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10777 Lakewood Drive
Mineral Bluff Georgia 30559
(706) 374 3037

KoiCrisis - Fish in Trouble? Step by Step Evaluation of Your Case

Site Links

Symptoms Finder
You'll get a picture of the fish, you click on the fish where it's sick, or choose from several other behavioral options.
Sample Submission
Some quicker tests run at KoiLab for free, some samples move to UGA for testing at basic cost price. Diagnosis and consultation included.
What KoiCrisis Is For

OutBound Links

KoiVet.com
Probably the first and largest all-Koi health site on the web. Searchable, with chat and message board areas. Content by a veterinarian for fish and author, Dr. Erik Johnson.
KoiLab.com
If you're curious about the latest in Koi health, Koi Lab is where it's being learned. There are no "committees" and no "motions" to determine if we should learn something. Just clinical experience. It's a koi hospital.
KoiNews.com
As soon as we hear it, we post it. Verified Koi information centralized to one place. Got news? Fax it!
KoiTheatre.com
Not drama, not even dramatic. A conference center in North Georgia where seminars of all kinds are given. Seminar schedule, posted at this site.

Additional Resources

KoiClassifieds.com
Post an ad. Sell that old pump or filter, or anything else. No listing fees, for the forseeable future.
KoiFiltration.com
Non retail: All filtration, all the time. Site was designed for someone who wanted a balanced overview with illustrations and pictures. All types of filtration considered including Nexus, Vortex, bead, sponge, canister, etc.
KoiNutrition.com
Non retail: Just feeding, feed, and food. It's not a retail web site, it's all about different foods, feeding and nutrition.

Pondrx.com
Professional resource for valuable remedies that actually work, and have been tested. Medicine usage guides written by Dr. Erik Johnson. Service is second to none!
Pondrx.com
Relevance: A+

Aquadynamite.com
Use the pager number to get immediate help with your filtration decision. Aquadyne is the Rolls Royce of bead filters. For people who want to buy right, and buy ONCE!
Aquadynamite.com
Relevance: A

PondStuff.com
Imagine being able to go to ONE place to get everything you need to start, build and maintain a pond or water garden with fish. No "pressure" sales, real people, tested products, and not some 'fly by night' organization in a garage.
Pondstuff.com
Relevance: A+

Diseases or Disorders of the Belly Area

There are three distinct defects which you may see in the belly area of the fish.

Belly is swollen or bulging on one side
Belly is swollen all over and no scales seem to be raised.
Belly is swollen all over and 100% of the scales are raised.

Belly is swollen or bulging on one side
When you see this presentation, sometimes it is normal, and sometimes it is not. If the fish is a goldfish, and it's a male, you may notice that the body is SLIGHTLY peanut shaped, with a bulge on the right and a convex surface on the left. It's VERY subtle. If the assymmetry is noticeable to all, then it is NOT normal. If there is a bulge on one side of the fish, an ULTRASOUND should be done by a veterinarian trained in fish medicine to determine the content of the bulge, and then to determine if the bulge is a feasible surgical target. What if the services of a veterinarian are not available? The fish which is affected by a bulge on one side, can sometimes be diagnosed by anesthetizing it in Oil of Cloves. A small knick incision can be made over the bulge, and the content of the bulge can then be observed directly. If pus is recovered, the bulge is probably caused by an abscess. A professional can open this lesion more and debride it. Closure of either the small diagnostic knick incision or the major open debridement is made via the modified figure-8 pattern

Belly is swollen all over and no scales seem to be raised.
Again, When you see this presentation, sometimes it is normal, and sometimes it is not. If the fish is a goldfish, and it's a male, you may notice that the body is SLIGHTLY peanut shaped, with a bulge on the right and a convex surface on the left. It's VERY subtle. If the assymmetry is noticeable to all, then it is NOT normal. If there is a bulge on one side of the fish, an ULTRASOUND should be done by a veterinarian trained in fish medicine to determine the content of the bulge, and then to determine if the bulge is a feasible surgical target.

