Even though most people recognize when a fish isn’t doing well, they’re not always sure what to do about an ailing fish.
Veterinarian Jena Questen, a.k.a. Dr. Koi, says skin wounds are the top concern, followed by parasites and bacterial diseases. In addition to obvious skin problems, classic signs of illness include frayed fins, fish that aren’t eating or swimming, a fish rubbing itself on the sides of rocks, or one staying close to the waterfall.
Dr. Koi says a sick fish is just one part of the problem. “People see a fish with a spot on its skin, look it up on the Internet and then buy an off-the-shelf remedy at the pet store.
“Fish are biological animals, like dogs,” she says. “They need a diagnosis when they’re sick and they need to be treated properly.”
Treating a sick fish can include some of the same techniques used for treating a furry pet, like taking a skin scraping, using ultrasound or performing surgery.
Questen, who was recently appointed to a three-year term on the aquatics committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association, is the only vet in Colorado who is also a state-certified fish health inspector.
Questen consults with pond owners about their fish first by phone or e-mail (drkoi.com), which is usually followed by an on-site visit. During the house call she may take a skin scraping to examine under the microscope or to send to a lab for viral testing.
One effective way to keep fish healthy is to avoid purchasing those that haven’t been quarantined, she says. This can eliminate some of the problems associated with parasites that could infect the healthy fish in the pond.
For fish that have been quarantined before purchase, she recommends an additional 30 days of quarantine in a separate tank once they’re brought to their new home.
“A separate tank isn’t a luxury option, but a necessity for new fish or sick fish,” she says. “A smartly built pond can have a quarantine area away from the main pond with separate filtration, or you can have a separate tank in the garage.”
Because some koi cost several thousand dollars, it makes good economic sense to treat them when they’re sick.
Medicine for fish is so advanced these days, there’s no reason not to get a medical opinion if pond owners spot a problem with their koi, she says. “I hate to see fish suffer needlessly.”
