Electrocution?

[lypope]

My house was struck by lightning last year with several fish effected, even though I don't have anything electrical in the pond. There were three koi who must have been close to the side of the pond nearest the buried cable line, which is the most likely suspect since the cable was fried both at the house and the pole. Those koi swam awkwardly and wouldn't come to the top to feed. I soaked food in OJ and dropped it to the bottom for at least a month, which they ate with enthusiasm. They all recovered for the most part although two of them still are "awkward" when turning in the pond.

[rockman]

Brett,

I can not rule out H2S poisoning, but I did not notice any smell, and a few of the fish appear quite unaffected.

From what I have read from others, the symptoms appear to be consistent with electrocution. None of the fish died, but as I have been posting, several of them are swimming quite erratic.

I am wondering whether I should cull out the "good" fish, and put them in a seaprate tank (I have a 6 foot show tank I could set up)? I have been adivsed to do nothing for now, just monitor (but in the meantime, I am adding more salt, doing more water changing).

This has been a very tough lesson for me

[rockman]

Quote: Originally Posted by lypope My house was struck by lightning last year with several fish effected, even though I don't have anything electrical in the pond. There were three koi who must have been close to the side of the pond nearest the buried cable line, which is the most likely suspect since the cable was fried both at the house and the pole. Those koi swam awkwardly and wouldn't come to the top to feed. I soaked food in OJ and dropped it to the bottom for at least a month, which they ate with enthusiasm. They all recovered for the most part although two of them still are "awkward" when turning in the pond.

Lynda,

Thanks for your post, gives me some encouragement. I might try out the OJ soaked food!

-Rockman

[MikeM]

Other than verifying there is no stray voltage, I would do nothing except maintain water quality.

[rockman]

Just thought I would provide an update, it has been about 2 months now.

The original fish that I found affected has continued to be the worst affected...he hasnt eated for 2 months, and his back had formed a pronounced curvature. He looked really terrible skin quality...tonight I decide to put him down since he really didnt seem to be able to move very well at all and he appeared to be really suffering now...this was my first time ever to do this, so it is a sad moment for me, i am not sure how other people have dealt with this sort of thing, but as i said it was sad for me since I have raised my gin matsuba since he was only a few inches long, and now he is about 18 inches...i remember the day i first got him to hand feed, it took a long time and he seem much more skittish than his brothers and sisters!

The fish that is second worst affected is my "birthday gift" sanke...i wont put her down, at least not yet, however, she is pretty much on the bottom of the pond and doesnt come up and also probably he not eaten for 2 months. i sincerely hope it doesnt come to it...

On the more positive side, my kikusui that was affected appears to be *almost* back to normal, excepy he swims in a funny fashion...but at least he is back to being very active and eating just fine...my fourth fish that was affected, my kohaku, appears to be getting somewhat better, at least she is moving around now and a couple of time recently she has come off the bottom to try and feed...i got her some Medicarp food, which i remembered she liked from before, and wouldn't you know it, the first time i threw some in the pond, i saw her come up and try to get some... if anyone has ideas for good sinking food i could feed her i woould appreciate the feedback.

[lypope]

Take whatever food they like and soak it in orange juice, mash it up with a fork so that you can form "balls" with your hand and toss it in the pond. You can add garlic to tempt the fish - also some koi clay if you like. It'll sink easily. That's what I did for at least two months after our lightning strike last year. I had four affected koi that couldn't come to the surface and eat - but they readily took the sinking food until they were able to swim to the surface. They're all still recovering - I can tell that they swim somewhat awkwardly - no one else notices, but I do.