Koi has tail growth need help!!

[Profcob]

Hey guys,

I currently live in Mexico and have a Koi with a growth on his tail fin. I'm not at all sure what it is or how best to deal with it and help here is very minimal. Attached are a few pics. Thanks in advance for your time.

AndyView attachment 107579 View attachment 107579 View attachment 107580

 

[Angel]

not sure what you are trying to point out. perhaps a circle on the spot?

I am not an expert but i do not see anything "wrong"

 

[Profcob]

Thanks for the fast reply! Please see attached additional pics with area circled. Thanks again.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Most likely Carp Pox

 

[Profcob]

Most likely Carp Pox

Thanks for the feedback!

I read the article you linked and it states that there is not much that can be done. Any thoughts?

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Yep, unfortunately not much can be done for the fish that has it, but to safeguard the other fish in the pond you should get rid of the fish have it. As the article says it is not necessarily fatal, but it can become very large and unsightly and will generally spread to the other fish. Butterfly koi seem to be more susceptible and are more likely to be carriers.

 

[Tula]

Yep, unfortunately not much can be done for the fish that has it, but to safeguard the other fish in the pond you should get rid of the fish have it. As the article says it is not necessarily fatal, but it can become very large and unsightly and will generally spread to the other fish. Butterfly koi seem to be more susceptible and are more likely to be carriers.[/QUOTE

Wouldn't the other fish already have been exposed to the virus?

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Yes, but partial exposure is better than constant exposure. If the water is warm and the fishes immunity is high then they have a better chance of fighting off the virus and not become infected especially if you remove the threat. Leave the infected fish in there, especially through the winter and spring when the other fish's immunity generally becomes weaker, and they will have a higher probability of becoming infected.
Also, if you read in that article, cutting or scraping the pox growths is a no no because ..... "Carp pox is an aesthetic disfigurement rather than a life threatening condition except in the most extreme cases and no attempt should be made to remove or burst the lesions. Any open carp pox lesion will shed the virus into the pond and, as with all viruses, it’s contagious."
So, there are things you can do to prevent the spread to other fish (like removing the infected fish), and there are things you can do to make it worse (like leaving the infected fish in the pond and/or scraping the pox lesion).