KOI HEALTH About the author: Taking a


Paula Reynolds is an aquatic patho- biologist. Part of her working day is spent carrying out pathology for the koi industry and hobbyists. However, research is Paula’s main occupation and she admits to enjoying the painstakingly detailed work that ultimately reveals so much new information.


mucus smear


Paula Reynolds asks why most koi keepers simply treat their ponds with remedies for eradicating parasites, whilst others go to the expense of buying a microscope and try to make sense of such a specialised field as parasitology


A parasitic infection serious enough to require chemical treatment is rare in a healthy koi pond


chemicals and enjoy the challenge of adding a new dimension to their hobby.


T Knowing which


parasites pose harm… and understanding those that can be


ignored comes with experience


20 KOI CARP


learning in a good cause Those koi keepers that opt for a microscope


appreciate they are not going to become parasitologists. All they will be indentifying are some of the more common koi parasites. Knowing which parasites pose harm


and always require treatment and understanding those that can be ignored comes with experience. With some parasites it is the numbers of


he answer to the question is actually quite simple. The fact is that some koi keepers see the wisdom of protecting their koi from needless exposure to


organisms found in mucus that is the factor as to whether chemical treatment is needed. In other situations finding out why re-infection by a specific parasite is occurring is the issue. For example, trichodina is carried by most koi at low level and it is pointless and harmful to the koi to continuously treat the pond. Trichodina is not a true parasite. It lives in ponds where it can harbour so good hygiene often helps to keep the level low. The organism then poses no threat and only requires treatment if it is out of control.


opportunists In the confines of a pond, it is not surprising


that many organisms find it easy to attack fish. They do this not just to seek nourishment for survival, but also to


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