Belly is swollen all over and 100% of the scales are raised.
This presentation is Dropsy. Dropsy, also known as Bloater or Pinecone disease, is usually caused by bacterial invasion of the fishes' kidney.
There IS a sporozooan parasite that can damage the Kidney this way, called Mitraspora cyprini, but I have yet to see this on a necropsy.
Dropsy is, for all intents and purposes, untreatable, based on 7 years experience, using the following drugs: Azactam, Baytril, Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, and Amikacin. I have tried a Sulfa drug, brand name Albon, and that did not resolve the problem either.
Bacterial dropsy is usually caused by Aeromonas or Pseudomonas bacteria. By the time the fish "blows up" and the scales protrude form the body, the damage to the kidney is so profound that recovery is impossible. If you must try to save the fish, Isolate the specimen, elevate temps while elevating oxygenation, and begin injecting antibiotics intraperitoneally. You could also feed the antibiotics in a medicated feed, see additional data, here.

Action Items
+ Considering that any process which predisposes a single fish to bacterial infection ALSO predisposes its mates to the same fate, ALL fish should be treated to impeccable water quality, minimal crowding, excellent feeding practices, and then whatever antimicrobial you choose to use for the infection.	+ To learn more about surgeries in Koi and Goldfish, please key word search "surgery" at: http://www.koivet.com and note the link to Flipover surgery at http://www.koivet.org
+ Obtain medicated food here.	+ Scalpel blades are usually available from your veterinary surgeon or perhaps a blade could be obtained from a hobby shop. Suture material is available here.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Dear Aquadynamite.com,
"...The filter was installed yesterday...after 24 hours, I can SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE POND!!! (and this without the UV filter!) It isn't completely clear but after only seeing to a depth of 2 inches before the installation, I AM THRILLED, ECSTATIC, DELIGHTED AND AMAZED! Turning cartwheels - that is, I would be if I weren't so stiff from all that shoveling."
Rhonda R.

HI PondRx.com,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PROMPT SERVICE I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
SINCERELY,
BERDINE M.

From: ROBY S.
Subject Re: PondRx.com SECURE SHOPPING ORDER - SHIPPING INFO
Thank YOU for your quick service!! My order arrived very prompt. Thank you for your assistance in getting my forgotten NitrAte kit into my prior order.
I'm happy to report zero nitrites and zero nitrAtes...

Dear Aquadynamite.com: "I have been so worried about getting a filter and working so hard to keep my pond clean, struggling to clean and maintain my crappy homemade filters, the pond has lost its pleasure. I work everyday cleaning these nasty foam pads and rocks and stuff I have. Sick of it!

Dear Aquadynamite.com: "After vacuuming out all that wet gravel, disposing of it and then shoveling in the new gravel - all 300# of it! by myself! - I'm not too keen on jumping in there and doing it again so soon!! I am ECSTATIC that I won't be facing that chore again - R Raulston

PondRx.com: "Thanks so much for all your help. I truly appreciate everything that you have done for me and so do my goldfish!
Talk to you soon,
A. H.

Dear KoiVet.com - You were my life line that first year....Bought your book - read it cover to cover, underlining along the way. So grateful for clear information from a person who had a sense of humor and no sacred cows (or would that be sacred koi?) and I still check your website regularly for any new tidbits and always look forward to the newsletters.

Aquadynamite.com
...When I realized I couldn't put off the UV any longer, you were the first (and only) site I went to - and the "experience" section was the first thing I read. No theory or "gosh, I was sure it would work" for this girl...I've been up to my knees in fish poop because of the half-a**ed theory of the guy who installed my filter, etc. so I definitely LOVED the experience part - complete with pictures and the "disposition".

Aquadynamite.com
I am, of course very interested in the password to your "deal" sight and although I will tell everyone of your products, I won't let on about the good deal I got.
David T.

PONDRX.COM: God bless you! I won't even tell my husband! This is very, very helpful. I thank you. "Rocky Road" thanks you! E Martinez

PondRx.com: From: Kim G. "I want to thank you so much for all of your help and information...I will let you know what happens, my fish are stable and the sores appear to be healing."
"PS You have a awesome web site!"

Aquadynamite.com: Ken L. " P.S. Last year I installed the Aquadyne system and am very pleased."

PondRx.com: "I recently placed an order with you and received it in 2 days which I thought was incredible service. I certainly will order from you again.
K. Clark

PondRx.com: "Thank you for your knowledge and care."
Catherine H.

Aquadynamite.com:
PS: The pond is 2,100 gallons...the first backwash was after 6 weeks - giving time to seed the filter. I love not having to clean pads anymore!!!! Great!
Thanks, R Maxwell

"Dear Doctor Johnson,
I'm still new at this, 3 years, but if there is one piece of advice I would give anybody: Buy the book!
Second: Get a good filtration system....
In that order.....
You are a great doctor and a valuable friend to koi and their keepers!
Thank you as always!"
Lea M.

