Sick Koi

[Sable]

I have a koi that started out not eating then appeared to be paralyzed except for his side fins. He has been laying on his side at the bottom of the pond for 5 days and is still alive. I have a 2,000 gallon pond with very few fish, since I have a sand filter on it we have never had a nitrate problem because of the backwash. If anyone knows a treatment for this disease please let me know.

[BlueCrystalMan]

I added three Koi to my pond a couple of weeks ago. No tomatoes, please, but I purchased them at WalMart... Two of them played together well... the third one was the lone ranger. Not sure who was avoiding who, but the one wasn't allowed to play any reindeer games. Then, the other two were feasting on their food on the bottom and the third one just kept circling above them slowly. It would occasionally dash to the surface and grab a gulp of air, then release down low. Very odd behavior.

Two days later, he was breathing, but laying on his side as yours is. I put water in a bucket and trucked him back to WalMart, where they said he is sick and dying. They exchanged him for another one and he plays well with the original two. WalMart said he was probably sick to begin with, and flushing him was his only salvation.

I'm not sure your water is diseased, or if the water even caused it. Like I mentioned, two of the originals are still thriving. If he's just laying on his side and not eating, especially after five days, the damage may be already done... Please keep us posted... I know of no cure other than a flush. Sorry.

[Sable]

Thanks for replying, I bought 6 Koi at the same time about 5 or 6 weeks ago and the rest are alive and well. I did the same as you in putting the sick Koi in a big bucket, also treating him with pond salt and Melafix with a airerater with no luck so far, I'm with you, I thing it's too late. I'm just nervous about the rest of them plus the other ones I had already which are farely big. Disease or one time non contagious ilness.

[BlueCrystalMan]

If the others are fine, its probably a one time, non contagious illness. If the others were affected, you would know it. A buddy of mine in South Africa has a shop nearby that specializes in Koi (my buddy does ponds for a living) and when a fish acts like that, he generally takes it in to get looked at. He said it could be sick, but most likely the change in diet has cause some digestive issues. He really had no suggestions as to what to do, though. He is going to check with the shop and get back to me.

It is a very difficult thing to look at... poor fella layin' there. Mine uprighted in the bucket when I got to WalMart, but then he keeled over again. Good luck...

[Sable]

Day 7 and he is still alive on his side at the bottom.

See if you can get him to eat some peas. frozen peas, (thawed of course) and with the skin removed. Natural remedy for goldfish and Koi with digestive issues and/or swim bladder problems. It sounds like it's likely one of those, as he cannot stay upright. If that doesn't work, you may seriously consider putting him down. That fish is suffering and no critter deserves to go slow like that. You've obviously been trying really hard, much to your credit, but sometimes you just need to do whats best for the fish. Best of luck.

[BlueCrystalMan]

A friend was over last night who has had Koi for the last four years. I asked her about your situation and she said her one Koi lays on his side a few times a year, then he is back up and at 'em again. She said she figured he was just lazy.

I agree with corvus... if you can't find a specialist and his pea remedy doesn't work, end the suffering.

[BlueCrystalMan]

Hey Sable... What's the verdict? Is he doing any better?