Hi my name is Lindsey. I need some help. I have just moved to a farm with my boyfriend whose parents have a large garden pond 10,000 gallons, full of all sorts of carp. For the past 5 years, all has been well, but about 2 months ago we introduced 4 new fish from a garden centre and started having problems 2 weeks later. Our big carp (6-9lbs) started showing signs of distress and a grey opaque film started to cover them, first of all just in blotches. We sought help from the said garden centre, who tested our water and there was no fugus, but nitrates were a little high. The only water going into the pond is either rain water, or water from a clay pond. To date we have lost 15 babies and 2 large, but the others are still extremely sick. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this and how to help?
Help!
- Thread starter Linzi
- Start date
Hello my name is Lindsey and I need some help. I live on my boyfriends parents farm, they have a large garden pond (10.000gallons) full of all sorts of carp. We added 4 new fish from a garden centre at the end of Aug and 2 weeks later we noticed the large carp (6-9lbs) showing signs of distress. We assumed it was the new fish and the stress of the heron that had been around, but got the water tested anyway. There was no fungus in the water, but the nitrates were slightly up, which we expected. The large carp then began getting pale grey opaque blotches on them, (water tested again same result) and to date we have lost 15 babies and 2 large fish including our biggest, and cannot find a reason for it, we also still have some extremely sick fish that are not swimming properly and are all covered in this film. Some are cleaning up a bit but still sluggish. (As in can pick them out of the water no problem.) Now the babies are blotchy too. Anyone have any idea what it is and how to fix it?
to MFK, Linzi!Could you please post the ammonia and nitrite as well? High nitrate level has to be expected in farm areas due to high organic matter that contaminate the water assuming your source of water is from deep wells. I'm not sure I am familiar with the clay pond that you are talking about. Could you please elaborate this one further?
What is your filtration capacity and maintenance regimen? Do you have photos of the affected areas? I am suspecting costia is involved as you mentioned they are covered in "film" or possibly some parasites irritating them that they started to secrete heavy amounts of slime coat.
Please answer questions found here.
Fish Health Diagnostics (Read before posting.)
And check this one as it will help you pin down the exact issue much better.
Freshwater Disease Guide
Any pics. of the sick fish? Could be a couple of things.
Fish will somtimes shead their slim coat in response to a Ick (White spot) outbreak in severe cases.
Did you QT the new fish? Were the exsisting fish OK prior to the new introductions.?
Fish will somtimes shead their slim coat in response to a Ick (White spot) outbreak in severe cases.
Did you QT the new fish? Were the exsisting fish OK prior to the new introductions.?
Threads have been merged. Could you please look up "fungus" and "glossatella" to confirm those, Linzi? I am leaning on glossatella on this one.
I can't answer all your questios especially about how the water tested because we didn't test it ourselves we took a sample to the garden centre and they tested it. But I do know for a fact that the new fish were not quarantined, The pond has been established 5 years, has mirror ghost common carp and they are all in various states of growth as we had lots of babies, this years last years and the year before all together. We know that the pond is overpopulated we estimate that there are about 200 fish in there. We usually depopulate it this time of year and transfer some fish to a larger pond up the other end of the farm where they are quite happy but can't due to the state of the fish at the moment. I will suggest (as it isn't my pond) that my boyfriends parents get a tester kit themselves and post everything u need to know to help on here but their old and very stubborn and seem to think they know everything already. Thanks for replying anyway!