KHV running rampant in USA

[farne230]

Quote: Originally Posted by JanT You are right, of course, Steve. That's why it is 'my idea' of a fish dinner. Brett has me checking all the fish markets I try and all I find is food fish from China.......and I am NOT eating it!! That's my story and I am sticking to it.

A friend of mine who does business in China had to tell me he was “wine and dined” on a very special dinner including "a very large showa". He said this was a great honor.
Bob

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eugeneg So in these troubled times, buy fish carefully and ALWAYS quarantine them. When going to a local dealer ( and that is ALWAYS a wise thing to do) ask him or her how they isolate test and treat their koi. Believe them, trust them and then quarantine on your own! You can not be too safe, just too risky. JR ... I would not only quarantine but add one of my fish after a few weeks as the fish being quarantied could be carriers. Regards Eugene

As far as I'm concerned, if you don't introduce a canary along the way under permissive conditions you haven't quarantined in any useful way.

[almostgeorgia]

Interesting thread, and I have a question for the board. I've finished my new pond, water is well 'aged' and parameters are as good as they are going to get. I plan to QT (you guys have all certainly made ME a believer) my first few fish, and we are certainly now in the permissive range where I live in Florida. I assume I should QT my first arrivals for the very simple reason that should I accidentally introduce KHV into my new pond, it's one *@#$ of a mess to sterilze the system and start over. But lacking any 'canary fish' to place in QT, do I simply hold the new arrivals in my isolation tank and closely observe over the first 4 to 6 weeks?

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by almostgeorgia Interesting thread, and I have a question for the board. I've finished my new pond, water is well 'aged' and parameters are as good as they are going to get. I plan to QT (you guys have all certainly made ME a believer) my first few fish, and we are certainly now in the permissive range where I live in Florida. I assume I should QT my first arrivals for the very simple reason that should I accidentally introduce KHV into my new pond, it's one *@#$ of a mess to sterilze the system and start over. But lacking any 'canary fish' to place in QT, do I simply hold the new arrivals in my isolation tank and closely observe over the first 4 to 6 weeks?

It is far easier to observe them for any and all signs of health problems in a QT than in a full sized pond, so that is a good practice. The absence of "Canary" Koi for the first population is a problem that can be overcome with blood testing if you want to send samples in to a lab.
I would contact the nearest Koi Club to get help with that if I were you and there are a number of good clubs in Florida. You can look for them at the AKCA website and the ZNA website if you wish.

[luke frisbee]

canary koi Solved...
get your first few koi in...keep them in QT for three weeks Run em up and down the "permissive temperature range...then get in your next set of koi and put them in the QT with the first set.... Each will be the others Canary koi...
If the second set break out as soon as they get there then they already had KHV...if they break out weeks later then the first set had a carrier in it. If the first set breaks out then the second set had a carrier in it.

[MikeM]

If I was starting a new collection, I would begin with a group of koi from one of the domestic breeders who I know to follow a strict bio-security regimen. Nisei Koi Farm (Quality Koi), Brady Brandwood (Lotusland) and Purdin Koi come to mind. I would not feel a need to QT the initial stocking, although I'd not argue against it. The best domestic breeders can supply koi at a level that matches all but the higher level of imports from Japan, with no middlemen mixing sources along the way. If your heart is set on a Dianichi Showa, Omosako Shiro and Hoshino Kohaku to start off, then the need for caution is a bit greater in my mind. I would want to work with one dealer, if that was the case.

[almostgeorgia]

Thank you PapaBear, Luke and Mike M. for your helpful suggestions. I like the idea of starting with an American breeder with well known health protocols for several reasons and was thinking of going that way initially. From my admittedly very poorly trained eye, the top-of-the-line fish from these breeders seems to rival what I see coming from Japan. I realize that may sound like heresy to some on this website, and I will no doubt lust for (and get) some unusual and world class imports at some point, but I think I'll start a little closer to home. As I have already assembled a QT system, and am keen to observe my first acquisitions up close for health reasons alone, I think I'll just start a 'good habit' now. As for joining a local koi club (and there are a couple here in N. Florida, I know), that is perhaps the best advise anyone could receive. They've already been a wealth of information, and I'm a strong believer in learning from other's mistakes --- I'll make enough on my own. Thanks again, folks.

[PapaBear]

American breeders have come a long way from where they used to be. There are now several who have well established reputations for both quality and solid biosecurity. Some are closed farms and others still bring in new brood stock from outside, but to protect themselves and their customers they maintain strict quarantine and testing protocols. Too much invested to risk anything less.

[MCA]

Remember, the hobby established the need for QT long before KHV raised its ugly head. KHV now adds the need for QT with temperature controls.....and for a cycle more like 6 weeks instead of 3.