| Agree with Saratogatan...mouth, tail and fin rot. Not uncommon...new fish, new system, stress etc. Biggest problem is that your filter isn't established and your water quality. Melafix in my experience at best only slows the problem slightly, and I mean slightly. I have had great success with Triocide 3 or Neocide (whatever brand name you get it as....same stuff). Should be able to find it ... think you live in western Washington. If not email me and I can direct you.
Water changes to keep levels of ammonia and nitrite down, no food whatever until you're cycled properly. Salt level about .3%. If too high could slow down the healing somewhat. Until you can get the dip, temporarily sterilize the areas affected with a slightly moistened cue tip with just enough PP to get a little color on the tip. A little goes a long way. Caution....as this stuff will get all over you if you not careful. Keep it away from the gills. If you don't have any PP use iodine or something similar the clean and sterilize the infected areas.
The neocide dip should show some improvement after about the 3rd day's dip...use it for 4 or 5 days total. Also if you get the 5 gallon packet measure out 22 grams and make a 1 gallon mix...you have to use distilled water...make sure you don't use regular water. Mix well in 1 gallon plastic jug of distilled water from the store.
Since you fish are small, use just enough in a small bag...about 1/2 to 1 cup of the mix. Get a bowl out and put some of your pond water in it so that you can suspend the bag with the fish into the your bowl. Before you put the koi into the bag of dip, hold the bag in the bowl of pond water to equalize the temperature of the solution. They tend to feel more secure this way even though they are only in a small amount of solution in the bag. They feel like they are in more water.
Keep them in the dip for 4-5 minutes..watching and directing the solution over the infected parts. Then dump or slide the koi into bowl of pond water to rinse for a minute...if you slide them out of the bag carefully, you can reuse the solution in the bag for each day's treatment for all the koi...or just dump it all into the bowl and use new....then hand move back into tank. Do not get the dip solution into your quarantine tank as it will futher retard your filter. Use new solution each day though. Do not mix all 5 gallons worth...just a waste of money. I've even used a cup or two on larger fish (15-20 inches) this way...works fine. It will last in solution for a long time.
If there is a positive side to this, it's learning...we've all been there. Hope this helps. |