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Question

i have a large koi in the pond which is floating at the top. it looks dead but when i tried to remove it , it started moving. what is wrong with it?

Submitted: 51 days and 20 hours ago.
Category: Pet
Value: $11
Status: CLOSED

Accepted Answer

Your Koi is suffering from an ailment called Swim Bladder Disorder (sbd) which is a disorder that affects a fish's swim bladder. The swim bladder is responsible for a fish being able to swim upright and maintain its buoyancy. When it becomes blocked, infected or too full of air it ceases to function properly as you are witnessing with your fish.

 

Many types of fish are highly susceptible to this disorder mainly because of the odd shapes of some species, genetics and poor breeding practices.

 

There really does not exist a fool-proof way to prevent sbd but by maintaining excellent water conditions and soaking flake food prior to feeding can lower the prevalence of the disorder. The reason for soaking flake food, prior to feeding, in pond/tank water set aside, is that the flakes will absorb water thus lessening the amount of air the fish intakes when gulping the food

 

The traditional way to treat this is by isolating the affected fish in a quarantine tank using water from the main tank/pond so as to not change the fish's environment too much.

If the fish is the only fish in the tank/pond then there's no need to seperate it.

 

Once seperated begin to feed the fish canned peas without the husk/shell. Feed 2-4 peas twice a day making sure to clean out any uneaten portions. Peas are well known to clear out a fish's swim bladder. It's best to feed the pea diet exclusively. If the pea diet does not work then try the pea diet with intermitent days of fasting.

 

In addition to the pea diet you can try treating the fish with a medicine called Maracyn-Two (USA) or Interpet Aquarium 13-Swimbladder(outside of USA) which could prove helpful in curing sbd as some cases are caused by bacteria. Follow the directions on the product label for dosage amounts.

 

It would also be helpful to not fill the fish's quarantine tank up to the top with water leaving about 2-3 inches from the top free as this will lessen the amount of water pressure on the fish.

 

Please keep in mind that sbd can sometimes be very difficult to cure and is one of the

most common problems fishkeepers face.

 

Listed below are 2 links which will further elaborate on sbd.

 

Best wishes and please let me know if you have any questions.

 

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/forum/index.php?topic=1026.0

 

http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/swim_bladder_disease/

 

 

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Expert: TROPICAL FISH AFICIONADO
Pos. Feedback: 99.4 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 10/1/2009

YOUR TROPICAL FISH RESOURCE

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE W/TROPICAL FISH---BREEDING, MAINTAINING, CURING

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