Inherited Pond Help

[rcosta]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I am attempting to help my mom with some pond issues. My dad passed away suddenly in the fall. The fish made it through the winter, but since he took care of the pond, we both are unsure about some things.

If this helps, there are two ponds. There is a large waterfall that circulates the water and the refills the back pond. The water continues down into a second pond that is slightly lower than the first. The two ponds are seperated by a small openninig for the water to rush through, which I think oxenigates the lower pond.

I have 3 questions/concerns that may or may not be related.

1. Both ponds always had fish in them but every winter, the maintence company put them in the lower pond. This spring, they were all left in the lower pond. There are about 1 dz. koi, each about 9" to 12' long. The is roughly 8' by 10'. Not sure of the depth. Should the fish be separeted?

2. Some of the fish have what look like sores on them. It started with one and has spread. Any ideas?

3. There is a white foam only in the pond with the fish. I read on the sticky on this forum it might be spawing and is harmless. Is it ok to leave.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice or direction you might be able to share.

Rich

 

[Nova]

Welcome to the forum and my condolences for your dad.

The ponds sound great and you said maintenance company, did your dad have someone maintain the pond for him?

Is it possible for you to take pictures of the fish and ponds? If you could catch one or two of the fish and take pictures of the sores would be helpful. You may also check around locally for a store that sells koi and pond equipment they may will to look at the fish.

As you found out the foam can come from spawning. Some may suggest a draining some water and adding fresh water to the ponds.

How big is the upper pond?

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the group!

Like nova says, pictures are the best help. Everybody here will do there best to help you.

 

[vertigo72]

Pictures would be a great help indeed. Those sores, if they look like this:

Then they are ulcers. usually a sign that something else is wrong, like water parameters. If you dont have one, go out and buy a test kit and check your pond water for ammonia, nitrites and PH at the very least.

Another possibility/wild guess is anchor worm; if you see something sticking out like this;

Whatever it is, it probably requires swift action especially if its spreading. Test the water and make pictures, if in doubt, catch a fish and bring it to a specialist for diagnosis.

 

[DrDave]

Sorry for your loss. This is the right time of the year for a spawn. Foam is a byproduct of excess protiens. It may have nothing to do with your problem.
I always remove an injured or sick fish and begin with a salt treatment. Depending on the illness or injury, I follow with antibiotics.

 

[j.w]

rcosta

 

[rcosta]

Thanks for all the help so far. I am attaching 3 pictures. I think I was able to catch a picture of a fish with some sores.

I also found some testing kits so I will list those results.

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrates 0 ppm

KH - it took 14 drops to turn the test water orangy-yellow. I can't tell if that is correct or not.

Does anything of this give anyone an idea of what is going on.

There are not stores in the area that can help although I will also call the maint. service. Just thought it would help if I could tell them what might be wrong.

Thanks so much.

Rich

 

[DrDave]

We are still waiting for pictures...

 

[rcosta]

Strange but right above your message are the 3 pictures I posted. I can see them. Still no good on your end?

 

[DrDave]

Pictures of the pond are like taking pictures to your doctor of your house to diagnose a problem with you.

 

[rcosta]

Ok. I was trying to give a sense of the setup as that might be indicative of what the problem may be. To use your analogy, the environment a person lives in can contribute to their illness. I also thought the picture of the fish with the sore may be helpful. I guess not. I will just call the company that has worked on the pond.

 

[DrDave]

Without pictures of the fish, they won't be able to help you either.

 

[vertigo72]

The pictures are coming through fine here, though they are a bit small. They look like ulcers to me, and pretty bad ones too. Ulcers can be caused by parasites or bad water parameters, but what you post seems okay. (KH of 14 is definitely possible, its quite high, but thats more a good thing than bad), though I would have liked to have seen PH and nitrites too (not to be confused with nitrates).

You are going to need help with this. Your fish will need to be scraped and the scrape looked at under a microscope to find out what, if any, parasite is causing this, and the fish may need to be caught and treated individually.

Is that maintenance company specialized in koi, or is it like a company that does the garden too? If the latter, find a koi doctor/dealer, if the former, have them come over asap.

Here is a link with some background info:
http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/ulcers.htm

Meanwhile, is anyone taking care of the filter, like flushing the bottom drain? If you decide to clean them, make sure you do not rinse them with tapwater; use pond water only.

 

[Nova]

It's a nice set up you have. That one pic of the fish does look like ulcers. Does anyone know if there is way rcosta could start treating the water as a general treatment to help prevent anything else starting?

 

[vertigo72]

adding salt (0.3%) is generally a good stop gap measure, helps against certain parasites and against nitrite spikes, but of course you'd need to know how much salt is already in there.

Other than that, aerating the pond, ensuring the filter are maintained, and possibly a partial water change, but then he does need to use dechlor if he is using tap water.

But none of that is the real solution, its more like a bandaid. He needs to get his fish, and possibly water tested.