last updated 5th January 2007
Phone/Fax 01844 342390
New stocks can be carrying parasites, and in rare cases systemic infections (internal problems) and although the Japanese breeders and koi dealers in the U.K. normally treat fish when they first arrive, there is no guarantee that problems will not occur after you have purchased your koi.
However, we should bear in mind that the vast majority of koi are strong and healthy when they are first harvested in Japan, and are not riddled with parasites or infection.
Most problems occur because of the induced stress of up to 24 hours in a plastic bag during transit to the U.K, and because of substantially differing water conditions, in particular pH and general hardness.
During the journey, your new koi has almost certainly been subjected to water temperature changes of 15 deg. C over a 24 hour period which adds to the stress problem.
Therefore, rather than treating problems after they occur, we need to get the koi 'comfortable' in their new environment as quickly as possible, to ensure that their own immune system is working properly, so that they can fight of any potential problems without human intervention.
We do not zap our new fish with all kinds of chemicals, either as pond treatments or dips when they first arrive. The last thing koi need having spent up to 30 hours in a plastic bag and in a stressed state is to be dumped in potassium permanganate, malachite or anything else nasty.
The only 'additive' we use as required is salt at 0.5 oz per gallon with Elbagin as a supportive treatment in the pond to overcome stress and get them get used to the new water conditions. Substantially different pH and water hardness stress Koi as these changes affect osmoregulation - the means by which Koi balance fluid levels in the body. Salt helps to reduce the load on the Koi's osmo regulatory system and this then helps reduces stress and enables the Koi to adapt to their new environment much more easily.
Other than this all they need is good water!
The single most common cause of problems in our view is quarantining fish in a vat or pond which is too small.
There is a well publicised view that a quarantine facility of between 250 - 500 gallons is adequate for quarantine purposes.
This may be the case if you only have 4 or 5 small koi to quarantine, but not for anything else.
In our view your quarantine facility should be minimum 1000 gallons with temperature control and a mature filter.
Setting up you quarantine facility 3 weeks before the fish are due to arrive is asking for trouble.
Do have your quarantine facility ready for the job, the larger the better with a mature filter.
Do carry out regular water changes.
Do monitor for ammonia and nitrite regularly.
Do take scrapes to ensure an appropriate treatment regime.
Do observe your new koi's behaviour
Do provide adequate aeration.
Don't quarantine your new prize 26" koi in 500 gallons of water!
Don't use chemicals on your new arrivals until they have settled in.
Don't use dips - they are very stressful and not particularly effective.
Don't quarantine single fish - koi are gregarious and are happiest with company.
Don't use chemicals indiscriminately - use an appropriate remedy for the specific problem encountered.
Don't subject your koi to fluctuating temperatures or other water parameters.
Don't overfeed the Koi, - once per day @ 17 deg C is quite adequate.
1. Adequate facility, mature filter, temperature controlled.
2. Five days before new fish arrive dose quarantine pond with chloramine T or Virkon S to disinfect and reduce bacteria count.
3. Carry out 10-20% water change immediately prior to arrival of new stocks.
4. Introduce new fish and allow to settle in for minimum 3 days. During this period, use only salt at 0.5 oz per gallon and or Elbagin as a supportive treatment to help koi overcome stress. No other chemicals.
5 Take scrapes of selected koi and check for parasites.
6. Apply appropriate parasite treatment if required.
7. Maintain adequate aeration through the period of treatment.
8. Retake scrapes at the end of your parasite treatment. and re-dose if necessary.
9. Dose pond with chloramine T to reduce bacteria count.
10. Continue to carry out regular (at least every 5 days) 10% water changes.
11. Monitor for ammonia and nitrite readings regularly.
12. Maintain a stable temperature. (17.5 deg C or 64 deg F is recommended)