Dear Dr. Erik,
The net & book I ordered arrived a day or 2 ago.... The net is great, just what I needed for my big guys. As for the book, it has to be the BIBLE of koi keeping! WAY more information than I wanted to know! (I mean this in a good way) I feel confident that if there is anything I need to know about koi, it will be in that book! I especially appreciate the honesty & frank quality of the book."

"The Debride was working well. [But] In my original applications of the Debride I totally did NOT think to turn him over to see if he had wounds other than the ones that were clearly visible.... As a consequence, even though I applied the Debride, I was too late...I will order the MediKoi food soon to have on hand in case of other emergencies like this one."
L.M.

"I'm a big fan of KoiZyme, The Scarecrow and my new Salinity meter. My Koi and comets like your new PondRx.com food and they really liked the Honey nut Cheerios earlier on! I tried the grapefruit last year but didn't get any takers."
Thanks-
Marcia L.

PondRx.com: "Thanks so much for your email!! You helped me out quite a bit!!! Take Care!"
Carin

PondRx.com: Thank you Erik I can't tell you how much I appreciate all that you've helped me with. You have been a blessing to me. Take care of yourself, and I will save your address for future use. Thanks again, Sincerely, Karen

PondRx.com - I wrote and talked to you about a problem with one of my Koi. You told me it sounded like flukes, and I treated for flukes and (Jaws) seems like a happy camper now!
Thanks again.
Bill & Kathie T.

PondRx.com - Tod M. - "You have been more than helpfull!"

About Debride: "I used the Debride religiously and my little guy is on the mend!"

Customer Message: "Doc Johnson Kicks ass! ...he didnt even pay me to say that but its true. Very helpful sites!" T. McMilian

PondRx.com Richard B. "Let me say...It's nice to know there's actually someone on the other end who is paying attention, and not merely looking to slap an order into the box without regard to the customer. Thanks - again! I enjoy doing business with you"

Aquadynamite.com: The Aquadyne filter is doing a good job, we do not have to clean filters anymore!!!!!
P&R Maxwell

PondRx.com "Wow! Thank you for answering my question so fast!
Bryan & Dawn C.

About PondRx.com
RECENTLY PLACED AN ORDER AND I RECEIVED IT FASTER THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD THANKS FOR THE QUICK SERVICE. Warren S.

Hi Doc Johnson,
I purchased a couple of items from PondRx.com. I just wanted to let you know that your descriptions on your site are excellent. I am a non-scientific type so it was very helpful to know what I was actually purchasing!!!!!

PondRx.com: M.M. "Order arrived in fine shape."

PondRx.com: "Thank you for the reduced shipping and for all your professional help!"
Sincerely,
Lea M.

PondRx.com: "Many thanks and I certainly appreciate your quick response to this situation. Its great doing business with someone like yourself. My Koi and Goldfish appreciate it also, I'm sure.
Dave

PondRx.com: - "I am glad that you are now offering products on the web that makes setting up a pond much easier."

Thank you for your time and incredible web site, Koivet.com
Deb
Akron, OH

PondRx.com
Dear Dr. Johnson:
To start I would like to thank you for your fast shipping and great service on my last order. I have never had such great service and speed of shipping!
DAN VEASEY

"Dr. Johnson, I want you to know you are a miracle worker. That fish was all but deceased, and you literally resurrected it. The next time I get sick, Iam not going to my M. D. friends, I am calling you."
G Darnell

About the book: "Your instructive writing is simple on its face, very user friendly, and packed with information - much appreciated, thank you.
Andrew B.

PondRx.com
Thanks again for all your help, your site is wonderful and the information is excellent. I love the book you and Mr. Hess co-wrote and find the medical section so helpful for what ails the little fishies.
Sincerely,
Chris J.

DR. JOHNSON-------AGAIN THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INFO YOU HAVE PASSED ON TO ALL US KOI HOBBYISTS, AND I REALLY HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE ALL LIKE YOUR WEB-SITE KOIVET.COM FOR YOU HAVE DONE A OUTSTANDING JOB ON GETTING INFO OUT TO PEOPLE LIKE ME-------THANKS AGAIN.
BEST REGARDS,
JOHN J.