I was reading through this topic :-
https://www.gardenpondforum.com/topic/10067-symptoms-big-koi/#entry159416
It became obvious that what was needed here was a scrape of the koi to identify the parasite.
I dont know the outcome but if people would buy a microscope they could save themselves a lot of heatache.
We have a Bresser Biolux NG 40x-1024x with occular its a simple bit of kit to use.
Microscpes are relitively cheap nowadays, ours cost £30 from a Cancer Research charity shop (a Lucky Find)....
But you can buy them for around £50 brand new "sorry dont know the exchange rate".$ US - £UK or $Can - £ UK etc
To do a scrape is very easy, all you do starting behind the gills is to gently scrape a credit card along the fishes flank trowards the tail, then transfer the mucus built up on the edge of the card to a microscope sliden staining if the slide if you need too.
Then focus in on the slide to see what you have....
This way you can tell instantly what you are up against and treat your fish as required.
Download photos or videos of the parasites so you have a somparrison.
We all used microscopes in school so we already know how to use them.
Otherwise if you wish to ask the dealership to come and do the slide for you.
It's coming up to spring when our fish are at their weakest, as such this is when you can get a serious Parasite infection that has the power to kill your fish.
We ourselves will be doing our checks shortly as we do every spring it gives you a head start over the parasires nipping them in the bud
It makes great sense.....
rgrds
Dave
Hope these are of help............
https://www.gardenpondforum.com/topic/10067-symptoms-big-koi/#entry159416
It became obvious that what was needed here was a scrape of the koi to identify the parasite.
I dont know the outcome but if people would buy a microscope they could save themselves a lot of heatache.
We have a Bresser Biolux NG 40x-1024x with occular its a simple bit of kit to use.
Microscpes are relitively cheap nowadays, ours cost £30 from a Cancer Research charity shop (a Lucky Find)....
But you can buy them for around £50 brand new "sorry dont know the exchange rate".$ US - £UK or $Can - £ UK etc
To do a scrape is very easy, all you do starting behind the gills is to gently scrape a credit card along the fishes flank trowards the tail, then transfer the mucus built up on the edge of the card to a microscope sliden staining if the slide if you need too.
Then focus in on the slide to see what you have....
This way you can tell instantly what you are up against and treat your fish as required.
Download photos or videos of the parasites so you have a somparrison.
We all used microscopes in school so we already know how to use them.
Otherwise if you wish to ask the dealership to come and do the slide for you.
It's coming up to spring when our fish are at their weakest, as such this is when you can get a serious Parasite infection that has the power to kill your fish.
We ourselves will be doing our checks shortly as we do every spring it gives you a head start over the parasires nipping them in the bud
It makes great sense.....
rgrds
Dave
Hope these are of help............