Pink Lesions on Koi - Help

[koisplash]

thanks, i will try to raise the temperature a little although, it is already up there, water is clear and the carp pox so the carp pox friend should be going away,
i have read on another forum some koi enthusiasts are performing cosmetic surgeries for carp pox, perhaps might have to get the scalpel out if nothing else works

z.

[Richard Rombold]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR the second fish * the yamabuki, yellow fish, has carp pox. It is harmless and will go away on its own once the fish acclimate to 78 F water. The first fish may have carp pox or just slime coat lifting. This will also clear up on it's own. I would watch these fish for signs of flashing ( that is when they rub themselves on the gravel or a rock) as this will be a sign of parasites). The likely parasite is chilodonella. If you see no sign of this behavior, just keep the fish warm ( not too warm, 78 F is perfect) and keep the water and filters clean. JR

Why is it that every time someone sees a bump on a koi there is an expert saying carp pox! JR, this ain't carp pox, and what you think is carp pox, ain't it either. How do you tell? If you warm the water up to 78F and the "pox" goes away, then it wasn't carp pox to begin with. There is no cure for carp pox. Oh yeah, and there is no cure for KHV either. They are viruses!!!!! Anyone who does find a cure for carp pox can collect their Nobel Prize at the door.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Rombold Why is it that every time someone sees a bump on a koi there is an expert saying carp pox! JR, this ain't carp pox, and what you think is carp pox, ain't it either. How do you tell? If you warm the water up to 78F and the "pox" goes away, then it wasn't carp pox to begin with. There is no cure for carp pox. Oh yeah, and there is no cure for KHV either. They are viruses!!!!! Anyone who does find a cure for carp pox can collect their Nobel Prize at the door.

Hi Richard,

What do you think it is then?

[Richard Rombold]

Hey Russ,

Not sure, but if I had to hazard a guess I'd say a sessile, colonial protozoan. Treat as such. We have seen several threads the last two years with similar symptoms. The similarities I see are that it occurs in cooler weather, located usually on the head, develops quickly in patches and clears with warmer water, salt and malachite. The other good news, and clue, is that when it does clear there is little to no damage to the fish. I would definetly not resort to surgery.

Richard

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Rombold Hey Russ, Not sure, but if I had to hazard a guess I'd say a sessile, colonial protozoan. Treat as such. We have seen several threads the last two years with similar symptoms. The similarities I see are that it occurs in cooler weather, located usually on the head, develops quickly in patches and clears with warmer water, salt and malachite. The other good news, and clue, is that when it does clear there is little to no damage to the fish. I would definetly not resort to surgery. Richard

I usually just scrape it off and the swab with mechurachrome. Is that unwise?

[Richard Rombold]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters I usually just scrape it off and the swab with mechurachrome. Is that unwise?

What's the outcome? My concern would be damaging the skin while scraping. Also, if your technique works then it's good evidence it wasn't koi pox.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Rombold What's the outcome? My concern would be damaging the skin while scraping. Also, if your technique works then it's good evidence it wasn't koi pox.

I always make sure that the scrapings never make it back into the pond water. More often than not, when I scrape it off, there are no signs of it left nor any damage. Sometimes it damages the skin a little which is why I have used mechurachrome.

Years ago I had a very nice Asagi and it was covered head to toe with the stuff. I put it to sleep and scraped almost the entire body. I was really worried that it would be a disaster. It healed with no infections. I was amazed.

[JasPR]

Richard, what 'sessile, colony' species of protozoa would that be? JR

[Richard Rombold]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR Richard, what 'sessile, colony' species of protozoa would that be? JR

My first guess would be a species of epistylis. There are many species, and it's not been well studied, but it fits the description in all ways. It attaches to the host on the head and fins, and forms white to pinkish patches. It feeds off sloughed epithelial cells and can cause a slight irritation to the skin. It's not a terribly destructive parasite, which may explain why not much is known about it.

[JasPR]

good call, that may be a possibility. Hard to know without a scraping. In a lot of these protozoa, the slime coat dies and lifts, leaving a very general symptom of a 'patch' of white/gray/pink or yellow.
The lesion on the tail also looks like Dermocystidium, another imflamatory reaction within the skin. Rather than a protozoa these fungal hyphae live within the cyst. Again, can't really tell from a photo, but if the growth is removed and examined, it will be filled with spores and strands of hyphae.

Or, this all could just be hyperplasia caused by herpes virus- IE carp pox
JR