KOI HEALTH
own a microscope is to select koi that appear to have extra mucus or that have been flicking or flashing or behaving oddly. Also choose Koi for examination that are in good health and behaving normally, or the sample will not represent the condition of all the fish in the pond. It will take two people to catch the fish
and then one can hold the net and the other take the smear. This works if the pond is at ground level. Alternatively the koi can be transferred into a koi bowl if this makes handling safer and easier. The person who is to hold the koi should wet their hands so they are cool and damp or the koi will not like being handled.
taking the smear Catch the first koi selected and gently bring
Only a small amount of mucus is needed but it must represent the whole body
can be needed to eradicate it depending on the treatment in use – unless of course a microscope is available to monitor progress.
the microscope A binocular microscope with a light and
mechanical sub-stage capable of viewing at 400 to 500 times magnification or above will be easier to use, but there is a lot of choice on the market. Glass slides and a blunt implement to take the smears are basic requirements. Glass slides can be used to actually take
smears directly but this needs a steady hand. Koi are prone to flip and I have seen accidents as the glass slides are very sharp, so I think hobbyists are safer with a thin plastic plant tag or similar item. Whatever is used should be kept strictly for fish use and washed before and after use. There are other optional items available
when a microscope is purchased from a specialist centre. These include kits with dyes for greater definition, and gels that slow down the movement of organisms when being viewed microscopically so that they can be better observed.
selecting the koi If the behaviour of the koi has changed or
If the behaviour of
the koi has changed or something is not right in the pond always test the water first
22 KOI CARP
something is not right in the pond always test the water first. The next step when you
the net to the side of the pond. Raise the net very slightly out of the water to expose the top of the head, the sides of the body and the tail region. The handler gently restrains the fish against the net while the other person takes the smear. If a bowl is being used transfer the koi
from the net with the bowl underneath it so the fish is never struggling in the net. Ensure the water level in the bowl is low but covers the gills to ensure the fish will be more controllable. Taking a small amount of mucus from
several areas makes for a better examination. The various parasitic species found in koi mucus have their own favourite locations on the skin and it is not representative to take a smear from one place. Only a spot of mucus is needed and a
scraping action will remove more of the mucus layer then is necessary, so simply take a small amount from each area. It may useful to sample the axilla, which
is what I term the koi ‘armpit’. The pectoral muscle rests in this area when the fins are folded back against the body and this is a parasite haven. The koi will have to be held gently over the net or restrained on one side in a bowl to take mucus from this area. Around the gills is another important area
to sample but it is not safe to go into the gill cavity unless the fish is sedated. Even then, mucus should be taken only from the underside of the gill cover, not the filament. Sedating koi is something that should not be carried out without good cause as this is a
A blunt implement is safer for taking mucus smears
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100