Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction Volume 2. Maintenance, Stocking, Examples V. 1 Print and eBook on Amazon V. 2 Print and eBook on Amazon   by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Sick Oranda... "Pictures of Lilly made my life so wonderful...."      10/23/13
Hi,
I have a small pond with 10 assorted goldfish and Koi.
<Not good to mix Nishikigoi with fancy goldfish... the former are much more eager eaters, bigger/stronger swimmers>
One of the Oranda is sick (Lilly). It looks like a swim bladder problem, but I'm not positive. She disappeared into the rocks over a month ago and just this past week reappeared, but unable to keep upright or swim to the surface.
She's not turning upside down, which is typical for swim bladder, but can't really swim and stays close to objects that will keep her steady.
I don't see how she getting any food. What should I do?
Linda
<... do you usually bring your goldfish indoors for the winter? I would...
IF the water temp. is below 55F. consistently I would cease feeding the Pondfish altogether. Please search/read on WWM re winter maintenance of ponds period. Bob Fenner>
Re: Sick Oranda      10/23/13
Thanks for answering. I don't bring the goldfish or Orandas in for the winter. They have survived three winters and are all very hardy. And even though the Orandas are slower eaters, they seem to be thriving (except Lilly). So, baring all that, is there anything I can do for Lilly?
<... Depends on what the actual cause/s may be here... water quality, nutrition, perhaps simply genetic. Have you searched WWM re? Read the survey articles on GF health? B>

goldfish... Pondfish repro.   6/7/10
Hi
<Paris>
I hope you can help me please. I have a large pond, about 1000 litres.
<Mmm, not all that large...>
I have around forty fish,
<?!>
two of which are Koi, one I have had about 5 years and the other I have had about 1 year. My original goldfish I have had around 4/5 years and the rest have bred in the pond over the last couple of years. My current problem is that today one of the goldfish, a pond bred one of approx 3/4 years, has been pursued by about 5 of the fish, including the big Koi and is exhausted and appears to have some damage to its scales.
<"Spring has sprung"... reproductive behavior... the "combatants" need to be separated... likely the pursued (female) placed elsewhere>
I have removed it to a small tank and put some medicine into the water.
It is only a small tank. Am I doing the right thing?
<Mmm, yes>
Do you have any suggestions what to do in this situation?
<Monitor water quality, consider "thinning the herd" here... You have too much fish life (unless all are very small) in this volume. Bob Fenner>
Thank you Maggie

Swimming habits of Koi Blue Hi, I have a 1200 gallon, established Koi pond with 8 Koi and 1 gold fish.  I obtained all of them at the same time about 2 years ago.  All seem very happy but one "Blue".  A few days ago Blue separated itself from the rest.  At times it will gather with them or the others come over to it and hover around him/her.  "Blue" will sit at the bottom of the pond or swim up to the ledge and sit for a while.  On the occasion it swims - it will first swim backwards for about 6 inches then it goes forward.  When it starts swimming forward it swims at a 45 degree angle.  The tail does move as well as all the fins so I don't think there is fin damage.  The only other thing that might be of help is that the front fins below/behind the gills are partially brown, around the area that connects to the body.  Blue does have some brown spots on his head and along his body in a horizontal strip shape.  I have never noticed nor have I ever looked that closely to Blue before. Possible that this just may be his coloring.  Thanks for any help you can offer. Michael Tarvin <Some Koi (all are the same species) do just have a sort of "anti social" behavior repertoire, but this one reads like it is "blind"... Nothing much you can do here in any/all cases, but drop food near its snout, on a regular time basis to assure it is getting fed. Bob Fenner>

Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction Volume 2. Maintenance, Stocking, Examples V. 1 Print and eBook on Amazon V. 2 Print and eBook on Amazon   by Robert (Bob) Fenner