Koi Foods and Disease Alert

By: Australian Koi Farm

Foods

Koi are omnivores and will eat most anything. Some foods are not good for them and can lead to disease and cause death.

 

Koi should never be fed animal meat containing fats or dairy products. Koi are unable to digest the fats properly and the fat deposits in the gut cavity between the organs. Over time this causes the organs to stop functioning properly which promotes disease with death to follow.

 

Koi like us need to eat a balanced diet. Their diet consists of:

• Proteins
• Fats
• Carbohydrates
• Vitamins & Minerals
• Trace Elements

 

Feeding all of the above for each meal can be time consuming. Specialised Koi food is readily available and should provide your Koi with all its dietary needs. Be sure to look at the ingredients and make sure it is not meat based.

 

Different types of Koi food are available. Some for:

• Winter
• Summer
• Rapid Growth
• Colour enhancer
• Immune Building

 

To purchase each of these would become very costly. Look for an all round food that is suitable to cover all of the above types.

 

We are certain that your use of this scientifically formulated food will allow you to see a positive difference in the general health and appearance of your valued Koi, Goldfish, Comets and other colourful pond fish within a relatively short period of time.

 

We provide a balanced dietary food for Koi at the Farm.

 

More efficient absorption of nutrients in the food:

• Better Growth
• Reduced Mortality
• Improved Health
• Improved Immune System

 

A stronger immune system will give your fish extra resistance to sickness and disease. This is particularly important for Koi and Pond Fish who live in artificial environments where they are subject to many stress causing conditions which have been shown to be detrimental to their health and longevity.

 

Disease Alert

 

Fulminant Gill Rot

By Galen Hansen M.D.

There is such an aggressive deadly infection hitting many Koi hobbyists and dealers, particularly in California. The disease has been so overwhelming and devastating that many of us feel it is important to alert any and all who have Koi to the experience of those affected. The infection, not yet clearly identified as to pathogenesis, results in nearly total wipeout of all those so unfortunate to acquire it.

 

Summary of Facts concerning disease

The disease is largely too far involved and irreversible by the time you detect it.

 

The most common finding is large scale Gill Rot with at least half the gill being necrotic (eaten away).

 

It is caused by a very contagious organism, either viral or bacterial or both.

 

No consistently reliable treatment has been identified to date.

 

Once the epidemic was over it was over.

 

Aeromonas Hydrophilla

• Condition

Condition is very much associated with husbandry factors and is associated with a range of opportunistic bacteria including Pseudomonas spp and myxobacteria.

 

• Clinical Signs

This condition is characterised by erosion of the fins, tail and snout. The lesions may be subtle, but frequently lead to loss of complete fins and even the tail. Active lesions vary from low-grade ulceration to aggressive necrosis.

 

• Treatment

Any form of chemotherapy is of limited value and antibiotics should only be used as last resort because the response is often disappointing and antibiotic resistance is likely to be encouraged.

 

• Control

Ideally this condition should be controlled by good husbandry practices and quarantining. The use of immuno stimulants is suggested.

 

Aeromonas Salmonicida

• Condition

Aeromonas Salmonicida, which causes Goldfish Ulcer Disease, was almost certainly introduced into Australia with fancy goldfish from Japan. Apart from goldfish it has caused natural disease in carp and silver perch in Australia.

 

• Clinical Signs

Typically, affected fish exhibit ulcers of varying size on the body. Depending on the water temperature these may develop rapidly or gradually expand over time. Some fish recover especially with treatment but may have scars as a result

 

• Treatment

A wide range of antibacterials can be used. Unfortunately antibiotic resistance builds quickly and the efficacy of any particular antibacterial tends to be short-lived.

 

• Control

Fish Immuno Stimulants would have a greater effect, as the prevention is always better than the cure. Immuno Stimulants are now offered by the way of Vaccinations Intravenously and Oral.