Lost Another Fish

I had posted about a plant that I repotted in the plant section and a day and a half later found that my newest calico fantail was dead. He had looked normal to me I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Well today I have another dead goldie. This time I do see that one of the gills looks as though the rim is white. I don't have my camera here at home so I can't get a picture. This is a 60 gallon pond and still has three goldies in it. I tested the water for the normal things, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrites. Ammonia was 0 - nitrites was 0 - nitrates was .5.

I wondering if this was a fungus of some kind and would like your opinion as to whether I should treat the pond or just wait. I really hate to lose those other three fish. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Lisa

I'm sorry about your fish. Diagnosis can be so hard. I had something hit my pond about a month ago. I used pond salt, MelaFix, and PimaFix at full force for two weeks before it mostly resolved. I still don't know for sure what it was but think a bacterial or fungal infection of some sort. You can use the same treatment without much harm if you want to try it. Be sure to aerate the water very well as the MelaFix and PimaFix cause the water to foam and reduce gas exchange.

I had forgotten to say that the fish was lethargic for a few days before. In this 60 gallon pond I use the pondmaster filter with the waterfall. Do you think that this would be enough airation if I treat the pond or should I use something in addition to this?

I sure hope I can find someone soon to build my 400 gallon above ground pond.

Thanks for your help.
Lisa

Hi LisaB53
When you repotted your plants how much in the way of sediment did you stire up when taking out and putting them back in the pond ths may have effected them ?
rgrds
broxandval

The plant I repotted was a piece from my friends pond. I usually use plain top soil from the nursery to repot my plants and have never had a problem. This time I didn't go to the nursery, stopped at the hardware store and asked them to load a bag of top soil in my car. I used it to repot the plant and then set the plant in a bucket of water for a few days. I finally set the plant into the pond without seeing much sediment at all. It was about a day and a half later that I found my new calico fantail dead in the pond. I tried to think of what I had done that might have caused a problem and the only thing I came up with was I added that plant. I went back to look and make sure that I used plain top soil. A good look at the bag and I noticed it said organic top soil. I wasn't sure so I pulled the plant out an posted in the plant section here. Since, I lost a goldie yesterday and I found my big snail dead on the pond shelf today.

I'm just not sure what's going on here. The three remaining fish look okay and I was debating whether to do some water changes or treat the pond.

Lisa, you may have answered your question. You said you planted a piece of a plant from your friends pond, do you know if your friend had any problems with their pond? Either way I would treat with the Melafix & the Pimafix, but not real high dosage.

Since you also lost the snail, it could be a concidence or a sign that something is wrong in the water. You ruled out ammonia and nitrite. What is the pH? I do suggest a water change with dechlorinator and some pond salt. Does your PondMaster have a carbon component? Which model is is? If it has the carbon component, then change that. Otherwise, add a bag of activated carbon to the filter. If it won't fit, then set it on top of the filter. Carbon will remove many things from the water for which you are not testing.

Plants from another pond could transfer things like snails and parasites. It would be more rare for them to transfer bacteria and funguses. It can't be ruled out of course, especially if some water was transferred in the process.

Good luck!

My remaining goldies are doing well in this pond now. My ponds each have a pond master 190 in them. No carbon but I will pick some up today. I have done several partial water changes since so I have probably replaced 1/2 the water volume by now.

I replanted the plant from my friends pond and had kept it seperate in a bucket for awhile before I put it into my pond. Her pond seems very healthy and is quite beautiful. They have lots of fry and have drawn alot of wildlife to it.

My friends husband will be coming next weekend to start the build on my above ground pond. I can't wait to have all my fish in one pond.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Lisa

Hi L:isaB53
If at all you have any questions such as construction, lagging, bottom drain etc please give me a shout and we can help you out were we can good luck remember you have to build this pond with the winter in mind.
So you must add some forrm of laggingt hat will protect the pond during the winter period
rgrds
broxandval

[QUOTE=Broxandval,Jun 18 2011, 11:37 AM][/QUOTE]
Hi L:isaB53
If at all you have any questions such as construction, lagging, bottom drain etc please give me a shout and we can help you out were we can good luck remember you have to build this pond with the winter in mind.
So you must add some forrm of laggingt hat will protect the pond during the winter period
rgrds
broxandval [/QUOTE]
Thanks for your offer, if I do have any questions I'll be sure to ask. I believe Doug and I have everything covered and today we are going out to purchase all our supplies.

Lisa

LisaB53
Wishing you all the best of luck beware of pitfalls you may come across though.

rgrds
broxandval