Nets
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Parasites Common to Koi
Parasites Common To Koi And Other Ornamental Fish:

A microscope is needed to view these:

*Ichthyobodo Necatrix - Costia----------300X-400X

Costia reproduces quickly when conditions are right. Reproduction is by binary fission. The symptoms are varied but a
thin slime coat or sandpaper like feel is and indicator. More advanced cases will produce a notch above the mouth and
the eyes will become sunken.

Under the microscope it looks somewhat teardrop shaped and moves with the irregularity of bumper cars at the county
fair. Cell streams are sometimes mistaken for costia. Cell streams all move in the same direction. They vary in speed
but are not to be mistaken for costia.

Costia is easily eradicated by applying heat. At 87*F. Costia is immobilized and can no longer reproduce. It only take a
few days for all to die. Unfortunately most pond settings do not allow for heat to applied to this degree. For these
situations ProformC will work well. It is a formaldehyde and malachite green solution safe enough to be shipped without
HazMat fees and is quite effective. The dosage may be increased slightly to allow for errors in calculating the
gallonage of the pond. Prior to dosing a 25 to 50% water change is advised to reduce the organics and improve
performance of the chemical.

Formaldehyde(37%)and malachite green may also be made from stock ingredients. But beware! This is not something
to take lightly. Neither chemical are particularly friendly to your eyes, nose, mouth or skin. The formula is listed below.

*Chilodonella -Chilo--------------------200X

Chilodonella has a distinctive round shape. It moves like the mother ship in space. Fairly slow under the scope, and
cilliates wave from it's outer ring.

Chilo is easily eradicated with salt at .6%. This salt treatment has an overall duration of 14 days. There are no ill
effects using salt at this level. After the treatment is complete a series of water changes should be completed to slowly
reduce the salt level to just that of the raw(incoming)water.

Chilo may also be treated as above (ProformC) for Costia. Either treatment will be effective but in the case of
formaldehyde it is important that the organics(dirty water-poor water quality)be removed somewhat with a water change
to improve the performance of the chemical.

*Trichodina -tricky---------------------200X

*Ichthyophthirius multifilils -ick-----200X

Known as white spot. Easily seen on the body with the naked eye. The problem often experienced with koi is that it is
only on the gills and so is not observed except for symptoms of flashing like so many other parasite infestations. Salt at
.6% along with an increase in temperatures usually is enough to eradicate them. ProformC also is effective along with
an increase in temperature.

*Epistylis-------------------------------200x
*Oodinium------------------------------200X
*Hexamita------------------------------200X

*Dactylogyrus - gill flukes---------------100X

This parasite as well as skin flukes rarely kills koi. However it is a known carrier of aeromonas and pseudomonas
bacteria which it injects while feeding on the gills and body of the fish.

It is easily seen at minimum magnification and is distinctive due to it's eye spots and it's stretching and contracting of
the body while feeding. Gill flukes are egg layers. Colder water means a longer gestation period. Most of the time I find
that treating for a period of four weeks is not out of the question and in fact is necessary to "catch" those eggs which
must be hatched to accomplish eradication.

Treatments are indicated below. Praziquantel is very effective but the water must be in the mid-seventies to improve
the medication's abilities. Some say that potassium permanganate will work. I believe it is more correct to say that it will
temporarily knock them back but they will recover. Salt has little effect. At the present time we're doing some testing
with malathion. Although it shows promise it should be understood that this is an insecticide and we are truly using this
in an "off-label" application. Doing testing is one thing. Treating your prize possessions with this is something you need
to think about very carefully. The treatment we've been workng with is 2cc malathion per 100 gallons of water. A 50%
water change at 48 hours. A retreatment at 96 hours and a subsequent 50% water change after an additional 48
hours. Remember we are only testing at this time.


*Gyrodactylus - skin flukes--------------100X

Skin flukes are similar to gill flukes but lack the distinctive eye spots. They may be named skin flukes but they often
appear in the gills as well. These are live bearers and so their life cycle is somewhat shorter and they seem easier to
eradicate. Nevertheless they are dangerous simply because they are carriers just like gill flukes.

Treatments are as above with gill flukes and that is further described below.

*Argulus - fish lice---------------close visual inspection/Diflubenzuron

*Lernaea - anchor worm---------close visual inspection/Diflubenzuron

At best, parasites open the doors for bacterial infection. At worst, they are carriers of it. That is why it is so important to
try to identify them and treat for them properly.