Parasite Questions

[jlbspd]

I have a 600 gal pond and am currently building a 8000 gal pond. The few koi i have in the small pond ive noticed have these small parasites on their fins. They are round, almost disc like, grayish brown in color about the diameter of BB, but they are flat. I live in Florida and as a avid fisherman, i have seen these on large mouth bass before. This pond has many many very nice plants in it. I added some pond salt but due to the plants, i cant add enough for parasite treatment. I dont want to run into this with the new pond. Do you know what they may be and best way to rid my fish of them?

[gspotmc]

Quote: Originally Posted by jlbspd I have a 600 gal pond and am currently building a 8000 gal pond. The few koi i have in the small pond ive noticed have these small parasites on their fins. They are round, almost disc like, grayish brown in color about the diameter of BB, but they are flat. I live in Florida and as a avid fisherman, i have seen these on large mouth bass before. This pond has many many very nice plants in it. I added some pond salt but due to the plants, i cant add enough for parasite treatment. I dont want to run into this with the new pond. Do you know what they may be and best way to rid my fish of them?

Hi Probably carp pox. I'm just guessing base on your description. a photo of the problem would be nice. So that you can be sure what it is.
mICHAEL

[jlbspd]

I will have to pull a fish to take a pic but they look like they can move around on the fish....like their little disc bodies suction to the fish and then im guessing they feed on them .......the ones on the fins you can tell have affected to fin as the fin is a bit hazy where the parasite is.....when ive seen them on Large mouth bass in lakes, they can actually move around when you scratch them loose.....

[gspotmc]

It's Not Carp Pox If It Moves Once You Remove Them. Kinda Like Floating Or Navigating In Water.

[KoiCop]

jlbspd . . .

Use Google search terms: "fish lice" photo.

Then let us know what you think, OK?

[jlbspd]

Yeah, they are like little disc suckers! they move when you break them free from the fish. They are not on all but mostly my butterfly koi with the larger fins or the larger standard koi...not so much on the small 4-8" koi. Not sure why this is ...maybe because the larger koi and butterflies are slower swimmers? lol

[jlbspd]

This sounds like what i have on my koi! not sure though.....

Argulus

Argulus or fish louse is a large parasite ( Figure 26 ) that attaches to the external surface of the host and can be easily seen with the unaided eye. Argulus is uncommon in freshwater aquarium fish but may occur if wild or pond-raised fish are introduced into the tank. It is especially common on goldfish and koi.


Figure 26. Individual parasites can be removed from fish with forceps, but this does not eliminate parasites in the environment. A prolonged immersion of 0.02 - 0.2% salt may control re-infection to the fish host.

[jlbspd]

They are not very big....maybe from tiny to HALF the diameter of a standard pencil.

[KoiCCAPW]

Maybe fish lice, also called argulus?

Look at the lower part of this article. Good photo of close up and life sized.

Fish LIce/Gill Lice - What are they?

Heh heh, you posted faster! yep those are the critters!

[jlbspd]

THATS THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! little boogers!!!! with the two little eye spots!!! so what next?????? thats deff them!!!