Gills Worms

January 31, 2010

Gills Worms

Unlike many other fish, the koi's immune system is very vulnerable due to selective breeding process which has suffered through the centuries. Breeders were more concerned with improving its aesthetic attributes (such as colors and patterns) instead of strengthening their capacity to combat disease.

The number one of the causative agent of disease most of the koi fish is stress. Stress causes the immune system of koi is vulnerable to infections as their ability to produce antibodies is compromised during these periods tightened.

His priority, therefore, is to control or eliminate stress in your koi. Note that extreme changes in their environment and the existence of stressors will hurt your fish. The following are common stressors koi:

1. High levels of ammonia in your pond water. Check the integrity of their systems of biological and mechanical filtration, and the clarity and cleanliness of your pond. The ammonia causes tissue damage and slows their growth.

2. Poor water quality. Buy a test kit and check for pH, KH, GH, nitrites, ammonia, and salinity levels in water from his pond.

3. Low dissolved oxygen level. Have you installed aerators to oxygenate the water? The water should be vigorously movement / flow of oxygen so will be distributed evenly across the pond.

4. Handling and / or fish in movement. The layer of mucus that covers the entire body of your koi should be handled with wet hands, for example. It is the first line of defense against fish-borne water irritants, parasites, fungi, bacterial and viral infections. Fish handling it incorrectly can damage the protective coating, which contains antibodies and lyzosome, an enzyme that destroys the cell walls of certain bacteria.

5. Overcrowding. Take care that the population density in the pond is proportional its capacity. Koi too many and there will be greater competition for food, space and oxygen, among others.

6. Parasites, such as flukes, Costi, chilodinella, Trichodina, and the "ich". The koi usually acquire their parasites from other fish, often when a new fish is introduced into the pond without undergoing to quarantine.

7. The sharp edges in or around the pool can erode the skin of fish, eventually exposed to both parasites and infections. In particular, with spawning tank, make sure the edges are rounded, like the man can cause bruises and wounds of the female during mating season.

8. Inadequate or improper food. Although koi love worms, reports that do not feed the larvae that feed on rotting flesh and thus are potential carriers of disease.

Detecting stress. But how do you know if your Koi are stressed?

Always observe your koi for any physical or behavioral change. Be alert to apathy, lethargy, poor appetite, and loneliness. If these behaviors persist for several days and a number of koi, should be concerned.

Examine the fish for any bruises, abrasions, lesions and sores that are or have been there for days or weeks. Do your inspection at lunchtime, when they reach the surface. Exploration of the gills, fins and skin, where most of the parasites and infections arise initially. If you suspect a more serious illness, scratch the surface of a sample and send it to laboratories.

Jonathon Matthews is a koi expert. For detailed information on identifying and curing koi disease visit http://www.koicaringsecrets.com