koi healthcare ADVICE
There are many websites and blogs about how to diagnose and treat ill koi fish in your outdoor pond. However, it is always best to have us come out and take a look at the fish itself/themsleves because we are trained to diagnose and treat fish illness and disease. Please feel free to call us if you think you have a sick koi fish.
Koi are sensitive to chemicals in their food. The color of your Koi will change depending on the food chemicals present. If you want your Koi to become red or pink in color, you can fed it with food containing carotene. If you wish your Koi to maintain a multi-colored body, you can use an algae called spirulina. This feed will bring out the red patches of your Koi but will not disturb its other colorations.
KOI NUTRITION
It is sufficient to feed Koi commercially available Koi food. These have been tested and made with the right proportions of nourishment for the Koi. You can get advice from your breeder or pet shop on the type of snacks or goodies to give your Koi. The usual supplementary foods are small prawns and worms. These are usually given as treats to your Koi to encourage it to feed from your hand. This trains the fish to swim to you as it may expect such treats from your hand.
Another surprising fact about the Koi is that it eats tiny pieces of fresh lettuce. You may be tempted to overfeed your Koi as it lovingly "pecks" at your hand. Be forewarned that the more your Koi eats, the more it excretes. The waste is mainly comprised of ammonia, which pollutes the water. This is unhealthy for your Koi. You then may have to do a great deal of work in maintaining the water clarity. A fat Koi does not look beautiful. It will move sluggishly as its body is heavy. When the fish lacks exercise, it will get sick. Visit our Hikari and Sho Koi Food page.
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS or ILLNESS
Polluted water does not have enough oxygen for your Koi to breathe. Dirty water also supports bacteria and other disease causing organisms. Common illnesses in Koi include white spot disease, Dropsy disease, Anchor worms, fish lice and ulcers. We, at The Pond Shack, can diagnose the illness and prescribe treatment. Generally, the symptoms of sick fish include lethargy, loss of appetite, rubbing its body against other objects in the tank, jumping behavior or redness on its body. Don't feel discouraged with a sick Koi. With timely proper treatment, it/they will recover nicely! For more information about Koi health and medication, click here.