KoiCrisis.com

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 Gill
  • The outer rim or edge of the gill seem to be pale, frayed or white.
If you look at the gills and they are nice and steak red but the outer "crescent moon" edge of the gill is pale or white, then something has "burned" the gills. Lots of retailers perform potassium dips on the fish before shipping. Formalin dips, a crashed pH, Ammonia burns and nitrite accumulations and more can cause caustic burns to the gill. A white edge to the gills is NOT a diagnosis of bacterial gill disease. Usually these fish DON'T need medications inasmuch as they need water testing, cool clear water, and time to heal from the burn.
  • Usually no fish die unless in the first three days past the initial caustic trauma.

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  • There are scalloped 'blow outs'' in the gill arches.
When you lift the gill cover and there are actual holes in the gill tissue, you have classic bacterial gill disease. I ALWAYS start these cases with a microscopic biopsy to rule out parasites, and then inject all fish with medications. If this is not feasible, feeding MediKoi can be helpful and effective in the fish that will still eat. Treating the water in a holding tank with Acriflavine can be very helpful as this medicine is safe and powerfully antibacterial. Never use Acriflavine in the main tank.
  • Fish dying off rapidly.

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  • There are strands of white amongst the normal gill filaments.
This is a fairly treatable, but insidious (wide spread throughout the pond) form of bacterial gill disease, and is usually associated with parasitism. Almost every time I have seen THIS form of bacterial gill disease, it's been caused by Flukes or some other gill parasite. If the fish are not dying off rapidly, you can forget about Costia for the time being and use a combination of Salt and SupaVerm for good results if you can't do a scope biopsy.
  • Fish dying in dribbles and drabs.

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  • The entire gill is pale, hamburgerlike and greenish.
When you see gills like this, the important thing is to examine the gills of any other fish in the tank which is important. The reason is that this is the worst presentation of bacterial gill disease. Like most forms of gill disease, it is highly morbid (widespread in the pond) and many normal-acting fish will have gill lesions. To put the reigns on this one, you need injections for all valuable fish, or perhaps Acriflavine dips and medicated food.
  • Usually Springtime, usually warmer water. Lots of fish dying.

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  • Gills are just pale.
Just-pale gills are essentially normal insofar as they aren't missing chunks of tissue as above. The edge of the gill is usually homogenous with the rest of the gill, but the whole gill is simply pale. This is ALMOST ALWAYS the way gills look when there is poor water quality with concurrent gill infestation with parasites. I rarely see pale gills without a solid, dense population of gill flukes. The reason the gills are pale is because the gills are bleeding through thousands of tiny microvascular lesions created by the parasites. For this, expect to lose more fish, but bring it under control with SupaVerm, Salt and Medicated food. The real "edge" goes to those who can kick off the whole regimen with an injection of antibiotics for the affected fish.

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Gill covers (opercula) are swollen, almost open
When you see a fish with swollen gill covers, you can almost assume that Flukes are chronically present in the case. Examine the gills and see what they look like. Compare the condition of the gills to the cases above. If they gills are crimson and healthy, then it would be an odd case. A microscope biopsy would also shed light on the case. If you discover that Flukes are the actual trouble, consider their clearance using either Fluke Tabs or SupaVerm.

Hole in the gill cover
It would be unlikely that this would be anything other than tuberculosis. The prognosis is not very good. Injections and impeccable water quality would be recommended. The fish can live with a hole in it's gill cover if you can save it from the infection.

Action Items
1st Make sure your water tests for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are good. Don't settle for "normal" but get numbers. Keep records. 4th Clean the pond and filter. For all forms of gill disease, the pond needs to be fabulously clean. Flow rates and filtration should be optimized. Make sure you take the PondRx PondWise test.
2nd Make sure your pH is above seven. Again, "normal" is not a bona fide pH level. 5th Inject all fish with Baytril or Azactam. Instructions should be provided with these medications from the provider, or they can be found in the book.
3rd Change 75% of the pond water without causing more than a 15 degree drop in temperature. You should be aware that in cooler water, fish will respire more easily. 6th All fish with bacterial gill disease should be treated to medicated food. Even if they were injected, this is a good idea to perhaps avoid the necessity to overhandle for more injections.
7th If parasites have not been ruled out, concurrent treatment with SALT and SUPAVERM is recommended. This is a dynamite, safe combination which only overlooks Costia.
Needed or Recommended Items
+ Water in the low seventies improves oxygen transfer. + Water test kits are necessary.
+ Antibiotics, either by injection or milled into the food are the mainstay of treatment. + Will need dechlorinator in most instances for major water changes.
+ Do not go crazy with waterborne remedies and additives. Almost all of these are irritating to the already-damaged gill tissue and decrease oxygen transfer. Low level salting, a mere one pound per hundred gallons is a good idea. + Most gill disease outbreaks resolve after the continued loss of more fish. A certain percentage are "just too far gone." Bacterial Gill Disease is a difficult disease to quickly bring under control. People underestimate the importance of cool clean water in it's treatment.
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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.

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