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white cotton wool disease

bboop321
Koi Lover

May 31, 2008, 11:57 PM

Post #1 of 16 (1021 views)
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white cotton wool disease	Can't Post

what is cotton wool disease. will it spread?will it kill? i think i may have one koi that has this. not sure. what to do? betty

needucho
Koi Lover

Jun 2, 2008, 4:27 AM

Post #2 of 16 (1009 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

there are 3 type of white stuff that you see on the fish, 2 of them are fungus, one of them is Flexibaster Columarus bacteria. it not easy to differ them since all seem white. the last one a little different because it look like coton, most of the time after a while, algae will settle in and you see stand of green on white, then that is bacteria Flexibaster. Since it is a bacteria, it stick on fish wound and slowly eat flesh, you can eliminate by iodine, hydrogine peroxide or even a heavy solution of salt.
samantha

(This post was edited by needucho on Jun 2, 2008, 4:30 AM)

needucho
Koi Lover

Jun 3, 2008, 3:07 AM

Post #3 of 16 (989 views)
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Re: [needucho] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think i spell wrong, it should be Flexibacter Columnaris. The other look alike is SAP, sort of water fungus, it is on wound, since it is a fungus, it can be eliminate by Malachite green or .6% salt (some people get result from salt, some people don't).alachite green is the sure thing.
samantha

bboop321
Koi Lover

Jun 3, 2008, 10:14 AM

Post #4 of 16 (972 views)
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Re: [needucho] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks for the reply. just one fish has this, i think a bird got him and he got loose but was injured and the white stuff camr after that. can you tell me if it will spread to the other fish? he seems fine as if nothing is wrong. should i take him out of pond and treat him. my pond has salt, natural artesian well. will he get worse if i leave him alone? betty

needucho
Koi Lover

Jun 3, 2008, 10:44 PM

Post #5 of 16 (947 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

if it is a bird injurie, then it must be SAP, clean the wound with Malachite green or anything that contain Malachite green in it, you will see inprovement in 2, 3 days. If you have not replace water for a long time, then this is the time, change 100% water, salt the pond to .3%, clean up the pond real good to prevent ulcer, then it will be fine. SAP exits in all water, new or old, so do not worry about spreading.
samantha

bboop321
Koi Lover

Jun 4, 2008, 10:34 PM

Post #6 of 16 (906 views)
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Re: [needucho] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

thank you so much, i have some meds for ike that has malacite green in it, maybe that will do. i just hate to stress my fish by taking him out. how long should i leave him out i will be putting him in a plastic container with bubbler. betty

needucho
Koi Lover

Jun 4, 2008, 10:42 PM

Post #7 of 16 (904 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

you can deep him in a small container with malachite green or even .6% salt in 1 hour, will see it all break out.
samantha

bboop321
Koi Lover

Jun 23, 2008, 11:22 PM

Post #8 of 16 (778 views)
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Re: [needucho] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi samatha, i was going to take your advice and put my fish in the malacite,but could not catch him.have deep pond. he is no worse,but is still white. i am wondering if he could just be changing color, he is orange with some black spots, the white is not on the black spots and it seems to me it would be if it were a fungus like sap. my water is naturaly salty from the well,and maintains a high ph and akalinity. i really am at a loss as what to do. none of the other fish have this, my water has a constant flow in and out of the pond. what do you think? betty

needucho
Koi Lover

Jun 24, 2008, 10:31 AM

Post #9 of 16 (768 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

i understand how hard it is to catch a fish in a big pond. drainning the water a little will help to catch him. when you do catch him, he may have ulcer on it. scratch the white cotton out by a soft object, or just by your finger nail, treat ulcer first then do the SAP latter.
samantha

(This post was edited by needucho on Jun 24, 2008, 10:37 AM)

zoul
Member

Jun 27, 2008, 8:26 PM

Post #10 of 16 (741 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear bboop321

Fugal infection are secondary infection to a wound or some physical injury where that injury came from is anyones guess.

