My Fish are Dying!

I have (had) 4 Koi fish that I have raised from just a couple inches to now nearly 10 inches over the last 1 1/2 years. The seem to be eating normally and have energy, but when I went to feed them this morning one was dead.

I checked him over and there are no external signs of problems, even the gills looked healthy. Now I have a second one who is not acting as he should, the other two seem OK.

I am doing a water exchange today and adding sea salt,(I had it tested this morning just in case, everything normal) but I think that this is a bit strange.

We've had a couple windy stormy nights lately, wonder if something blew into the water that they ate????


Karp are usually very hardy fish, any one else experienced "sudden dead fish syndrome?"

Actually, I HAVE experienced that. The final outcome was that a neighbor's son dumped a bottle of insecticide into the pond.
Children are so cute, aren't they?

quote:

Originally posted by desertdog

I have (had) 4 Koi fish that I have raised from just a couple inches to now nearly 10 inches over the last 1 1/2 years. The seem to be eating normally and have energy, but when I went to feed them this morning one was dead.

I checked him over and there are no external signs of problems, even the gills looked healthy. Now I have a second one who is not acting as he should, the other two seem OK.

I am doing a water exchange today and adding sea salt,(I had it tested this morning just in case, everything normal) but I think that this is a bit strange.

We've had a couple windy stormy nights lately, wonder if something blew into the water that they ate????


Karp are usually very hardy fish, any one else experienced "sudden dead fish syndrome?"

With what you have said so far; it perhaps sounds like a bacterial infection in the water, dude. Outside ponds should have a fairly normal Ph level, also. Agricultural ammonia used in your area?
Let me know. --JDK--

quote:

Originally posted by Adjudicator

quote:

Originally posted by desertdog

I have (had) 4 Koi fish that I have raised from just a couple inches to now nearly 10 inches over the last 1 1/2 years. The seem to be eating normally and have energy, but when I went to feed them this morning one was dead.

I checked him over and there are no external signs of problems, even the gills looked healthy. Now I have a second one who is not acting as he should, the other two seem OK.

I am doing a water exchange today and adding sea salt,(I had it tested this morning just in case, everything normal) but I think that this is a bit strange.

We've had a couple windy stormy nights lately, wonder if something blew into the water that they ate????


Karp are usually very hardy fish, any one else experienced "sudden dead fish syndrome?"

With what you have said so far; it perhaps sounds like a bacterial infection in the water, dude. Outside ponds should have a fairly normal Ph level, also. Agricultural ammonia used in your area?
Let me know. --JDK--

I had the water checked this morning, the PH was a little over 8. I am in an "urban" area so the ag concern doesn't seem the answer. We had a lot of blowing dust due to the monsoon the last 3-4 days, don't know how that affects fish, but they have been through it before with no problems.

DD

Have you got an activated charcoal filter?
This last dust storm might have blown some bad stuff in this time.
I seen footage on the news...WOW! Incredible!

DD Try giving them a shot of Saki each day?? I hear tell them Koi fish love their booze. I once knew a Japanese sailor that drank Saki like a fish so maybe............. it'll work in reverse
If that doesn't work then perhaps you ought to be thinking sushi

Mamaw Smith and I both have koi ponds and we both have lost fish. A couple of times it was due to our lawn guy spreading fertilizer and his overspray ended up in the ponds. We notifed our lawn service and they refused to pay. We took the fish to University of Tennessee's vet school and had an autopsy and they labeled the deaths due to fertilizer. Lawn company paid for autopsy and the fish. It may not sound like much both those fish cost a bunch of money.

In addition I have lost some due to great blue heron's and raccoons. I netted my pond and the raccoons ripped it off.

They are very pretty fish.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul, what does your travel schedule look like? I'm getting ready to head over in your direction soon.

Pete, If you go...be sure to look at the Catfish he serves before they are skinned! Miracle-Grow doesn't go well with Tartar Sauce !

Do check the Ph and Alkaid levels of your pond. Almost sounds like a lack of oxygen, be organic or mechanical means.

Edit: Half asleep here... Forgot some important questions.. Is your pond looking murky, green or clear?
Also, when you swap out the water, only do 50% of the volume as not to disturb the eco-system in there too much... It's been 10 years since I've worked with backyard ponds, so give me a bit to find my notes...

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

Do check the Ph and Alkaid levels of your pond. Almost sounds like a lack of oxygen, be organic or mechanical means.

Edit: Half asleep here... Forgot some important questions.. Is your pond looking murky, green or clear?
Also, when you swap out the water, only do 50% of the volume as not to disturb the eco-system in there too much... It's been 10 years since I've worked with backyard ponds, so give me a bit to find my notes...

I did have the water checked as soon as I found the dead fish. Everything was OK. I did do a water swap at 50%, even though my water is crystal clear.

I added stress coat during the swap and actually, the one fish that was looking a bit iffy the other day has come back around. This morning he had lots of energy and is eating again.

I can only assume that something blew into the water during the storm and the fish ate it. We do have oleanders in the vicinity, I know they are poisonous to pets, maybe to fish too?

Did you feed them anything from the Waffle House??

Good deal DD... And ya, them waffle house leftovers will do a number on the pond...

Water change is good! Koi like an alkaline PH. Make suure it is. decaying matter causes the water to become more acid.
Joe

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I'm very sorry to hear about your Koi. They are a joy to watch.
Perhaps it was the oleander. It was something foreign to the water, I'm sure. I'm glad they look like they are coming around. If more look like they are dying, cally your local vet. I'm not kidding. They know it all, not just dogs and cats.
Just for your info, the most humane way to put the dying fish to sleep is to put them in a bucket, in the freezer. They die peacefully. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

quote:

Originally posted by fabulousoyster

I'm very sorry to hear about your Koi. They are a joy to watch.
Perhaps it was the oleander. It was something foreign to the water, I'm sure. I'm glad they look like they are coming around. If more look like they are dying, cally your local vet. I'm not kidding. They know it all, not just dogs and cats.
Just for your info, the most humane way to put the dying fish to sleep is to put them in a bucket, in the freezer. They die peacefully. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

Thanks so much for your concern and advice. I am happy to report that all is well in Koi land again!

The loss of one was unfortunate, but the other three look great and show no signs of any of the illnesses that can afflict these beautiful fish. Just glad they are all coming along swimmingly!

quote:

Originally posted by fabulousoyster

I'm very sorry to hear about your Koi. They are a joy to watch.
Perhaps it was the oleander. It was something foreign to the water, I'm sure. I'm glad they look like they are coming around. If more look like they are dying, cally your local vet. I'm not kidding. They know it all, not just dogs and cats.
Just for your info, the most humane way to put the dying fish to sleep is to put them in a bucket, in the freezer. They die peacefully. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

And then in a few months, thaw them out for a fabulous meal.

Saps, pet fish would be discarded after freezing.
My input on this forum is done.

Great news Dog! I would still advise geting a PH test kit to help keep them feelin good in the fiture. Double check me but as my memory serves from my pet shop days they like things on the alkaline side. I do know that the water will turn acidic over time due to decaying matter.

Fab, please don't leave us! Your input is always good.
Joe

DD: Has this issue been resloved? Yet???

quote:

Originally posted by Adjudicator

DD: Has this issue been resloved? Yet???

Scroll up to my last post.


(although the mystery has not been solved...)

quote:

Originally posted by desertdog

quote:

Originally posted by Adjudicator

DD: Has this issue been resloved? Yet???

Scroll up to my last post.


(although the mystery has not been solved...)

What? ME read an entire thread?