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winter koi blues

 





 


LAM
Koi Lover

Dec 21, 2007, 8:55 AM

Post #1 of 5 (729 views)
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winter koi blues Can't Post
Help. I am in Pittsburgh Pa. I have an outdoor pond I had installed. Beautiful with no problems. Except that we had a big dip in temps. I have turned off my water fall to keep from super cooling the pond. Put n bubblers, and a heating stone to make sure there is a hole in ice incase of deep freezing. Now my koi are at the bottom, occasionally swimming, but, on thier sides. I hate it. I was told if I bring them inside, the shock will kill them. The last place i had a koi pond was in Alabama. No hard winters. I hope someone has the knowlege of what I should do. I just love my fish. The pond was installed in memory of my parents because of their demise. Thanks for any help.
Lola


needucho
Koi Lover

Dec 25, 2007, 3:28 AM

Post #2 of 5 (707 views)
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Re: [LAM] winter koi blues [In reply to] Can't Post
when koi swim on their side means the condition of water around him is so bad that he almost can't take anymore. It can be parasite, can be too dirty (bacteria) the pond or may be a combination of those and freezing temp. I suggest that you bring the koi inside, put in a plastic bag with outside pond water then put in the inside pond, dip your hand in the plastic bag and on the inside water pond, when you feel the same temp on both sides then release the fish. will have no shock then.
samantha


LAM
Koi Lover

Dec 25, 2007, 4:20 AM

Post #3 of 5 (706 views)
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Re: [needucho] winter koi blues [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Samantha. thanks for the tips. My water is clear, and clean. The ph is great. I talked to a biologist that also specializes in aquatics. He told me to put the aerator stones on the bottom to move some of the gasses in the water. At 3 ft. I won't have enough depth to have a lot of layering of temps anyway. Also there is a parasite that gets active in cold temps, I have heard. I have never salted my pond so I have been adding small amounts to help them make a slime coat and protect from little parasites. I hope thishelps. If not, I may be bringing some in. It isnt all of the fish. About half. They respond to me when they see me at the side. ( little babies!) I really hope what I am doing will help them. My pond is about 3000 gallons. I add about a cup of salt that has been dissolved. the temps outside are about 39F. It dropped from 50F yesterday to 31F last evening. Pretty sharp. Thanks. Lola
Lola


needucho
Koi Lover

Dec 31, 2007, 11:09 PM

Post #4 of 5 (678 views)
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Re: [LAM] winter koi blues [In reply to] Can't Post
as cold temp arrives, parasite mostly inactive, they stay on the the fish or at the bottom of the pond form a solid cover to past by and wait for the favourite condition. Adding salt may low temp in the pond and not doing a whole lot for parasite. The one that still ok means parasite do not get to it yet. The one that lying on their side definitely was overcome by either parasite or too much bacteria in your pond. Aerate koi in the pond sure increase % of oxygen in the pond, (not to degass) in that case you will see koi start to swim near the surface, not lying at the bottom. To be sure, have a scope and scope the fish to see what type of parasite on them then bring in and treat with parasite treatment. Most of parasite treatment can only work at as low as 50 degree F. Below it, they don't do any good. and the way winter comes, it may getting deep freezing on days ahead.
samantha

(This post was edited by needucho on Dec 31, 2007, 11:16 PM)


zoul
Member

Jan 5, 2008, 11:04 PM

Post #5 of 5 (633 views)
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Re: [LAM] winter koi blues [In reply to] Can't Post
Dear LAM

Hopefully when you installed your pond you took time to consider the depth needed for over wintering. Koi are strong and adaptable to weather changes as long as the pond is deep enough.

You say you have turned off the waterfall but please tell me you havent turned off your filter....

Heating the entire pond can be costly but just a little heating can go along way. Dont worry about them to much as they can cope with quite extremes in weather it's the sudden changes that hurt and stress them like taking them indoors.

If your pond is large enough then the water temp changes gradually and the fish will addapt.

hope this helps good luck.

 
 
 



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