatever is found on the scrape. If you have never scraped before or dont have a microscope it may be worthwhile to join a local koi club where somebody from the club could come round and do a scrape for you. you say parameters are all ok, has there been any fluctuations in temperature? have any new fish been introduced to pond recently? also things like the heavy rain we have had of late can affect the parameters and change the chemistry of the water.
having had another look at the photos i noticed there is gravel on the base of the pond, i may be wrong but i think things like gravel stones etc can harbour all sorts of nasties and if the koi are flashing the last thing you want is for them to damage themselves on the gravel when they flash. also is the dorsal fin that colour normally or is that what we were sposed to be looking at? if it is not the colour/pigment of the koi i would say just from looking at that photo that it looks like a bacterial infection perhaps somebody with more koi health knowledge than myself could give further advice
having had another look at the photos i noticed there is gravel on the base of the pond, i may be wrong but i think things like gravel stones etc can harbour all sorts of nasties and if the koi are flashing the last thing you want is for them to damage themselves on the gravel when they flash. also is the dorsal fin that colour normally or is that what we were sposed to be looking at? if it is not the colour/pigment of the koi i would say just from looking at that photo that it looks like a bacterial infection perhaps somebody with more koi health knowledge than myself could give further advice
Thank you....Most of my Koi are 8-9 and 10 yrs old..Should I continue with the medafix you think? I've never had this problem before....
Firstly you need to test the water, what are the Ammonia, Nitrite and pH levels?
Have you added any new fish in the last 3 months?
If the water tests are OK then you need to get a skin scrape done on 3 or 4 fish, this involves taking a sample of mucus from the fish and examining it under a microscope. Unusual behaviour such as you describe is often caused by parasites that are litterally feeding on the fish in the same way as fleas or ticks will cause a dog to scratch. Its a lot easier than it sounds!
Your local koi dealer may be able to help, or your local club, or alternatively the BKKS have Health Liasion Officers that may be able to provide the help you need in getting a scrape done.
Whereabouts are you?
Melafix will make the pond smell nice but will not really help you.
Firstly you need to test the water, what are the Ammonia, Nitrite and pH levels?
Have you added any new fish in the last 3 months?
If the water tests are OK then you need to get a skin scrape done on 3 or 4 fish, this involves taking a sample of mucus from the fish and examining it under a microscope. Unusual behaviour such as you describe is often caused by parasites that are litterally feeding on the fish in the same way as fleas or ticks will cause a dog to scratch. Its a lot easier than it sounds!
Your local koi dealer may be able to help, or your local club, or alternatively the BKKS have Health Liasion Officers that may be able to provide the help you need in getting a scrape done.
Whereabouts are you?
Melafix will make the pond smell nice but will not really help you.
Hope this helps
Dave
thank you for your quick response....problem is, there are no koi fish clubs in our area..I live in Prattville, Alabama...would you recommend at this time, to just do a water change and stop the Metafix? It isn't helping anyway.....
YES, I DID add three new 3 month old Koi fish to my pond about three wks ago..first time I've added for years and years..............................Meant to add that I will get the parameters and will post..
The thing is that if the water parameters are Ok then there is a fair chance the cause of the problems will probably be parasites and without a scrape you dont know what you need to treat for - and unless they are treated then the problem will probably just get worse.
The real solution is if there is no one locally that can help you then take matters into your own hands and get hold of a microscope and take a scrape yourself.
My Koi need help please! 
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