Lost 39 Veil Tailed Comets
Barry Backer
Diagnosed by local aquatist as fungus. I treated the pond (4000 gals.)
with a fungus treatment. (Yellow Powder/$69.00 worth) Fungus disappeared
on affected fish after 8 or so days. The next day, I noticed a Comet
dead in the pond. The day after, two more. I went running to the local
pond place and he advised a follow up fungus treatment. I thought he was
wrong because the dead fish showed no symptoms as had the infected fish
but I treated with the same treatment. The next morning, another 4 or so
dead comets. I also have 7 large koi (16-22 inches) . They showed no
sign of distress. The pond place suggested treating with Formalin. Said
that it was a parasitic gill infection and to look for red lesions or
streaks on the deceased fish. By now another 5 had succumbed to the
illness, but no koi, only comets. I felt ill. I treated with the
formalin and the next day I 'had 12 dead comets to add to the total. I
wa freaking out. He told me that if the infection was deeply rooted, the
treatment would not cure but prevent the spread of the infection. The
next day, 15 more comets were dead. I only have 4 or 5 small comets and
the koi left alive. He suggests a second treatment of formalin. I am
afraid that a second treatment will harm the remaining comets and,
heaven forbid, my large koi. I also have three 4-5 inch koi that a
friend gave me in the midst of this problem. They seem to be doing fine.
I live in New Jersey. The pond is 6 years old and I never had a single
problem with fish or water before the last heat spell, although I don't
think the heat was part of the problem. The koi now refuse food,
subsisting on the algae on the pond walls and rooting as normal around
the pond plants. When they see me, they hide as if they associate me
with the grim reaper. The koi haven't eaten fish food since the first
comet died. The food was a new japanese brand with no color enhancer and
the comets, as usual were the first to feed. Could this be "bad food"? I
am at a total loss. Any suggestions. Does anyone know of a "real" fish
pathologist in New Jersey? I kept one Comet refrigerated.
Karen Mullen
skiwit...@webtv.net (Barry Backer) writes:
>Does anyone know of a "real" fish
>pathologist in New Jersey? I kept one Comet refrigerated.
I am so sorry to hear about the fish deaths. If I were you, I would do some
massive water changes and stop all meds until you know WHAT you need to treat
for. Have you tried the zoo's aquarium people? Or a university that has a
pathology lab? I recently had a problem with a fish that's mouth was stuck
open and not knowing why or what to do, out of deparation, I called the zoo and
asked to the aquarium people. The man I got was most helpful as there is no
one around here that deals with fish "pets" and I don't really think the LFS
knows anymore than I do. Sorry for your losses and hope you find an answer.
Karen
Houston, TX Zone 9a
Member Internet Pond Society - IPS
Visit My Pond at http://members.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html
My Art Studio at
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Bonnie Espenshade
aquarium in NYC. They are both going to have knowledgeable fish people.
--
Bonnie
NJ
http://www.users.fast.net/~maebe/index.htm
jan jordan
Backer) wrote:
>Three weeks ago, I found one comet with black patches on his body.
>Diagnosed by local aquatist as fungus. I treated the pond (4000 gals.)
>with a fungus treatment. (Yellow Powder/$69.00 worth) Fungus disappeared
>sign of distress. The pond place suggested treating with Formalin. Said
Did you do some water changes in between these treatments?
>the koi left alive. He suggests a second treatment of formalin. I am
>I live in New Jersey. The pond is 6 years old and I never had a single
>problem with fish or water before the last heat spell,
If your water temperature was above 75F you should not have been using
Formalin at all. It works best when the water is 65-75F.
You must remember too that when you use meds. many times they kill off your
good bacteria. So you should be checking you water for spikes in nitrites &
ammonia. Additional aeration is also called for when medicating, though I
don't think you lacked for O2 since your bigger fish aren't dying.
>with the grim reaper. The koi haven't eaten fish food since the first
>comet died. The food was a new japanese brand with no color enhancer and
>the comets, as usual were the first to feed. Could this be "bad food"? I
>am at a total loss. Any suggestions. Does anyone know of a "real" fish
>pathologist in New Jersey? I kept one Comet refrigerated.
Where did you purchase the food? Does it have an expiration date on it? How
have you kept it stored and for how long? ~ jan
Other info we could use:
SICK FISH FORM:
Please describe your problem, including fish characteristics, like;
whirling, flashing, gasping at surface, wounds, etc.:
Pond Size in Gallons? (litres*.26=US Gallons):
Water Source (Well, Irrigation, City?)
If City how is water treated?: =
Time in Operation?
(How old is the pond/water?):
Liner type? (EPDM,PVC,RUBBER,Cement/Concrete etc):
Fish Population?
Type? Size? QTY, Time in Pond:
Food? Type and Frequency of feedings.:
Pump Type, IN/OUT of pond, GPH etc
(Describe your filtration system as well as possible):
Prefilter media type? Last cleaned?:
Filter is BIO or Mechanical? Last cleaned? How?:
Carbon added? How much? When last changed?:
Aeration? Waterfalls? Bubblers?
Venturies?:
Water Temp?
PH?:
Ammonia (ppm or mg/l):
Nitrite (ppm or mg/l):
Nitrate (ppm or mg/l):
Water Color, cloudiness, odor?:
Water changes? (% of pond volume and how often):
Additives used (water conditioners etc):
Tests done by self or another?:
Weather (what's it been like lately?):
Medications used?:
What Zone or Country of residence?:
jan
~Keep 'em Wet~
See my ponds thru the seasons:
http://home.earthlink.net/~alanjordan1/jjspond/index.html
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