But whatever it is bacterial or fungal you can bet it's in the water reproducing you might as well dose the whole pond with a anti bacterial/antifungal treatment, and reduce feeding. As any uneaten food will soon be covered in the stuff also. if you know how much water you have treat accordingly catching a fish will add stress to all the fish and chasing them around with a net might well course one or more to also get a physical injury where you will need to treat again. so treat in situ.

keep on top of the water peramitors checking ammonia nitrites and nitrates.

bboop321
Koi Lover

Jun 30, 2008, 3:36 AM

Post #11 of 16 (719 views)
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Re: [zoul] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

i have another fish that is begining to turn white, right on top just like the first one. i have about 5000 gals. i am going to drain it down to 2400 and put some meds called melefix and pimafix in the water. what do you think ? it will be 8 oz. for the melefix and 16 oz for the pimafix. betty

needucho
Koi Lover

Jul 1, 2008, 10:03 PM

Post #12 of 16 (662 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

melafix is a medecin to eliminate aeromonas bacteria (main protozoan of ulcer) . not fungus. SAP is fungus. To know Melafix work or not check out a independent research about Melafix at pondoc.com on medication section. You will see it not really effective as it said. I do not know about pimafix. check the label first before you use.
samantha

zoul
Member

Jul 2, 2008, 6:55 PM

Post #13 of 16 (631 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear bboop321

I would tend to stick with Malchite Green or metholine blue, Pimafix if it's cheaper is ok and i would proberly use it first and see how bad the underlining wound is before melafix.

I would also check water quality ammonia nitrites and nitrates. If you have plants and rocks in your pond remove them as they are ideal places for anarobic bacteria and fungus to bread.

An acumilation of waiste in the bottom of the pond is also a breading ground for such nasties so if you don't have bottom drains then a pond vac might be needed.

(This post was edited by zoul on Jul 2, 2008, 7:43 PM)

bboop321
Koi Lover

Jul 3, 2008, 10:36 AM

Post #14 of 16 (622 views)
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Re: [zoul] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks i am still waiting for meds to come. the one fish is completely white from mouth to tail fin but i do not see any ulcers/ the black spots on the fish are not affected. is this not strange that the black spots are still black while the white covers the whole back except the black spots? i am going to take out 1/2 of the water and then treat, i have about 5000 gal. dont have bottom drain. only one plant and no gravel. bottom may need cleaning, i know i have too many fish in the pond, but dont know what to do about that. i am feeding them less now. fresh water flows in and out all the time,but not a lot, just a small stream. i have had koi for over 6 years and have not had anything like this before, only 2 fish are turning white, but i am thinking more will. i thank you all for any advice you can give. betty

zoul
Member

Aug 2, 2008, 3:09 AM

Post #15 of 16 (364 views)
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Re: [bboop321] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear bboop321

Having a small stream flowing into and out of your pond sticks a whole new level on the problem.

The question being where dose the water come from ? is it run off from farms ? or mountains ? or even near by rivers? thing is the only water you can even slightley rely on is the water out of your tap and that needs treating.

Water chemistry is quite a detailed subject but many things are water soluable and it can all be very complex. Natural streams and water ways have plenty of organic material in them and a hoast of things that live off them, not many of them are cute and fluffy most are dangerous to fish not just koi.

bboop321
Koi Lover

Aug 4, 2008, 2:34 AM

Post #16 of 16 (322 views)
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Re: [zoul] white cotton wool disease [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi. my water is from a well that is about 400 feet plus down, it is artesian,and salty. i have had smaller pond that i use this water in and never had any problems for about 6 or7 years, this new pond is much bigger. i know i have too many fish in it ,have been trying to give them away, it is 5000 gal and i have about 75 fish, most of them are small. i have barrel filter with brushes first and lava rock second. im thinking maybe i dont have enough filter, my water stays brown looking all the time, even when i change it. i just recently covered the barrels tighter so nothing could get in them, hoping this helps as a lot of bug were getting in the filter. since my last post i have 2 more fish that have some signs of white showing up on them. my big daddy has a place on his lip, just a little white spot. all the fish show no signs of being sick. they swim and eat well. but are not getting any better even after treating them with the meds. the white is still there. any thoughts???

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